Well, in this case, the discernible facts back up their fears.
You also miss another more salient point. It doesn't matter what *I* believe. What mattered is what the people of those Northern states believed, and I dare say quite a lot of them may have been frighted by the possibilities outlined in those two and other newspaper editorials.
“I dare say quite a lot of them may have been frighted by the possibilities outlined in those two and other newspaper editorials.”
Your opinion again.