baɪ ðə lˈeɪt wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd fˈɪfti z, mˈʌlᵻnz hæd θɹˈoʊn hɪz səpˈoːɹt bᵻhˌaɪnd ðɪ ˌɑːpəzˈɪʃən pˈɑːɹɾi, ɐ hˈɑːdʒpɑːdʒ ɡɹˈuːp ʌv ˈɛkswˈɪɡz, ˈɛksnˈoʊ nˈʌθɪŋz, ænd dɪsɡɹˈʌntəld dˈɛməkɹˌæts fˈɔːɹmd tə kˈaʊntɚ ðə ɹˈaɪzɪŋ sɛsˈɛʃənˌɪst sˈɛntɪmənts tʃˈæmpiənd baɪ sˈʌðɚn dˈɛməkɹˌæts.
By the late 1850s, Mullins had thrown his support behind the Opposition Party, a hodgepodge group of ex-Whigs, ex-Know Nothings, and disgruntled Democrats formed to counter the rising secessionist sentiments championed by Southern Democrats.