Throughout the 1850s, Lincoln had doubted the prospects of civil war, and his supporters rejected claims that his election would incite secession.
θɹuːˈaʊt ðə wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd fˈɪfti z, lˈɪŋkən hæd dˈaʊɾᵻd ðə pɹˈɑːspɛkts ʌv sˈɪvəl wˈɔːɹ, ænd hɪz səpˈoːɹɾɚz ɹᵻdʒˈɛktᵻd klˈeɪmz ðæt hɪz ᵻlˈɛkʃən wʊd ɪnsˈaɪt sɛsˈɛʃən.