In 1848, the Whig party nominated yet another military hero in hopes of riding his popularity to electoral victory. But Zachary Taylor, the Mexican War hero of Monterrey and Buena Vista, was a dubious pick. He did not display any political convictions, and was a slaveholder from the South. Such a choice seemed likely to alienate the anti-slavery northern Whig contingent. Yet, the Democratic nominee, Lewis Cass, was not a viable alternative for this group. Although residing in Michigan, Cass was a slaveholder and an advocate of allowing territories to decide whether they would adopt slavery (a staunchly pro-slavery stance in the 1840s).

            A split occurred in the Democratic Convention that year in Baltimore, however, and former-president Martin Van Buren led a contingent of anti-slavery New Yorkers out of the party. This split had been boiling for years in New York, as a faction named the Barnburners were at odds with the pro-slavery “Hunkers.” This formal break in 1848 led the Barnburners to unite with anti-slavery Whigs and the Liberty Party to create a new Free Soil party. They chose Van Buren as their presidential candidate. Image: Zachary Taylor

           

            Rutherford B. Hayes, who was spending his final year in Lower Sandusky during this election cycle, might have been tempted to join the Free Soil forces as his stance against slavery expansion hardened. Instead, Hayes was never tempted to support Van Buren and his off-shoot third party; he and his uncle Sardis were “Taylor men from the start.” In fact, he showed some derision for the Free Soil party for stealing Whig majorities in parts of Ohio.

            If our hope, looking back, is that Hayes would have chosen stronger stand against slavery by joining with the Free Soilers, we are disappointed. But, there is more to the story than this particular choice. Michael Holt, who wrote an exhaustive history of the Whig party, concluded: “By itself, antislavery sentiment does not explain who became Free Soilers and who did not.”

            Hayes showed sympathy for the Free Soil party and its anti-slavery stance. He hoped for Free Soil candidate Salmon Chase to be appointed to one of Ohio’s Senate seats. While Chase differed “from Whigs in many essential particulars,” Hayes commented that “we shall still have reason to rejoice,” if he were appointed.  Hayes argued, “on all questions connected with Slavery he will find no master.”

            Yet, Hayes showed his unwillingness to divert his loyalty from the Whigs despite his adoration for Chase. He “will rank among the first men in the Senate,” Hayes observed, yet, “as we cannot choose Ewing or some other good whig (sic) I hope Judge C[hase] will be chosen.”

           

            Michael Holt points out that the “Free Soil party’s ability to siphon off Whig troops varied sharply from state to state.” In Ohio, “Influential Whigs played a larger role in … Free Soil’s organization.” Yet, those individuals in whom Hayes placed the most faith stayed loyal to the Whigs, including Ewing and Thomas Corwin. Their actions influenced Hayes in his decision. Yet, the Free Soilers were gaining ground in Ohio, and this influence would only continue to grow.

            In the meantime, Hayes had an important move to make—into Cincinnati. He decided to take a vacation before settling in however, taking a trip to see his college friend in Texas. In the process, he came across slavery for the first time.

 

Read Hayes's November 12, 1848, letter to his uncle Austin Birchard below: