 While serving in the Ohio legislature, Long became an important associate of Salmon P. Chase, and Long helped steer the Ohio legislature towards electing Chase as the United States Senator from Ohio in 1848.Long also continued to teach when the legislature was not in session.After serving two years as a "free-soiler" Democrat in the Ohio State House of Representatives (1848-1850), Long began an active and lucrative law practice in January, 1851, whereupon he relocated from Green township to Cincinnati, Ohio.