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Colonel Higginson was required to do more or less stump-speaking in this campaign and wrote:—
Nov. 6.
Election Day . . . . Globe reporter surprised to find me quietly reading and said that all the other candidates were in rooms at hotels with newspapers, telegraphers, and tables of figures.
Nov. 7.
Learned news of defeat by the morning paper—felt political but not much personal regret, as I have never supposed I should like the life and there is plenty besides to be done.
About the result of the election, he told his sister:—
I don't doubt that many who at first meant to vote for me decided at last to stick by their party; and this is not strange, as one vote may determine the majority in the House ... The defection of the colored people's Club in Boston at the last moment was rather unexpected . . . . But on the whole the Irish-Americans stood by me well and so did some of the colored people. ... M. volunteered the use of Dapple [a small Shetland pony] all day yesterday for bringing up voters.
In another letter to his brother-in-law he reported:—
The Election was really on pretty strict party lines. . . . I don't feel that I have wasted time and strength; it has done me no apparent harm and made me feel that I am younger and stronger than I thought . . . the morning disappointment already seems a good way off. Margaret dances about and says, “O papa, I'm so glad you are not elected.”
