Chapter 3

CAMPAIGN OF 1848--ITS INCIDENTS AND RESULTS. Approach of another Presidential Campaign--Party Divisions threatened by the Wilmot Proviso--Nomination of Gen. Cass--The "Nicholson Letter"--Democratic Division in New York--Nomination of Gen. Taylor --Whig Divisions--Birth of the Free Soil Party--Buffalo Convention --Nomination of Van Buren and Adams--Difficulty of uniting on Van Buren--Incidents--Rev. Joshua Leavitt--Work of the Campaign--Webster and Free Soil--Greeley and Seward--Abuse of Whig Bolters--Remarkable Results of the Canvass.