But it was ordered otherwise. My
life in Worcester came to an end, and I shall if I live to
complete my present 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.
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