Volume 12 , Issue 15

Free-Soiler Party (1848-1852)

Wikipedia defines Free-Soiler Party as a short lived political party in the United States active in the 1848 and 1852 presidential elections and in some state elections. It was a third party that largely appealed to and drew its greatest strength from New York State.

The Free-Soil Party developed in part from a political rivalry in New York State. The Democratic Party there consisted of contending factions: the "Barnburners," who were strongly opposed to slavery, and the "Hunkers," who were neutral or supportive of slavery.

The party leadership consisted of former anti-slavery members of the Whig Party and the Democratic Party. Its purpose was opposing the expansion of slavery into the western territories. They argued that free men on free soil comprised a morally and economically superior system to slavery. They also opposed slavery in the new territories and worked to remove existing laws that discriminated against freed blacks in states such as Ohio.

Free-Soiler candidates ran on the platform that declared, "We inscribee on our banner, "Free Soil, Free Speech, Free Labor and Free Men,' and under it we will fight on and fight ever, until a triumphant victory shall reward our exertions."

The Free Soil Party was a notable third party. More successful than most, it sent two Senators and fourteen Representatives to the thirty-first Congress. Its presidential nominee in 1848, Martin Van Buren, received 291,616 votes against Zachary Taylor of the Whigs and Lewis Cass of the Democrats but Van Buren received no electoral votes. The Party's "spoiler" effect in 1848 may have put Zachary Taylor into office in a narrowly-contested election. The Free Soil Party membership was largely absorbed by the Republican party in 1854.
  |  View or Add Comments (0 Comments)   |   Receive updates ( subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

---