This  was  at  the  period  of  political  agitation  attending  the  financial
measures  of  President  Jackson.  Mr.  Sargent  became  a  political
writer  and  speaker  in  the  Whig  cause,  and  was  elected  to  the  lower
house  of  the  Legislature  of  Massachusetts.  For  some  three  years
he  was  almost  a  daily  writer  for  the  editorial  columns  of  the
Boston  Atlas,  and  added  largely  by  his  articles  to  the  reputation
which  the  paper  at  that  time  enjoj-ed  as  an  efficient,  vigorous  party
journal.  In  1S3S  Mr.  Sargent  removed  to  the  city  of  New  York,
and  was  well  known  by  his  pen  and  oratory  during  the  active
political  career  which  resulted  in  the  election  of  General  Harrison
to  the  presidency.  The  Courier  and  Enquirer,  for  three  or  four
years  at  this  time,  was  enriched  by  leading  political  articles  from
his  hand.  At  the  close  of  the  contest  he  reengaged  in  the  active
pursuit  of  his  profession.  To  this  he  devoted  himself,  with  rigid
seclusion  from  politics,  for  eight  years,  with  success.  He  was
drawn,  however,  again  into  politics  in  the  canvass  which  resulted
in  the  election  of  General  Taylor,  upon  whose  elevation  to  the
presidency,  he  became  associated  with  Mr.  Alexander  C.  Bullitt,
of  Kentucky,  in  the  establishment  of  the  Republic  newspaper  at
Washington.  Its  success  was  immediate  and  unprecedented.  In
about  six  months  it  numbered  more  than  thirty  thousand  staunch
Whigs  on  its  subscription  list.  Its  course,  however,  was  not  ac-
ceptable to  the  members  of  the  Cabinet.  A  rupture  was  finally
brought  about,  and  he  withdrew  from  the  editorship  of  the  paper.
