The Arkansaw traveler., 1884-03-08

to my suprise. found about a thousand men there. met a good many whom 1 had not known before. and they and my friend introduced me around until had got pretty well acquainted, a, least they all knew me.
 In due time notice was given that would speak to them. They gathered up around stand that had been erected. opened my speech by saying:
 fellow-ci,izens, present myself be- fore you to-day feeling like a new man. My eyes have lately been opened 10 truths which ignorance or prejudice, or both, i, had heretofore hidden from my view.
 l feel tha, l can today offer you the abil- ity 10 render you more valuable service than have ever been able to render be- fore am here to-day more foe@ihe purpose of acknowledging my error than to seek your votes. That should make this acknowledgment is due 10 myself as well as to you. Whether you will vote for me IS matter for your consideration only
 went on 10 tell them about the fire and my vote for the appropriation as have told It 10 you, and then told them why was satisfied il was wrorg. l clesed by saying
 And nox, fellow-ei,izens. i, remains only for me to tell you that the mos, of the speech you have listened to with so much interest was simply a repetition of the arguments by which your neighbor. NIT. Bunce, convinced me of my error.
 l" II Is the bes; speech ever made in my life, but he is entitled to the credit of 1t. And now hope he Is satisfed with his convert and that he will get up here and tell you so.'
 He came upon the stand and said
 eiiow-citizenS, Il affords me great pleasure to comply win the reques, of Colonel Crockett. have always cons,d- cred him thoroughly honest man, and am satisfied that he will faithfully per form all that he has promised you to- day. He went down, and there went up from thst crowd such a shou, for Davy Crockett as his name never called forth before.
 Now, sir, concluded Crockett you know why l made that speech yesterday. have had several thousand copies of i, printed and was directing them to my constituents when you came in.
 There IS one thing now 10 which will call your attention. You remember ,ha, proposed 10 give weeks pay There are in that house many very wealthy men men who think nothing of spending a week pay, or dozen of them. for a din- ner or a wine party when they have some thing to accomplish by it. Some of these same men made beautiful speeches upon the debt of gratitude whick the country owed the deeeased-a debt which could not be paid by money-and the inssnifi- canoe and wor,hlessness oi money. par E ucuiarly so insignificant sum IS .fo.- 900. when weighed against the honor of the nation. Yet no, one of them re- sponded 70 my proposition. Money with f them Is nothing bu, trash when i, is to come out of the people. but it is the one great thing Tor which most of them are striving. and many of them sacrifice hon. or. integrity and justice to obtain it.
 The hour for the meeting of the house had by this time erfived. We walked up to the capitol together, but said n6s,a word to him about moving a reconsider--' ton. l would as soon have asked a sim eere Christian to abjure his religion
 had listened to his story with an in. terest which was greatly increased by his manner of telling il, for. no matter wha, we may say of the merits of a story. a speech or sermon. it is very rare pro- duction which does not derive it's in,eres, more from the manner than the matter. as some of my readers have doubtless. like the writer proved to their cost.
 By Crockett's aid succeeded in hav- ng my business settled in three or four days aftersard and left Washington. never saw him again.