Chapter 20: Congressman and Governor.
- Living in a tent on the beach, he is elected to Congress -- takes part in financial questions -- greenbacks are money, and hence good enough for bondholders -- congressional election: running against R. H. Dana, Jr. -- sample stump speeches -- E. Rockwood Hoar and Harvard College -- trying to Impeach President Johnson -- presenting the case -- did Johnson know of Booth's plans: a private investigation -- Crittenden's challenge and Butler's answer -- greenbacks declared legal tender by Supreme Court -- proposition for an interchangeable bond -- plea for governmental system of terminal Annuities -- position on reconstruction -- United States should have had Canada for the Alabama claims -- “you shall never be Governor of Massachusetts ” -- “I will be Governor of Massachusetts ” -- and he becomes Governor -- that council -- Tewksbury -- the Fast-day proclamation -- Appointees -- Harvard College -- running for President in 1884 -- Cleveland's election fraudulent
In 1863 I provided myself with a piece of land on Cape Ann, on the northeast coast of Massachusetts, for a summer home for myself and family. I pitched my tent on the southerly side of it next to Ipswich Bay, a beautiful and picturesque piece of water, where the sunsets are equal to those of the Bay of Naples. With my two boys and their tutor I established myself in this tent on the beach as a seashore home. We all neglected that residence somewhat in 1864, but then we were occupying a tent with the Army of the James in Virginia. In the summer of 1865 we were on Cape Ann again, where we spent a very delightful season in sailing and fishing, and the full enjoyment of a free life. This residence was about forty miles from my home at Lowell, and outside of the congressional district in which that city is situated. When autumn came we struck the tent, and afterwards I spent the winter at Washington before the courts there. In 1866 we returned to our tent, and in fishing and fowling spent another summer delightfully. That fall came the election for representatives to Congress. I had no wish or desire to antagonize the sitting member from the Lowell district, the Hon. George S. Boutwell, in his re-election. But the Hon. John B. Alley, who then represented the district where my tent was, familiarly known in Massachusetts as the Essex district, informed me that he did not desire to be a candidate again, and asked me if I would like to succeed him. Reflecting upon the matter, and feeling a little curiosity to know whether I could be elected in a district where I was only a carpet-bagger, I said I would try it. The convention was called, and without any special effort I was nominated. There was a large Republican majority in that district,
