This allusion was called out by two letters which Lincoln had written during the year; one declaring his opposition to the waning fallacy of know-nothingism, in which he also defined his position on "fusion.

In both regions many of them had embraced Know-Nothingism, more as an alternative than from original choice.

The Whig party was dissolved; Know-Nothingism had utterly failedtheir only resource was to form a new party.

In the later campaigns, while he did not allow his attention to be diverted from the slavery discussion, his disapproval of Know-Nothingism was quite as decided and as public.