He served there but a single term.

He made one speech, a Constitutional argument in support of the power of Congress to abolish slavery in the District of Columbia.

He also took rather a prominent part in a discussion in which the Whig members complained of one of the rulings of the Democratic speaker.
His service was not long enough to gain for him any considerable national distinction.

But that he made a good impression on the House appears from an extract of a letter I lately received from my classmate, Rev.Walter Mitchell, the author of the spirited and famous poem, "Tacking Ship off Fire Island." He says: "I heard your uncle, Mr.Eliot, say that when your father went to Congress the Southern members said, 'Where has this man been all his life, and why have we never heard of him?
With us a man of his ability would be known all over the South.'" My father retired from active practice at the Bar shortly after his return from Congress in 1837.

In 1844 an event occurred which contributed largely to the bitter feeling between the two sections of the country, which brought on the Civil War.
As is well known, under the laws of South Carolina, colored seamen on ships that went into the port of Charleston were imprisoned during the stay of the ship, and sold to pay their jail fees if the ship went off and left them, or if the fees were not paid.
The Legislature of Massachusetts directed the Governor to employ counsel to test the constitutionality of these laws.
No Southern lawyer of sufficient ability and distinction could be found who would undertake the duty.