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and temperance meetings, and wrote for various newspapers.
He was also drawn into politics.
In the autumn of 1848, he accepted the nomination of the
Free Soil Party for Congress and wrote thus to his brother:—
You have probably seen my nomination for Congress.
I did all I could to get Whittier nominated, but he obstinately declined, and it was he who proposed my name. . . .
Perhaps I should not have started my [local] newspaper column had I expected this nomination —but now I am in for it, I have no thought of flinching.
It will hurt my popularity in Newburyport for they call it ambition &c.—but I trust that time will do me justice. . . . I expect to “stump” a little and but little.
To the same he wrote, October II, 1848:—
I shall be glad when the Presidential Campaign is over.
I spoke at Haverhill last Monday to a fine large audience—the best I have seen, and the best speech.
I always knew I had a fountain of extempore matter in me somewhere—but did not expect to find it tapped so suddenly. . . . I am getting used to seeing my name at the Corners of the Streets.
In juvenile days that would have seemed beyond the horizon of earthly ambition, but it don't seem to tell for so much now. I don't think Morleena Kenwigs herself would be tempted to be proud, could she actually have the experience.
Free Soil does n't prosper much just in this
