and was informed, much to his
surprise and chagrin, that Captain Mathews's son had offered himself
for the office of major, in opposition to Crockett.

The once had, in reality, but few charms for Crockett, and he did not
care much for it. But this unworthy treatment roused his indignation.
He was by nature one of the most frank and open-hearted of men, and
never attempted to do anything by guile. Immediately he called Captain
Mathews aside, and inquired what this all meant. The Captain was much
embarrassed, and made many lame excuses, saying that he would rather
his son would run against any man in the county than against Squire
Crockett.

"You need give yourself no uneasiness about that," Crockett replied. "I
care nothing for the office of major; I shall not allow my name to be
used against your son for that office. But I shall do everything in my
power to prevent his father from being colonel."

In accordance with the custom of the region and the times, after the
feasting and the frolicking, Captain Mathews mounted a stump, and
addressed the assembly in what was appropriately called a stump speech,
advocating his election.

The moment he closed, Squire Crockett mounted the stump, and on the
Captain's own grounds, addressing the Captain's guests, and himself one
of those guests, totally unabashed, made his first stump speech. He was
at no loss for words or ideas. He was full to the brim of fun. He
could, without any effort, keep the whole assembly in roars of
laughter. And there, in the presence of Captain Mathews and his family,
he argued his total unfitness to be the commander of a regiment.

It is to be regretted that there was no reporter present to transmit to
us that speech. It must have been a peculiar performance. It certainly
added much to Crockett's reputation as an able man and an orator. When
the election came, both father and son were badly beaten. Soon after, a
committee waited upon Crockett, soliciting him to stand as candidate
for the State Legislature, to represent the two counties of Lawrence
and Hickman.

Crockett was beginning to be ambitious. He consented. But he had
already engaged to take a drove of horses from Central Tennessee to the
lower part of North Carolina. This was a long journey, and going and
coming would take three months. He set out early in March, 1821. Upon
his return in June, he commenced with all zeal his electioneering
campaign. Characteristically he says:

"It was a b