* Economic ties: The border states had strong economic ties to the North, and they feared that secession would disrupt these ties and damage their economies.
* Political power: The border states had a relatively large number of representatives in Congress, and they feared that secession would reduce their political power.
* Fear of war: The border states were aware that secession would likely lead to war, and they did not want to see their states become battlefields.
* Unionist sentiment: There was a strong Unionist sentiment in the border states, and many people there believed that the Union was worth preserving.
Ultimately, the border states decided that the risks of secession outweighed the benefits, and they chose to remain in the Union.