The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1891-01-30
miscellaneous.
HEROIC DAVY CROCKETT.
Incidents in the Career of n Most Remarks
BILE Man.

BILE Man.
Colonel David Crockett was q most re-
markable character, q man far in advance OF
the times in which he lived. Reared in the
humble walks of life, but endowed with q
strong will power, an unremitting persever.
ance, and brave heart, he rose to distinc-
ton and renown.
He was born at Limestone, on the NOla-
chucky River, in eastern Tennessee, on
August II, 1885. His father, soldier in the
Revolutionary war, was the owner OF a
tavern on the road from Abingdon to Knox
vile, where David passed his boyhood.-
Colonel Crockett's education cons listed of
exactly two months and four days schooling,
he being otherwise self-educated. In the
Greek war of 1894 he was found fighting
in the ranks as private soldier under Gen
eral jackson. When peace was declared he
settled on Shoal Creek, a desolate region
of the State. A community ofreckless char
acters having focked together at this place,
it was necessary to establish temporary
government, and Col. Crockett was elected
magistrate. He was soon afterwards a
candidate for the legislature, and made sue
cessful race by shooting at matches and recit-
ing amusing stories.
He was twice reelected, but devoted him
self principally TO bear hunting, until, in the
year 1927, when he was elected to Congress
by the party of Andrew Jackson. At WASH
ington he obtained u notoriety for the eccen-
tricity of his manners and language. Of his
life while al the capital many amusing stories
are told.
On one occasion he was in conversation
with fellow member from Massachusetts,
when droveSf mules were seen to pass.
"There goes some of your constituents"
remarked his companion. Eyes," replied
Colonel Crockett, ''they are going to Massa-
chusetts to teach school,"
This incident is typical ofthe man. Gifted
with an exhaustless fund OF humor, he was
always ready to turn joke to his own &C.
count.
In 1929 he was again elected to Congress,
but soon afterward changed from partisan
10 an opponent of Jackson's administration.
For this course he encountered the most
bitter opposition from the administration in
his next race, but in spite of all honorable
means and the dishonorable method of gerry
Wandering he was triumphantly reelected
in 1881.
The dime novelist and catch penny writers
have so exaggerated the doings and sayings
of Colonel Crockett that great numbers of
people have come to regard him more as a
mythical than a real character. But their
statements have been entirely misleading,
and it is only necessary to read his public
utterances in order to be convinced that he
was man of marked ability.
During Colonel Crocketts term 10 the
House bill was brought forward appro-
priating several thousand dollars for the bene-
fit of widow of certain naval officer
There seemed to be unanimous opinion in
avor of the measure, and the Speaker was
about to put the question when Crockett
arose. Every one expected to hear one of his
characteristic speeches in support of the bill.
He commenced:
"Mr. Speaker have as much respect for
the memory of the deceased, and as much
sympathy for the sufferings of the living, as
any man in this house, but we must not per-
NIT our respect for the dead, nor our sym m
pathy for part of the living, to lead US to an
act OF injustice to the balance of the living
Mr.. Speaker, the deceased lived long after
the close of the war he was in Office to the
day of his death, and I have never heard that
this Government was in arrears to him.
This Government can owe no debts but for
services rendered, and at stipulated price,
lift ia debt how much is it lift is debt, we
owe more than we can ever hope to pay for.
We owe the widow of every soldier who
fought in the war 1912 precisely the same
amount. There is woman in my neighbor-
hood, the widow of as gallant a soldier as
ever shouldered musket. He fell in battle.
She is as good in every respect as this lady,
and just as poor. She is earning her daily
bread by her daily labor, and il were to in
troduce bill to appropriate S. 900 or SIC, 900
for her benefit l should be laughed at and
my bill would not get five votes in this House.
There are thousands of widows in this coun-
try just such as the one l have spoken of, but
we never hear of these large debts that we
owe them.
I'VE can not, without the grossest corrup-
ton, appropriate this money as the payment
off debt. We have not the semblance of
authority to appropriate it as a charity. Mr..
Speaker, / have said that we have the
right to give as much money of our own as
as we please. I am the poorest man on this
floor cannot vote on this bill. but will
give one weeks pay to the object, and if every
member will do the same it will amount to
more than the bill asks"
The bill was lost by large ajority.-
After finishing his third term in Congress
Crockett sought new life and career in Texas
then in revolt against Mexico, and it was at
the sublime defence of the Alamo that he met
his death.
The story of that dreadful siege is too
familiar TO need any repetition. Not de-
fender lived to tell the tale of that terrible
battle.
Neither ancient nor modern history affords
grander exhibition than was shown OF that
crimson day, when the blood of the Spartan
band became the seed from which sprung
Texan independence.