Why did John Breckenridge do so well in Connecticut in 1860?

[Badger]

The Southern  Democrat presidential candidate garnered just over 20% of the vote there, only narrowly being beat by Northern Democrat Douglas for second place. By comparison, Breckenridge's second best non-fusion ticket result in any Northern state was only 4.5% in Indiana. His vote in other New England states and New York ranged from nominal to non-existent.

Any idea how this happened?

[Coldstream]

I found this letter which seems to suggest the Connecticut Democratic Party was controlled by Breckinridge supporters. As to why that was I don’t know.

https://www.nytimes.com/1860/10/12/archives/breckinridge-and-douglas-in-connecticut.html

[Obama-Biden Democrat]

Pro slavery sentiment was stronger in the Mid Atlantic and areas bordering NYC such as Connecticut and New Jersey. Upstate New York and New England were the birthplaces of abolitionism.

[TransfemmeGoreVidal]

I think Connecticut had a strong shipping industry that was tied in with the cotton trade. Also a lot of wealthy international trade oriented bourbon Democrats.