The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1890-08-02
OLD DAYS IN TENNESSEE.

Ashvllle (N. {. ,lCor. ofthe Atlanta Constitution
Your correspondent is in possession
of some interesting "reminiscences Of
events that transpired in West Ten.
nessee in antebellum days, which
were furnished by a former resident
of Tennessee, but who now lives in
North Carolina. The first one men,
TONED is an incident connected with
the election Of President James X.
Polk, which has never before found its
way into print Previous TO his nom-
ination as the Democratic candidate
for President Mr.. Polk was the Dem
oeratic nominee for Governor Of Ten
nessee, and it was then believed if he
could successfully carry the Democratic
banner to victory be would stand a
good chance TO receive the Presiden-
tIal nomination. Those were exciting
times in Tennessee, the Wings and
Democrats being about equally divid-
ed. In Lauderdale County there lived
Tennessean and prominent Democrat
named Gen. James Connor, who was
prevailed upon by Mr.. Polk to make
the race for State Senator against tho
Wing candidate, whose name was Liv-
ingstone. The district was hopelessly
against the Democracy, but it was
thought that Gen. Connor could, ow-
ing to his great popularity, reduce the
Wing majority, and thereby elect Mr..
Polk Governor. Gen. Connor made
the race, and it is said to have been the
liveliest canvass ever made in that
Senatorial District. Gen Conner was
defeated, but he reduced the Whig
candidates majority about 1000 votes,
and this reduction brought about the
election of Mr.. Polk, and the promi-
nencePolk's success gave him caused the
eyes of the whole nation to be turned
toward him, and when the Democratic
National Convention subsequently met
he was nominated for the Presidency.
After Mr.. Polk was inaugurated he
wrote Gen. Conner a very kind letter
in which he acknowledged the great
service he had rendered him, and Gen.
Conner still has this letter IN his pos
session and prizes it very highly.
In the days when "Davy" Crockett
was such powerful politician 10 west
Tennessee he had for his intimate
friend General James Connor who had
done so much to elevate Mr.. Polk.
Gen. Connor, who still lives at Ripley,
in Lauderdsle county, was then and is
now great admirer of fine horses and
always had several in his large and
commodious stables. When Crockett
was making canvass for Congress in
his District, he and Connor attended u
public gathering Of the yeomanry In
one of the counties. Crockett wore q
coon skin cap that day and made him.
self decidedly agreeable, but he had
some opposition, and in order to gain
more strength in that county he hit
upon a novel scheme for securing
votes. lie went to Gen. Conner and
asked him to loan him his fine horse.
Tho General at once consented and
Crockett mounted the fiery charger
aud galloped up and down the road
and In aud out among tue crown yell
ing at the top Of his voice, and occa-
sionally haltng and taking a drink of
cider with the hardfisted sons of toll.
He would then gallop Off again, wav-
ing his coonskin cap and giving vent
to more loud and keen yells. lie re-
peatcd the antics several times and the
crowd seemed TO enjoy them hugely.
When he returned the horse to Gen.
Connor he was asked what object he
had in conducting himself in such a
way, and he replied that il was a way
he had employed for gaining friends,
and that he had made 200 or 800
votes that day.
II is the general opinion that "Davy'
Crockett was rough, uncoutb man,
but Gen. James Connor says that such
was not the case, but that he was quite
cultured and could adapt himself to
any kind Of company, aud 1t was this
popularity in his composition that
helped 10 elect him to Congress.
When he was at last defeated he lef,
Tennessee. lie was to all appearances
crushed to the earth never TO arise
again, but history tells us of his subse-
quent valor and bravery at Alamo. II
has often been said that "Davy"
Crockett left Tennessee because Van
Buren, was elected President, and that
in SO doing he was only carrying out
determination previously settled upon
He had been heard to remark that il
Van Buren, was elected President he
would no longer remain citizen Of
tho United States, but Gen. Counor is
of the opinion that he left Tennessee
because he could not stand defeat.