esent term in the Senate have spent thirty-
eight years in the National service.

This came from no ambition of mine. In May, 1868, I sailed
for Europe, broken down in health by hard work. During my
absence, some of the leading Republicans of the District issued
an appeal recommending me as a candidate for Congress. There
were five or six other candidates. They were all of them
men of great popularity, with hosts of friends and supporters.
Among them was John D. Baldwin, then holding the seat, a veteran
in the Anti-Slavery Service, editor of the Worcester _Spy,_
one of the most influential papers in New England. It had
been the almost unvarying custom of the people of Massachusetts
to reelect an old member who had served as faithfully as Mr.
Baldwin. Another candidate was Francis W. Bird, one of the
founders of the Anti-Slavery Party, and a man who had been
a powerful supporter by speech and pen and wise counsel and
large influence of the Republican Party since its foundation.
He was supported by the powerful influence of Charles Sumner,
then at the height of his popularity, and by Adin Thayer,
the ablest political organizer in Massachusetts. Another
candidate was Amasa Walker, the eminent writer on political
economy, whose name has since been rendered still more illustrious
by the brilliant public service of his son. Another was Mr.
Mayhew, a successful manufacturer, of large wealth, and a
deserved favorite in Milford, the second town in the District,
where he resided. Another still was Lucius W. Pond, a generous
and warm-hearted man, although he afterward fell from his
high place. He was a Methodist. That denomination had always
been strong and influential in the Worcester District, and
its members have always stood stanchly by the men of their
own household when candidates for political office. Mr. Pond
was also a member of the Masonic Order and of other secret
associations. I ought however to say, in justice to the Masonic
Fraternity, that I have never been able to see that there
was any truth whatever in the charge that the members of that
Order deemed it their duty to support each other in politics,
or when on juries. Many a client has told me with great alarm
that his opponent was a Mason, and that one or more leading
Masons were on the jury that were to try the case. I always
refused to challenge a juryman on that account, and I never
found that the man's being a Mason had the least effect in