Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-02-27
DAVID CROCKETT.

| From the Mobile Register, Feb. 20.
| An article in the New Orleans Times on
the subject Of this gentleman, suggestive of
the forgetfulness of our day concerning the
events and personages of the day before
| yesterday, The writer says:
"The national fame he had acquired was
| owing to book published Of what purport-
ed to be his 'eccentricities,' to which we
| viii presently recur. It was first his local
| repute as a humorist. Then it became
hAbltual to ascribe to Davy, in the Tennes-
see papers, every conceit which wanted
currency. 1t was this kind of distinction
by which the world had known him a year
or two, when he was elected to Congress-"
This is turning notorious facts complete
ly topsy-turvy. Crockett was elected to
Congress in 1927, and twice reelected, audit
was in bis last term that the work purport-
ing to be his autobiography was published.
Crockett's disclaimer of the authorship did
not touch the genuineness of the details,
which were, no doubt, mostly acquired
from himself, and while it may be literally
true that cit never ,transpired who was the
author of the work, 1t was never disputed
that B. B. French wrote it. As for Crock
EFT repudiating the book, ''throwing away
the fame he had acquired by it." it is
enough to say that he had acquired his
fame already, and therefore, the book was
written to sell; and it sold because eyery-
body had heard of David Crockett, and,
therefore, bought it.
Crockett was a rough backwoodsman,
and an old soldier under jackson. he did
not scorn the refinement he did not possess
(and in proof Of this he gave his son
rb,r - L
generation, and an able editOr-eVery ad-
vantage of education) but he scorned to
ape refinement be knew he did not pos
sess, nor was be ashamed of lacking that
from which circumstances had debarred
him. Having honestly and scceptably serv-
ed his neighbors in the Legislature, he was
not afraid Of going to Congress; when there
he had no intention of being hidden in a
corner, and he svailed himself of his "ec-
centricities" to attract attention-that is, he
showed himself rather exaggerated spec
linen of what he really was, plain back
woOdsman. He succeeded in attracting
notice, and the result was that be was found
to be thoroughly honest, honorable, and SEN
sible, by men who but for bis seccentricties' |
would have passed him by unnoticsd. His
object once acquired, be toned down con- |
siderably.
He had desire to see the progress of the
Eastern cities, and in one of his Congress
sional vacations he made tour through |
them and was warmly welcomed every ]
where by the gentlemen who had made his |
in Washington and by others, |
who took pleasure in extending to him the |
oftheir homes. But he did not |
propose to be made.a show Of; he did not ira
vel as buffoon. Doubtless the New York
srs were disappointed in him, expecting
hat he would climb creased pole for their
A gentleman who sat next 4
him at the public dinner given him in Bos-
ION, and who had often heard him in Con-
gress Speaking to Buncome), perceived
hat the audience were rather disappointed
n the speech he made, and limited as much
% whom Crockett quietly replied, "There's
! time and place for all things, and for
liferent things" The Times writer, refer
ing to his disclaimer Of the book, says:
"The same spirit which constrained him
hus to discard stimulated fame, led him
% volunteer in the cause of Texan indie
,endence, which he did soon AFTER"
SThe simple fact Is, that on being beaten
or Congress by Huntsm IN in 1888 he emf
rated to Texas, and be had said during the
anvass that he would in that event, and
bus, when the war of Independence broke
ut, he volunteered as any patriot and old
older would do, to fight for his country.