In 1848 , Van Buren was the leader of the Barnburner faction of the Democratic Party , which repudiated the 1848 Democratic National Convention 's selection of Lewis Cass , who was seen as friendly to slavery . The Barnburners met for a State Convention in Utica , New York on June 22 and nominated Martin Van Buren as their presidential candidate . On August 9 , the National Convention of the Free Soil Party , held in Buffalo , New York , endorsed this nomination . Martin Van Buren had no expectation of winning , but his increasingly anti-slavery views caused him to oppose Cass , and he also hoped to exact a measure of revenge , since Cass was instrumental in denying Martin Van Buren the Democratic nomination in 1844 . Martin Van Buren failed to win a single state , but won enough votes in New York to tip the state to Zachary Taylor , who won the presidency as a result
1848 Democratic National Convention
1848 Democratic National Convention
John Van Buren