The National tribune., 1902-01-09

| with slavery, as in all probability they
would elect to be, the proportion hitherto
existing would be irretrievnbly lost; anC
the Northern States were jealously guard
| ing their own majority.
There was no objection to Alabama be
| ing admitted as Slave State ENheT
| Georgia ceded the territory out of which
Alabama was subsequently, constructed, il
was with the distinct understanding that
slavery should exist in that Territory
! This compact was respected in Washing
/ ton, and Alabama was. left to enter the
| Union as it pleased
The case of Missouri. however, pre-
cipitatcd a struggle in Congress.
Never before had the country received
such n shock. For the first time in the
| existence of an American Congress it was
| divided into sections.
The very thing against which Washing
ton in his Farewell Address had warned
the people had come about. Sectionalism
sprang into existence full grown and in
all its power in almost moment.
Brave patriots who loved the young
Republic began to fear for it. The de-
bate grew more and more acrimonious
The House, with its overwhelming Free
States odds, voted against the admission
of Missouri as a Slave State, but the
Senate voted for it.
The discussion of a matter of such vital
Importance to Missouri aroused every one
in the new Territory. Meetings were
held, business was suspended, and dele
gates elected to go to Congress and do
something for the Territory. Mr. Nc
Nair was one of the chosen delegates, and
the attorneys and judges agreed that his
lawsuit with La Boone should be delayed
until his return.
What are we to do when we get to
Washington" he asked.
GO to Congress and work"
Though he had not the remotest idea
what sort of work he was to do, he con-
sented to be one of the delegates.
A journey to Washington city was not
a matter of few hours, as at present,
but of weeks. The delegation, II in num-
ber, selected from various parts of the
Territory to represent the various sec
tions, assembled at st. Louis in the
Autumn, and set out on horseback for
the long journey.
For most part their journey was
through a sparsely-settled country. They
crossed rivers on rude ferries, swimming
the smaller streams. Taking what was
then the southern trail through Kentucky
they reached the town of Raleigh, North
Carolina, one cold. wet evening. The
tavern was then filled with a picturesque
group of men; bear-hunters, statesmen,
lOafcrS and merchants were mingling in
most Democratic fashion.
They had not been there long when Il
man clothed almost wholly in deerskin
with face tanned by Winters blast and
Drowned by Summers suns, entered the
tavern and began crOwding his way
through the mass of humanity toward the
fireplace, where a great, roaring fire was
blazing Oh the hearth.
Look out. stranger; who are you that
push people around that way" cried out
n man who had b2s2 pushed aside by the
stranger.
"Wn0 am II" roared the bear hunter
turning n pair of piercing eyes on the
man, who quailed before the glance. "Who
are you? / am that same Davy Crockett,
fresh from the backwoods, half boss,
half alligator, little touched with. the
swapping turtle. | can wade the Missis-
sippi, jump the Ohio, ride upon a streak O.
lightning, and slip without scratch down
a honey-locust. | can whip my weight in
wild cats, and if any gentleman pleases.
for tcn-dollar bill he can throw in a
panther. l can hug bar too close for
comfort, and eat any man opposed to Gen.
jackson" -S
Even then the fame Of David Crockett
had become almost national. Rough, un-
cOuth desperate as he seemed, he was
one of the factors which helped TO mold
the American Nation; one who has left
bis Impress on the people. 1t was he who
bUasted that his daughter rode aligatOrs
anu Dtdl tncln dipHS WIN DOi-HbthS. L Udl
his lands in Tennessee were so rich that
one could liant a crowbar and it would
sprout Il ten-Tenny nail before morning;
that the s1i of his native State was so
densely timbered. the moon could not rise
among the trees.
Unlettered and rude as ne was,
Crockett was statesman. In after years,
while serving in Congress, his holiness,
his bluntness and honesty. with his pic
turesque character, brought him into al
most worldwide renOwn. He made a
tour of the New England States, and ad-
dressed large audiences in Boston.
At this time he was a member of the
Tennessee Legislature, and was on his
way to Washington on some mission for
his State. He soon formed the acquaint-
ance of the Missouri delegation, and pro-
posed they finish the journey together.
Il brought my hatchet with me, and
I'm prepared to blaze the road so we can
find the way back" he declared.
Wen be glad to have your company,
Mr.. Crockett; we are going to try what
we can do toward getting Missouri ad-
mitted into the Union"
''Oh, yes; I've hearn' about that. It's
question o slavery, amt it?'
Yes, sir"
Don't make much difference whether
its free or not. You hain't got many mig
gers in the Territory, have ye?'
''No; we have only few. To the
masses it would make little difference; to
those who have many, it would work
hardship to have to leave the country or
sell their slaves"
Next day they resumed their journey
TO Washington, and reached the Capitol
just in the midst of the heated discussion.
The delegates were too late to appear
before the committees and could only take
their places in the gallery and listen to
the debates. For the first time parties
were divided by a geographical line. Hot
words and threats We're banded to and
fro with a frequency and freedom that
showed how deep and determined was the
feeling that underlaid the struggle. On