gislature,
were all present. Some of these men were of considerable ability, and
certainly of very fluent speech. The backwoodsmen, from their huts,
where there were no books, no newspapers, no intelligent companionship,
found this a rich intellectual treat. Their minds were greatly excited
as they listened to the impassioned and glowing utterances of speaker
after speaker; for many of these stump orators had command of a rude
but very effective eloquence.

Crockett listened also, with increasing anxiety. He knew that his turn
was to come; that he must mount the stump and address the listening
throng. He perceived that he could not speak as these men were
speaking; and perhaps for the first time in his life began to
experience some sense of inferiority. He writes:

"The thought of having to make a speech made my knees feel mighty weak,
and set my heart to fluttering almost as bad as my first love-scrape
with the Quaker's niece. But as good luck would have it, these big
candidates spoke nearly all day, and when they quit the people were
worn out with fatigue, which afforded me a good apology for not
discussing the Government. But I listened mighty close to them, and was
learning pretty fast about political matters. When they were all done,
I got up and told some laughable story, and quit. I found I was safe in
those parts; and so I went home, and did not go back again till after
the election was over. But to cut this matter short, I was elected,
doubling my competitor, and nine votes over.

"A short time after this, I was at Pulaski, where I met with Colonel
Polk, now a member of Congress from Tennessee. He was at that time a
member elected to the Legislature, as well as myself. In a large
company he said to me, 'Well, Colonel, I suppose we shall have a
radical change of the judiciary at the next session of the
Legislature.' 'Very likely, sir,' says I. And I put out quicker, for I
was afraid some one would ask me what the judiciary was; and if I
know'd I wish I may be shot. I don't indeed believe I had ever before
heard that there was any such thing in all nature. But still I was not
willing that the people there should know how ignorant I was about it."

At length the day arrived for the meeting of the Legislature. Crockett
repaired to the seat of government. With all his self-complacency he
began to appreciate that he had much to learn. The two first items of
intelligence which he deemed it important that he, as a