David Crockett: His Life and AdventuresAbbott, John S. C. (John Stevens Cabot)
History
David Crockett: His Life and Adventures
Abbott, John S. C. (John Stevens Cabot)
Crockett, Davy, 1786-1836
"Soon after the commencement of this second term, I saw, or thought I
did, that it was expected of me that I would bow to the name of Andrew
Jackson, and follow him in all his motions, and windings, and turnings,
even at the expense of my conscience and judgment. Such a thing was new
to me, and a total stranger to my principles. I know'd well enough,
though, that if I didn't 'hurrah' for his name, the hue and cry was to
be raised against me, and I was to be sacrificed, if possible. His
famous, or rather I should say his infamous Indian bill was brought
forward, and I opposed it from the purest motives in the world. Several
of my colleagues got around me, and told me how well they loved me, and
that I was ruining myself. They said this was a favorite measure of the
President, and I ought to go for it. I told them I believed it was a
wicked, unjust measure, and that I should go against it, let the cost
to myself be what it might; that I was willing to go with General
Jackson in everything that I believed was honest and right; but,
further than this, I wouldn't go for him or any other man in the whole
creation.
"I had been elected by a majority of three thousand five hundred and
eighty-five votes, and I believed they were honest men, and wouldn't
want me to vote for any unjust notion, to please Jackson or any one
else; at any rate, I was of age, and determined to trust them. I voted
against this Indian bill, and my conscience yet tells me that I gave a
good, honest vote, and one that I believe will not make me ashamed in
the day of judgment. I served out my term, and though many amusing,
things happened, I am not disposed to swell my narrative by inserting
them.
"When it closed, and I returned home, I found the storm had raised
against me sure enough; and it was echoed from side to side, and from
end to end of my district, that I had turned against Jackson. This was
considered the unpardonable sin. I was hunted down like a wild varment,
and in this hunt every little newspaper in the district, and every
little pinhook lawyer was engaged. Indeed, they were ready to print
anything and everything that the ingenuity of man could invent against
me."
In consequence of this opposition, Crockett lost his next election, and
yet by a majority of but seventy votes. For two years he remained at
home hunting bears. But having once tasted the pleasures of political
life, and the excitements of Washington, his silent rambles in the
woods had lost much of their ancient charms. He was again a candidate
at the ensuing election, and, after a very warm contest gained the day
by a majority of two hundred and two votes.
CHAPTER X.
Crockett's Tour to the North and the East.
His Reelection to Congress.--The Northern Tour.--First Sight of a
Railroad.--Reception in Philadelphia.--His First Speech.--Arrival in
New York.--The Ovation there.--Visit to Boston.--Cambridge and
Lowell.--Specimens of his Speeches.--Expansion of his Ideas.--Rapid
Improvement.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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