My father told me he thought that to go to the Legislature once would be useful to me in my profession; I should learn how laws were made, and get acquainted with prominent men from different parts of the State.

So he advised me to accept, if I would make up my mind that I would go only for one year, and would after that stick to the law, and would never look to politics as a profession or vocation.

I accepted the nomination, was elected, and was made Chairman of one of the Law Committees in the House.
I declined a reelection and devoted myself to my profession, except that I served in the Massachusetts Senate one year, 1857, being nominated unexpectedly and under circumstances somewhat like those which attended my former nomination.

I was Chairman of the Judiciary Committee that year.

I devoted all my time, day and even far into the night, to my legislative duties.