smith was a presidential elector on the whig ticket in 1844 he was elected back to the house of representatives representing the 4th district for the twenty-ninth and thirtieth congresses. he served from march 4, 1845, to march 3, 1849. smith declined the appointment to be the first united states secretary of the interior from president zachary taylor in 1849 having been elected to the united states senate. he served from march 4, 1849, until his resignation may 24, 1854.