[2] Owen was also against the parliamentary reform scheme put forward by Lord Blandford, divided against emancipation and the Galway franchise bill, and presented petitions for the abolition of slavery.
[2] After 23 years of absence from Parliament, in January 1861, he attempted to be elected as a Liberal for Pembrokeshire at a by-election resulting from the elevation of the sitting member, Lord Emlyn, to the peerage following the death of his father.
[4] Nominating him at Haverfordwest, Thomas Davies Lloyd of Bronwydd referred to the tradition of the house of Orielton and trusted that their fortunes would be revived.
There was mounting opposition to Owen during the 1860s, and in 1864 there were suggestions that he be replaced by Richard Potter, chairman of the Great Western Railway.
The passing years had erased some of the bitterness of political contests and the Pembrokeshire Herald, which was so hostile to him in the 1860s, described him as "accomplished, courteous and genial" and "in all respects a gentleman.