1840 anti 1844 and sought to win the election with a Northern
man, Lewis Cass of Michigan, as candidate.

There was, therefore, a clear field for a party having fully
defined views to express on a topic of commanding interest. The
cleavage in the Democratic party already begun by the debate over
the Wilmot Proviso was farther promoted by a factional division
of New York Democrats. Martin Van Buren became the leader of the
liberal faction, the "Barnburners," who nominated him for
President at a convention at Utica. The spirit of independence
now seized disaffected Whigs and Democrats everywhere in the
North and Northwest. Men of anti-slavery proclivities held
nonpartizan meetings and conventions. The movement finally
culminated in the famous Buffalo convention which gave birth to
the Freesoil party. The delegates of all political persuasions
united on the one principle of opposition to slavery. They
adopted a ringing platform closing with the words: "Resolved,
That we inscribe on our banner 'Free Soil, Free Speech, Free
Labor, and Free Men,' and under it will fight on, and fight ever,
until a triumphant victory shall reward our exertions." They
accepted Van Buren as their candidate. The vote at the ensuing
election was more than fourfold that given to Birney in 1844. The
Van Buren supporters held the balance of power between Whigs and
Democrats in twelve States. Taylor was elected by the vote of New
York, which except for the division in the party would have gone
to Cass. There was no longer any doubt of the fact that a
political force had arisen which could no longer be ignored by
the ruling parties. One of the parties must either support the
new issue or give place to a party which would do so.