Which was my original supposition that this was more the reason for the success of the Republican party in the 1860 election than the anti-slavery movement. The reason why Lincoln won 50% majorities in most of the northern states over the combined efforts of the democrat candidates, who were better known politically.
That Lincoln was not rabidly anti-slave in his speeches, during the 1860 campaign, which did not set him apart from either of the two democrat candidates on that issue. Two Democrat Candidates who were basically Constitutionalist. The thing that would have set them apart was, as George P. says, the quest for power. And therefore the need to keep the Union together. Therefore the anti-secession plank within the platform.
Or am I missing something here?