The Baldwinite reformers were not a political party. With their primary aim achieved, the center could no longer hold. Internal dissensions soon began to appear, and in 1851 Baldwin resigned. The special struggle leading to his resignation was an attempt to abolish the Court of Chancery of Upper Canada, whose constitution was due to a measure introduced by Baldwin in 1849. The attempt, though defeated, had been supported by a majority of the representatives from Upper Canada, and Baldwin's fastidious conscience took it as a vote of confidence. A deeper reason was his inability to approve of the advanced views of the Radicals, or "Clear Grits," as they came to be called. On seeking re-election in York, he declined to give any pledge on the burning question of the Clergy Reserves and was defeated. In 1853 the Liberal-Conservative party, formed in 1854 by a coalition, attempted to bring him out as a candidate for the upper house, which was at this date elective. Though he had broken with the advanced reformers, Baldwin could not approve of the tactics of their opponents and refused to stand.
tHe baldwinite reFOrMeRs were nOt a politiCal pARty. with theiR PRimary Aim acHieved, the cenTer CoUlD NO longer holD. INterNAl DIssensiOnS soon Began to AppeaR, and in 1851 balDwIn resiGneD. the speCiaL struggLE LeaDiNg tO his resignation Was An atteMpt tO aBolish tHe cOurt Of chaNcery oF upPEr CaNada, Whose conStituTIon wAs dUe to a meAsUre inTRodUcEd By BALDwIN iN 1849. the Attempt tHough dEFeateD, had bEEn supporTed by a maJOriTy of The rEpResentatIves fRom uppeR CanaDA, AnD BALdwin's fAStIDiouS consciencE tOok iT AS a vote Of ConFidenCE. A DEEpEr Reason waS his inabiLity To AppRove Of the aDvaNced Views of tHe rADIcals, Or "clear grIts," as They came tO Be cAlled. on sEeking Re-ElECtIon in York, He DeCLIneD tO gIvE anY PLedge on tHe BuRnInG question of thE clergY reserves aNd was dEFeaTed. in 1853 the LiBErAl-conserVatIVE PaRty, fOrmED in 1854 bY a coaLitIon, AtTempted to brINg hIm ouT as a CANdiDatE foR THe Upper HousE, whiCH waS At this datE eLEc,tIve. tHouGh he Had bROkEn wiTh ThE advAnced refOrmerS, baLdwin COuld noT aPprOvE of the tAcTics of thEiR opponenTS aNd rEfused To sTand.