Northern Democrats had very generally denied that the affair with Mexico had as a chief purpose the extension of slavery.
Democrats therefore united with Whigs in maintaining the principle of free soil.

In the South there was a corresponding fusion of the two parties in support of the sectional issue.
General concern prevailed as to the attitude of the Administration.
Taylor's election had been effected by both a Southern and a Northern split in the Democratic party.

Northern Democrats had voted for the Free-soil candidate because of the alleged pro-slavery tendencies of their own party.

Southern Democrats voted for Taylor because of their distrust of Lewis Cass, their own candidate.

Some of these met in convention and formally nominated Taylor, and Taylor accepted their nomination with thanks.