By early 1852, the three leading candidates for the Whig presidential nomination were Scott, who anti-Compromise Northern Whigs backed; President Fillmore, the first choice of most Southern Whigs; and Secretary of State Webster, whose support was concentrated in New England. The 1852 Whig National Convention convened on June 16, and Southern delegates won approval of a party platform endorsing the Compromise of 1850 as a final settlement of the slavery question. On the convention's first presidential ballot, Fillmore received 133 of the necessary 147 votes, while Scott won 131 and Webster won 29. After the 46th ballot still failed to produce a presidential nominee, the delegates voted to adjourn until the following Monday. Over the weekend, Fillmore and Webster supporters conducted unsuccessful negotiations to unite behind one candidate. On the 48th ballot, Webster delegates began to defect to Scott, and the general gained the nomination on the 53rd ballot. Fillmore accepted his defeat with equanimity and endorsed Scott, but many Northern Whigs were dismayed when Scott publicly endorsed the party's pro-Compromise platform. Despite the party's effort to appeal to southerners by nominating William Alexander Graham of North Carolina for vice president, many Southern Whigs, including Alexander H. Stephens and Robert Toombs, refused to support Scott.
by early 1852 the three leading candidates for the whig presidential nomination were scott who anti-compromise northern whigs backed; president fillmore the first choice of most southern whigs; and secretary of state webster whose support was concentrated in new england the 1852 whig national convention convened on june 16 and southern delegates won approval of a party platform endorsing the compromise of 1850 as a final settlement of the slavery question on the convention's first presidential ballot fillmore received 133 of the necessary 147 votes while scott won 131 and webster won 29 after the 46th ballot still failed to produce a presidential nominee the delegates voted to adjourn until the following monday over the weekend fillmore and webster supporters conducted unsuccessful negotiations to unite behind one candidate on the 48th ballot webster delegates began to defect to scott and the general gained the nomination on the 53rd ballot fillmore accepted his defeat with equanimity and endorsed scott but many northern whigs were dismayed when scott publicly endorsed the party's pro-compromise platform despite the party's effort to appeal to southerners by nominating william alexander graham of north carolina for vice president many southern whigs including alexander h stephens and robert toombs refused to support scott