Another feature of the campaign also quickly developed itself.  On the preceding 5th of March, one of Mr. Lincoln’s New England speeches had been made at Hartford, Connecticut; and at its close he was escorted to his hotel by a procession of the local Republican club, at the head of which marched a few of its members bearing torches and wearing caps and capes of glazed oilcloth, the primary purpose of which was to shield their clothes from the dripping oil of their torches.  Both the simplicity and the efficiency of the uniform caught the popular eye, as did also the name, “Wide-Awakes,” applied to them by the “Hartford Courant.”  The example found quick imitation in Hartford and adjoining towns, and when Mr. Lincoln was made candidate for President, every city, town, and nearly every village in the North, within a brief space, had its organized Wide-Awake club, with their half-military uniform and drill; and these clubs were often, later in the campaign, gathered into imposing torch-light processions, miles in length, on occasions of important party meetings and speech-making.  It was the revived spirit of the Harrison campaign of twenty years before; but now, shorn of its fun and frolic, it was strengthened by the power of organization and the tremendous impetus of earnest devotion to a high principle.

It was a noteworthy feature of the campaign that the letters of acceptance of all the candidates, either in distinct words or unmistakable implication, declared devotion to the Union, while at the same time the adherents of each were charging disunion sentiments and intentions upon the other three parties.  Douglas himself made a tour of speech-making through the Southern States, in which, while denouncing the political views of both Lincoln and Breckinridge, he nevertheless openly declared, in response to direct questions, that no grievance could justify disunion, and that he was ready “to put the hemp around the neck and hang any man who would raise the arm of resistance to the constituted authorities of the country.”

During the early part of the campaign the more extreme Southern fire-eaters abated somewhat of their violent menaces of disunion.  Between the Charleston and 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.