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was now a candidate for re…election。 Barnum had been an earnest admirer of him； but now ascertained that he too was siding with Johnson。 This caused Barnum to take an active part in opposing him； and the showman…legislator spent many days and nights endeavoring to impress upon his colleagues the importance of defeating this candidate and electing the Hon。 O。 S。 Ferry to the Senatorship。
Excitement ran high。 At first Mr。 Ferry had only a few votes。 But under Barnum's skilful leadership he at last obtained a majority in the party caucus and was accordingly elected。
During that summer Barnum entertained many eminent politicians and other public men at his beautiful residence； Lindencroft。 Governor Hawley wanted him to serve as a Commissioner to the Paris Exposition of 1867； but he was unable to do so。
In the spring of 1867 he was nominated for Congress by the Republicans of the Fourth District。 In referring to this episode； he afterward remarked： 〃Politics were always distasteful to me。 I possessed； naturally； too much independence of mind； and too strong a determination to do what I believe to be right； regardless of party expediency； to make a lithe and oily politician。 To be called on to favor applications from office…seekers； without regard to their merits； and to do the dirty work too often demanded by political parties； to be 〃all things to all men；〃 though not in the apostolic sense； to shake hands with those whom I despised； and to kiss the dirty babies of those whose votes were courted； were political requirements which I felt I could never acceptably fulfil。 Nevertheless； I had become； so far as business was concerned； almost a man of leisure； and some of my warmest personal friends insisted that a nomination to so high and honorable a position as a member of Congress was not to be lightly rejected； and so I consented to run。 Fairfield and Litchfield counties composed the district； which； in the preceding Congressional election； in 1865； and just after the close of the war； was Republican。 In the year following； however； the district in the State election went Democratic。 I had this Democratic majority to contend against in 1867； and as the whole State turned over and elected the Democratic ticket； I lost my election。 In the next succeeding Congressional election； in 1869； the Fourth District also elected the only Democratic Congressman chosen from Connecticut that year。
〃I was neither disappointed nor cast down by my defeat。 The political canvass served the purpose of giving me a new sensation； and introducing me to new phases of human naturea subject which I had always great delight in studying。 The filth and scandal； the slanders and vindictiveness； the plottings and fawnings； the fidelity； meanness and manliness；： which by turns exhibited themselves in the exciting scenes preceding the election； were novel to me； and were so far interesting。
〃Shortly after my opponent was nominated I sent him the following letter； which was also published in the Bridgeport Standard：
〃 'BRIDGEPORT； Conn。； February 21； 1867。 〃 'W。 H。 BARNUM； Esq。； Salisbury； Conn。：
〃 'Dear Sir： Observing that the Democratic party has nominated you for Congress from this district； I desire to make you a proposition。
〃 'The citizens of this portion of our State will be compelled； on the first Monday in April next； to decide whether you or myself shall represent their interests and their principles in the Fortieth Congress of the United States。
〃 'The theory of our government is； that the will of the people shall be the law of the land。 It is important； therefore； that the people shall vote understandingly； and especially at this important crisis in our national existence。 In order that the voters of this district shall fully comprehend the principles by which each of their Congressional candidates is guided； I respectfully invite you to meet me in a serious and candid discussion of the important political issues of the day at various towns in the Fourth Congressional District of Connecticut； on each week…day evening； from the fourth day of March until the thirtieth day of the same month； both inclusive。
〃 'If you will consent to thus meet me in a friendly discussion of those subjects； now so near and dear to every American heart； and； I may add； possessing at this time such momentous interest to all civilized nations in the world who are suffering from misrule； I pledge myself to conduct my portion of the debate with perfect fairness； and with all due respect for my opponent； and doubt not you will do the same。
〃 'Never； in my judgment； in our past history as a nation； have interests and questions more important appealed to the people for their wise and careful consideration。 It is due to the voters of the Fourth Congressional District that they have an early and full opportunity to examine their candidates in regard to these important problems； and I shall esteem it a great privilege if you will accept this proposition。
〃 'Please favor me with an early answer； and oblige 〃 'Truly yours； 〃 'P。 T。 BARNUM。' 〃
To this letter Mr。 William H。 Barnum replied； positively declining to accept his rival's proposition。
When Congress met P。 T。 Barnum was surprised to see in the newspapers an announcement that the seat of his successful rival was to be contested on the ground of bribery and fraud。 〃 This；〃 he said； 〃was the first intimation that I had ever received of such an intention； and I was never； at any time before or afterwards； consulted upon the subject。 The movement proved to have originated with neighbors and townsmen of the successful candidate； who claimed to be able to prove that he had paid large sums of money to purchase votes。 They also claimed that they had proof that men were brought from an adjoining State to vote； and that in the office of the successful candidate naturalization papers were forged to enable foreigners to vote upon them。 But； I repeat； I took no part nor lot in the matter； but concluded that if I had been defeated by fraud； mine was the real success。' 〃
CHAPTER XXXIX。 FIGHTING A NEWSPAPER
DISPOSING OF THE LEASE OF THE MUSEUM SITETHE BARGAIN WITH MR。 BENNETTBARNUM'S REFUSAL TO BACK OUTA LONG AND BITTER WAR WITH 〃THE HERALD〃ACTION OF THE OTHER MANAGERSTHE RETURN OF PEACE。
After the destruction of his museum by fire； Barnum determined to open another and still finer establishment。 It would not be on the old site； however； but further up town。 The unexpired lease of the two lots at Ann Street and Broadway he proposed to sell； and he quickly had numerous offers for it。 This lease still had about eleven years to run； and the annual rental was only 10；000； and there was a provision that； in case of the burning of the building； the owner was to spend 24；000 in aiding Barnum to rebuild； and then； at the expiration of the lease； was to pay Barnum the appraised value of the building； not exceeding 100；000。 This lease had seemed extravagant when Barnum had made it； but the great growth of the city had so increased the value of property in that vicinity； that now the rental of 10；000 seemed ridiculousl