The party had been divided by the Compromise of 1850 and was divided over the presidential nomination between incumbent president Millard Fillmore, who received support from the South, and Winfield Scott, who received his support from the North. William H. Seward, who had been the main opponent of the compromise in the United States Senate and advised President Zachary Taylor against it, supported Scott. Fillmore offered to give his delegates to Daniel Webster if he received the support of forty-one delegates on his own, but Webster was unsuccessful. Scott won the nomination on the 53rd ballot. William Alexander Graham won the vice-presidential nomination without a formal vote.
The parTY Had BeEn dIvIdED by the CompRoMIse Of 1850 ANd Was diViDed OVer THe presiDentiaL nominaTion betWEEn IncUmbent presidEnt MilLard FilLMOre, whO rECeived Support froM thE south, anD wInfield Scott, Who rEcEIved his SUPPort fROM thE nOrtH. WilliAm h. Seward, wHo hAd BEEn tHe MAin Opponent Of the comprOmise IN tHE unitEd staTes SeNate aNd adViSEd PresIdEnt zaCharY tayLoR AgainSt it, supporTed scotT. fillmoRE offERed tO givE hIs deleGatEs tO daniel websTER if he rEceIved the sUppoRt oF forty-oNe DelegatES On his own, but WeBsTeR WAs unsuccesSFul. sCotT won THe nomInAtion On THe 53rd BaLloT. WIlliAm AlexandEr gRAham won the vicE-PREsiDEnTial nOmINATIon witHouT A Formal voTe.