prior to the outbreak of the american civil war, white was in support of preserving the united states. in the united states presidential election of 1860, white supported constitutional union party presidential candidate john bell and his running mate edward everett. the constitutional union party was formed by former whig party members seeking to avoid secessionism over the issue of slavery. in 1861, white voted for union candidates to serve as delegates from hampshire county in the virginia secession convention, one of which was his son-in-law colonel e. m. armstrong.