the Baltimore Democratic conventions an
address published by Jefferson Davis and other prominent leaders had
explained that the seventeen Democratic States which had voted at
Charleston for the seceders' platform could, if united with Pennsylvania
alone, elect the Democratic nominees against all opposition. This hope
doubtless floated before their eyes like a will-o'-the-wisp until the
October elections dispelled all possibility of securing Pennsylvania for
Breckinridge. From that time forward there began a renewal of disunion
threats, which, by their constant increase throughout the South,
prepared the public mind of that section for the coming secession.

As the chances of Republican success gradually grew stronger, an
undercurrent of combination developed itself among those politicians of
the three opposing parties more devoted to patronage than principle, to
bring about the fusion of Lincoln's opponents on some agreed ratio of a
division of the spoils. Such a combination made considerable progress in
the three Northern States of New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. It
appears to have been engineered mainly by the Douglas faction, though,
it must be said to his credit, against the open and earnest protest of
Douglas himself. But the thrifty plotters cared little for his
disapproval.

By the secret manipulations of conventions and committees a fusion
electoral ticket was formed in New York, made up of adherents of the
three different factions in the following proportion: Douglas, eighteen;
Bell, ten; Breckinridge, seven; and the whole opposition vote of the
State of New York was cast for this fusion ticket. The same tactics were
pursued in Pennsylvania, where, however, the agreement was not so openly
avowed. One third of the Pennsylvania fusion electoral candidates were
pledged to Douglas; the division of the remaining two thirds between
Bell and Breckinridge was not made public. The bulk of the Pennsylvania
opposition vote was cast for this fusion ticket, but a respectable
percentage refused to be bargained away, and voted directly for Douglas
or Bell. In New Jersey a definite agreement was reached by the managers,
and an electoral ticket formed, composed of two adherents of Bell, two
of Breckinridge, and three of Douglas; and in this State a practical
result was effected by the movement. A fraction of the Douglas voters
formed a straight electoral ticket, adopting the three Douglas
candidates on the fusion tick