They maintained absolute silence on the great question of the extension of slavery, and carried on their campaign on the personal popularity of their candidate.

Mr.Webster was righteously disgusted at their candidate and their negative attitude.
He could justly and properly have left them on a question of principle; but he swallowed the nomination, "not fit to be made," and gave to his party a decided and public support.

In 1852 the Whigs nominated another successful soldier, who was known to be a Whig, and who had been a candidate for their nomination before.

In their platform they formally adopted the essential principle demanded by Mr.Webster, and declared their adhesion to the compromise measures.

If there was disaffection in regard to this declaration of 1852, there was disaffection also about the silence of 1848.
In the former case, Mr.Webster adhered to the nomination; in the latter, he rejected it.