Final answer:
In this context, the word incident most likely means 'likely to occur.'
Step-by-step explanation:
In this context, the word incident most likely means "likely to occur."
The student can infer this based on the sentence structure and the surrounding text. The phrase 'we behold a republican rem government' suggests that the author is discussing the characteristics and structure of the Union. The word incident is used to describe the extent and proper structure of the Union, indicating that it is something that is likely to occur or happen in relation to the government.
For example, if the author is talking about the Union's structure as being incident to a republican government, it means that the structure is in alignment with or connected to the nature of a republican government, suggesting that it is expected or likely to be present within that context.
Learn more about Meaning and context of the word 'incident'