ThekeytothepoliticalsituationintheNorth，duringthatmomentousyear，wastobefoundinthegreatnumberofableWhigswho，seeingthattheirownpartywaslostbutrefusingtobesidetrackedbythemake-believeissueoftheKnow-Nothings，werenowhesitatingwhattodo。ThoughtheordinarypoliticiansamongtheRepublicansdoubtlesswishedtoconciliatetheseunattachedWhigs，theastutenessoftheleaderswastoogreattoallowthemtosuccumbtothattemptation。Theyseemtohavefearedthepossibleeffectofimmediatelyincorporatingintheirranks，whiletheirneworganizationwasstillsoplastic，thebulkofthoseconservativeclasseswhichwere，afterall，thebackboneofthisirreducibleWhigminimum。
TheRepublicancampaignwasconductedwithadegreeofpassionthathadscarcelybeenequaledinAmericabeforethatday。Tothewell-orderedspiritoftheconservativeclassesthetonewhichtheRepublicansassumedappearedshocking。Boldlysectionalintheirlanguage，sweepingintheirdenunciationofslavery，theleadersofthecampaignmadebitterandeffectiveuseofanumberofrecentevents。\"UncleTom\'sCabin\"，publishedin1852，andalreadyimmenselypopular，wasusedasapoliticaltracttoarouse，byitsgruesomepictureofslavery，ahatredofslaveholders。ReturnedsettlersfromKansaswentabouttheNorthtellinghorriblestoriesofguerrillawarfare，socoloredastothrowtheodiumallononeside。
ThescandalofthemomentwastheattackmadebyPrestonBrooksonSumner，afterthelatter\'sfuriousdiatribeintheSenate，whichwaspublishedas\"TheCrimeAgainstKansas\"。WithdoubleskilltheRepublicansmadeequalcapitaloutoftheintellectualviolenceofthespeechandthephysicalviolenceoftheretort。Inadditiontothis，therewasreadytotheirhandstheevidenceofSouthernandDemocraticsympathywithafilibusteringattempttoconquertherepublicofNicaragua，whereWilliamWalker，anAmericanadventurer，hadrecentlymadehimselfdictator。WalkerhadsucceededinhavinghisministeracknowledgedbytheDemocraticAdministration，andinobtainingtheendorsementofagreatDemocraticmeetingwhichwasheldinNewYork。Itlooked，therefore，asifthepartyofpoliticalevasionhadananchortowindward，andthat，intheeventoftheirlosinginKansas，theyintendedtoplacatetheirSouthernwingbytheannexationofNicaragua。
Here，indeed，wasastrongerpoliticaltempestthanDouglas，weatherwisethoughhewas，hadforeseen。Howwaspoliticalevasiontobraveit?WithacouragequiteequaltotheboldnessoftheRepublicans，theDemocratstookanothertackandsteeredforlesstroubledwaters。TheirconventionatCincinnatiwastemperateanddiscreetinallitsexpressions，andforPresidentitnominatedaNortherner，JamesBuchananofPennsylvania，amanwhowaswhollydissociatedinthepublicmindfromthestruggleoverKansas。
TheDemocraticpartyleadersknewthattheyalreadyhadtwostronggroupsofsupporters。Whatevertheydid，theSouthwouldhavetogoalongwiththem，initsreactionagainstthefurioussectionalismoftheRepublicans。BesidestheSouthernsupport，theDemocratscountedupontheaidoftheprofessionalpoliticians——thosemenwhoconsideredpoliticsratherasafascinatinggamethanasseriousanddifficultworkbaseduponprinciple。UponthesetheDemocratscouldconfidentlyrely，fortheyalreadyhad，inDouglasintheNorthandToombsintheSouth，twomasterpoliticianswhoknewthistypeanditsimpulsesintimately，becausetheythemselvesbelongedtoit。ButtheDemocratsneededthesupportofathirdgroup。IftheycouldonlywinovertheNorthernremnantoftheWhigsthatwasstillunattached，theirpositionwouldbesecure。Intheireffortstoobtainthisadditionalandverynecessaryreinforcement，theydecidedtoappearastemperateandrestrainedaspossible——awellbredpartywhichallmildandconservativemencouldtrust。