The Republican Party had been founded in 1854 , in reaction to the Kansas – Nebraska Act . Its anti-slavery stance was attractive to Seward , but he needed the Whig structure in New York to get re-elected . In September 1855 , the New York Whig and Republican parties held simultaneous conventions that quickly merged into one . Seward was the most prominent figure to join the new party , and was spoken of as a possible presidential candidate in 1856 . Weed , however , did not feel that the new party was strong enough on a national level to secure the presidency , and advised Seward to wait until 1860 . When Seward 's name was mentioned at the 1856 Republican National Convention , a huge ovation broke out . In the 1856 presidential election , the Democratic candidate , former Pennsylvania senator James Buchanan , defeated the Republican , former California senator John C. Frémont , and the Know Nothing candidate , former president Fillmore
1856 Republican National Convention
1856 Republican National Convention
William H. Seward