Norwich bulletin., 1920-12-23
)DD INCIDENTS IN AMERICAN
 HISTORY
DAvY CROCKETT WOULDN'T BE AN
IL. D.

Davy Crockett was not only one Of the early American soldiers of fortune. but he earned for himself quite a repu- tation late in life in the halls of state. Davy's' induction into political life was one of the singular incidents of American politics during the middle of the past century.
 It would be hard to imagine any state today that would be willing to entrust it's affairs in the hands of a person who had been little more than a backwoods- man and an expert rifle shot, The love of adventure was always more to Davy's liking than a professional career of any character and there is little humor that he was frequently the butt of the humor of his fellow members.
 Crockett was undoubtedly well at home in his own state legislature at the peirod he served, and he had some train ing for the higher sphere to which he was chosen. He had been judge for brief period in the bacl1woods where he lived and after serving several terms in his home legislature he was chosen to go to Washington where he was the ''lion of the hour"
 Crockett was probably the quaintest character that ever sat in congress His election to his seat was unique: Without to make a CanNdSS d 1TleIQ lOdlleu him a few hundred dollars and by his picturesque stumping methods his ready wit and the quaint and homely stories he told his constituents he won over his arts- tocratic opponent by close to 5000 votes.
 When he reached Washington, Crock ett's peculiarities of manner and dres drew attention to him, and hundreds of people visited the capital for no other purpose than to see the member from "t1e wilds of Tennessee" The most ab- surd stories were told of his prowess with gun and knife, and there was scarcely anything said of him too wildly improbable to believe. "Davy Crocketts A1rnanacs" and lives of Colonel Davy Crockett" were sold troadcast. and he was credited with sayings of which he nee'er dreamed.
 Crockett went to Washington staunch supporter President Jackson, but he won the Presidents ennity. and Jackson suc- ceeded in defeating him for the fourth term. The president was trying to push through congress his Indian bill and Davy vigorously opposed it. He describ- ed his fight with Jackson in his autobi- ography in the following picturesque man. ner: 'I am at liberty to vote as my conscience and judgment dictates to be right. Look at my arms you will find no party handcuffs on them look at my | neck, you will rot find there any collar with the engraving, My dog. Andrew Jackson "
 Dayy fame had become nationwide and during his third term in congress having been invited to do so, he visited a nun Der of Northern cities in each one ot which he was eiven an ovation. His frs stop was at Baltimore and from there ht 1 went to PhiladelDhia by steamer Here | he spent several days ill public reception! and in sightseeing.
 l New York was the next city to receiv, | him with open arms, and then he wal taken to Boston. While there he was in. vited to Harvard University, at Cam | bridge, but he refused to do so, and whel asked why he replied:
 | T fear they might bestow on me tht 1 title of ILL. D. which I do not thinl would add to my popularity among m, own people in the backwoods of Tennes
 see. If such would happen to be m, | fate and my constituents would see thi
 degree attached to my name. they woul almost likely translate it into meaniny
 Lazy, lounging dunce'.
 Col. Crockett next visited Lowell an
 was much astonished at what he saw :, the mills. MT, Lawrence presented hir 1 WlpH Sull OI DrOaQclOln made out c
 wool brought from Mississippi Fro7
 Lowell he returned to New York an
 from there to Philadelphia, where his at
 mirer again dined him for several day
 He then went to Pittsburg, down tn
 Ohio, touching at various cities. an
 thence down the Mississipp to his home
 the woods
 He had a great time in the North. bl
 his constituents were not pleased wi.
 1t. They did not like it, nor did they lil !, his bitter attacks on President Jacksol
 and when he came up for reelection |
 was badly defeated
 , Crockett was now 50 years of age ar his picturesque political career was ent
 ed. He turned his back upon publ
 life and started once more for the froI tier He fought with undaunted courae to assist Texas to gain it's iudependenc and in the heroic defence of the Alan
 he was slain with the others Of the sma
 band who made one of the most hero stands in history.
 (Tomorrow-Our Greatest Snow Storm