It is unquestionable that, at this period, he hoped and
expected to spend a life of professional toil in a private station,
undistinguished except by the exercise of his great talents in peaceful
pursuits. But such was not his destiny. The contingency to which he
referred in the above letter, as the sole exception to his purpose of
never being separated from his family, was now about to occur. Nor did
he fail to comport himself as not only that intimation, but the whole
tenor of his character, gave reason to anticipate.
During the years embraced in this chapter,--between 1842 and 1847,--he
had constantly taken an efficient interest in the politics of the state,
but had uniformly declined the honors which New Hampshire was at all
times ready to confer upon him. A democratic convention nominated him
for governor, but could not obtain his acquiescence. One of the
occasions on which he most strenuously exerted himself was in holding the
democratic party loyal to its principles, in opposition to the course of
John P. Hale. This gentleman, then a representative in Congress, had
broken with his party on no less important a point than the annexation of
Texas. He has never since acted with the Democracy, and has long been a
leader of the free soil party.
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