The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-05-26

in the State Legislature. It maftered mot that Crockett was ignorant on im-
 portsnt questions then uppermost all
 over the country. The people felt that The was one of them." They took per- sonal pride in his skill with the ride and his inimitable powers as a humor- ist and. funny story teller. Without consulting him, they rallied at the pri- maries and again at the polls with much enthusiasm that he was elected | by the astounding majority in the dis trict of near 5000, near three-fourths | of the entire vote.
 l> He was congratulated from every part of the Union. It is difficult at this remote day to appreciate the ex- perience of David Crockett in Wash ington. His well-known peculiarities of manner and dress, his native humor and eccentricities, soon drew attention to him, and he became famous through out the country. Hundreds visited the capital for no other purpose than to see the member from the wilds of Ten nessee, who had slain such a great number of Indians and bears.
 There were, indeed, very few who ever reached such a point as did Da- vid Crockett in the public eye and yet maintain their natural simplicity of character. When Crockett entered | Congress he was q great friend of Gen.
 eral Jackson and supporter of the Jackson party to the end. He was elected a second time by an immense majority, but during this term he be- gan to feel a great inclination to object to some of the methods of Jackson, and so expressed himself. In those days about the most popular thing man could do, especially in Tennesse. was to support Jackson, without turning to the right or left.
 Colonel Crockett could not deliber- ately do that which he believed wrong.
 no matter what reward or punishment
 loomed up before him. General Jack
 sons famous Indian bill Crockett
 would not support from principle. It
 was a favorite bill of the President,
 and his friends said it would be the
 poIitical death of any Jackson man to oppose it. When told of this Crockett
 replied:
 II believe the measure is unjust and
 wicked. and I shall fight 1t. let the
 consequences be as it may"
 It proved dangerous step for
 Crockett. His reported speech was
 spread broadcast, and that he had turned against Jackson, the idol of the State. Crockett, however, on his return
 home. made it known that he would again be a candidate.
 Crockett for some time remained in
 the backwoods, but he had become thoroughly imbued with the fever for office. The desperate struggle which
 followed then vividly reminds us of those which have occurred since. and are occurring today and will occur in politics to the end of time. Crockett's
 experience and natural ability enabled him greatly during the contest. While
 the people of Tennessee believed Gen. eral Jackson to be the greatest man that ever lived, they liked fair play. The fight was one of the hottest ever fought in the State. When closed, and the summing up took place, it was found that Crockett was elected by only the small majority of POP votes. Naturally, after he had occupied a seat in Congress for two sessions, hav-
 ing never been north of Washington.
 he felt desire to make trip through the principal cities. He had made many friends among the members North and East-who strongly urged him to make the tour. He left Wash ington in August, 1884. The same even ing he reached Barnun's Hotel, in Baltimore. It was here that the writ CT first saw him. He was generously entertained while at Barnum's, and the following day he left for Phila- delphia where he also received an ovation. It is not necessary to refer to his triumph along his route North; 1t was simply continual ova- ton. His last night in Philadelphia was marked by a grand banquet given by his admirers. On his arrival at New York he was received by a vast as- semblage of people, and Crockett re- marked: How many acres of human hai avsa in I uAA of them.' Before he could land from the steamer he was taken charge of by a committee and carried to the Amer ican Hotel. Crockett saw the sights of Ne wYork. He visited, first of all, the newspaper offices, and afterwards nearly all the places of importance. He was cordially received everywhere.
 After two days in New York Crock cit left for Boston. His journey was one or continued delight. until he was taken in charge at the Fremont House, which he pronounced to be "one of the finest taverns he had ever stopped at." He was treated with the greatest hos pitality. He found no end to the en- tertanments. While in Boston he had an urgent invitation to visit Harvard University. but Crockett shrank from entering that famous institution, giv ing as reason that "he was afraid they would bestow upon the title of LI.. D., to which he had no more claim than had Gen. Andrew Jackson. who re- ceived 1t some time before"
 On his return from the North he re- mained a few days in Baltimore. be- ing met at the wharf and escorted by several thousand men to Barnum's Ho- tel. where he made one of his charac. teristic speeches. He returned to Washington and walked into the House of Representatives just in time to vote on the question of adjournment. He started for home by way of Philadel- phia. While at the United States Ho- tel he was presented with a silver mounted rifle, together with a toma- hawk and a bowie knife. He said: No present could have been so pleas