You mean after the Lincoln "heavies" had paid him a visit? He was saying stuff like "The South is Evil! They have no right to leave! Up with the Union!" and so forth.
Pretty much whatever words he needed to articulate to stay out of prison.
He became a fire breathing "damn them all to hell" Republican.
But Lincoln had that effect on people, particularly the Maryland Legislature.
I find it interesting that Lincoln's method of doing business was quite similar to that which became known as "The Chicago Way." I wonder if Springfield is the source from which this methodology originated?
Like I said. Crazier by the hour.
In fact, if anything Greeley was always more anti-slavery than Lincoln and never hesitated to criticize Lincoln where Greeley believed Lincoln weak on principles.
Historians tell us the reason Greeley said, in November 1860, "let them go" was to stiffen weak-willed Republicans against their natural tendency to compromise away principles.
Greeley was saying: don't give secessionists what they want on slavery, hold firm and if necessary "let them go".
Once they did go, and began provoking war then Greeley quickly joined the "go get them" side of Republican hard-liners.
So it was not fear of Lincoln which changed Greeley's mind, but rather Greeley's consistent support for abolition of slavery.