that the house ever had.

In 1836, he was nominated by a large portion of the Democratic electors
of the Lincoln Congressional District as their candidate for Congress.
That district has recently shown itself to possess a decided Whig
majority; and this would have been equally the case in 1836, had any
other man than Mr. Cilley appeared on the Democratic side. He had
likewise to contend, as in all the former scenes of his political life,
with that portion of his own party which adhered to Mr. Ruggles. There
was still another formidable obstacle, in the high character of Judge
Bailey, who then represented the district, and was a candidate for
re-election. All these difficulties, however, served only to protract
the contest, but could not snatch the victory from Mr. Cilley, who
obtained a majority of votes at the third trial. It was a fatal
triumph.

In the summer of 1837, a few months after his election to Congress, I
met Mr. Cilley for the first time since early youth, when he had been to
me almost as an elder brother. The two or three days which I spent in
his neighborhood enabled us to renew our former intimacy. In his person
there was very little change, and that little was for the better. He
had an impending brow, deep-set eyes, and a thin and thoughtful
countenance, which, in his abstracted moments, seemed almost stern; but,
in the intercourse of society, it was brightened with a kindly smile,
that will live in the recollection of all who knew him. His manners had
not a fastidious polish, but were characterized by the simplicity of one
who had dwelt remote from cities, holding free companionship with the
yeomen of the land. I thought him as true a representative of the
people as ever theory could portray. His earlier and later habits of
life, his feelings, partialities, and prejudices, were those of the