hem, before his election as President."

Alluding to Crockett's political views at that time, his guest writes,
"I held in high estimation the present Administration of our country.
To this he was opposed. His views, however, delighted me. And were they
more generally adopted we should be none the loser. He was opposed to
the Administration, and yet conceded that many of its acts were wise
and efficient, and would have received his cordial support. He admired
Mr. Clay, but had objections to him. He was opposed to the Tariff, yet,
I think, a supporter of the United States Bank. He seemed to have the
most horrible objection to binding himself to any man or set of men. He
said, 'I would as lieve be an old coon-dog as obliged to do what any
man or set of men would tell me to do. I will support the present
Administration as far as I would any other; that is, as far as I
believe its views to be right. I will pledge myself to support no
Administration. I had rather be politically damned than hypocritically
immortalized.'"

In the winter of 1827, Crockett emerged from his cabin in the
wilderness for a seat in Congress. He was so poor that he had not money
enough to pay his expenses to Washington. His election had cost him one
hundred and fifty dollars, which a friend had loaned him. The same
friend advanced one hundred dollars more to help him on his journey.

"When I left home," he says, "I was happy, devilish, and full of fun. I
bade adieu to my friends, dogs, and rifle, and took the stage, where I
met with much variety of character, and amused myself when my humor
prompted. Being fresh from the backwoods, my stories amused my
companions, and I passed my time pleasantly.

"When I arrived at Raleigh the weather was cold and rainy, and we were
all dull and tired. Upon going into the tavern, where I was an entire
stranger, the room was crowded, and the crowd did not give way that I
might come to the fire. I was rooting my way to the fire, not in a good
humor, when some fellow staggered up towards me, and cried out, 'Hurrah
for Adams.'

"Said I, 'Stranger, you had better hurrah for hell, and praise your own
country.'

"'And who are you? said he. I replied:

"'I am that same David Crockett, fresh from the backwoods, half horse,
half alligator, a little touched with the snapping-turtle. I can wade
the Mississippi, leap the Ohio, ride upon a streak of lightning, and
slip without a scratch down a honey-locust. I can whip my w