In 1848 , he actively supported Martin Van Buren , the Free Soil candidate , for the presidency , and in 1852 he supported Franklin Pierce , but soon afterwards helped to organize the new Republican Party , and presided at its preliminary convention at Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania in February 1856 .
In 1848 , he actively supported Martin Van Buren , the Free Soil Party candidate , for the presidency , and in 1852 he supported Franklin Pierce , but soon afterwards helped to organize the new Republican Party for Anti-Slavery purposes , and went to a convention at Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania in February 1856 .