Lincoln's election has operated upon the slaveholding South in a manner indicative of the torments of the damned. Will they secede? Will they jump into the Atlantic? By bullying they have frightened the North into base submission — and expect to do it again. Shall they succeed?
Original passage & context
"The election of the Republican candidate, Abraham Lincoln, to the Presidency of the United States, has operated upon the whole slaveholding South in a manner indicative of the torments of the damned. [...] Will they secede from the Union? Will they jump into the Atlantic? Will they conflagrate their own dwellings, cut their own throats, and enable their slaves to rise in successful insurrection? Perhaps they will — probably they will not! By their bullying and raving, they have many times frightened the North into a base submission to their demands — and they expect to do it again! Shall they succeed?"
Ten days after the election and six weeks before South Carolina's ordinance, Garrison reads Southern secession threats as theatrical intimidation the North has repeatedly caved to ('there is method in their madness'). He does not here welcome secession. Verified at fair-use.org (clean transcription; masthead Vol. XXX No. 46). Fragments joined with [...].