Except for this anomaly of a candidate canvassing in his own behalf, the campaign was devoid of exciting incidents.  The personal canvass of Douglas was indeed almost the only thing that kept the campaign from being dull and spiritless.[860] Republican politicians were somewhat at a loss to understand why he should manoeuvre in a section devoted beyond question to Lincoln.  Indeed, a man far less keen than Douglas would have taken note of the popular current in New England.  Why, then, this expenditure of time and effort!  In all probability Douglas gauged the situation correctly.  He is said to have conceded frankly that Lincoln would be elected.[861] His contest was less with Republicans and Constitutional Unionists now, than with the followers of Breckinridge.  He hoped to effect a reorganization of the Democratic party by crushing the disunion elements within it.  With this end in view he could not permit the organization to go to pieces in the North.  A listless campaign on his part would not only give the election to Lincoln, but leave his own followers to wander leaderless into other organizations.  For the sake of discipline and future success, he rallied Northern Democrats for a battle that was already lost.[862]

Well assured that Lincoln would be elected, Douglas determined to go South and prepare the minds of the people for the inevitable.[863] The language of Southern leaders had grown steadily more menacing as the probability of Republican success increased.  It was now proclaimed from the house-tops that the cotton States would secede, if Lincoln were elected.  Republicans might set these threats down as Southern gasconade, but Douglas knew the animus of the secessionists better than they.[864] This determination of Douglas was warmly applauded where it was understood.[865] Indeed, that purpose was dictated now alike by politics and patriotism.

On August 25th, Douglas spoke at Norfolk, Virginia.  In the course of his address, an elector on the Breckinridge ticket interrupted him with two questions.  Though taken somewhat by surprise, Douglas with unerring sagacity detected the purpose of his interrogator and answered circumstantially.[866] “First, If Abraham Lincoln be elected President of the United States, will the Southern States be justified in seceding from the Union?” “To this I emphatically answer no.  The election of a man to the presidency by the American people in conformity with the Constitution of the United States would not justify any attempt at dissolving this glorious confederacy.”  “Second, If they secede from the Union upon the inauguration of Abraham Lincoln, before an overt act against their constitutional rights, will you advise or vindicate resistance to the decision!” “I answer emphatically, that it is the duty of the President of the United States and of all others in authority under him, to enforce the laws of the United States, passed by Congress and as the Courts expound them;