 In 1850, he also secured Office for the term of 1851–1853 in the 32nd U.S. Congress where he would serve as a U.S. Representative for the 2nd District of California; in 1852, he failed in his attempt to seek re-election.Perhaps better known for what he did after his term in Office had ended than during that term in Office, on June 1st of 1853, he fought a duel with the still California Democratic Party U.S.Senator William M. Gwin over the question of alleged mismanagement of federal patronage; no human died in the duel, however, a donkey met an unfortunate fate.