[Huck]

All I know about the firewood is in post #140. Crockett voted to provide gubmint wood to the city's poor. This was in 1831, which would be after any "conversion" we could come up with. I think that's what michigander was saying. According to my recollection of the record (which I posted), there was a rough storm in the Capital, and the House had excess firewood. I don't have the quote handy, but I recall the wood being described as "rotting." It was proposed that this excess wood be given to the poor, who were burning anything they could find. Crockett voted yea.

So, it seems to me there are at least 3 choices:

1. The "conversion" never took place-- I don't believe this is the correct choice. We have found that he did offer to pay out of pocket and voted against the bills for relief of widows. At least in some cases, he believed what the Ellis tale says he believed.

2. He viewed the donation of firewood as constitutional--We have nothing to back this up, but it is possible. By the 1830s, the question of Congressional power regarding the district had been thoroughly debated, because the anti-slavery forces in the Congress wished to exert the Constitutional authority to ban slavery in the district. Scores of petitions calling for such an action were submitted to the House routinely. So, the fabled Bunce might have no objection to charity which was constitutionally permissable, if such a case existed. According to the Congressional power in the district, that may have been Crockett's view.

3. Crockett was inconsistent-- entirely likely. In the winter of 1831, he may have simply forgotten the principle of Mr. Bunce. Maybe the old woodsman in him wanted to share wood with his fellow man, as he would have done out in the Kentucky woods.

I believe that enough information has been uncovered to confirm a lot of truth in the essence of the Ellis tale, even though almost every fact as been altered. I also like your theory on Samual Bunch. That was an outstanding contribution, IMO.

[RonDog]

I also like your theory on Samual Bunch. That was an outstanding contribution, IMO.

Thanks!

And thanks for your "firewood" update.
This appears to be a LONG TERM project, but I know of no OTHERS who are doing so... Just FReepers. ;)

Perhaps we can find some ACADEMIC- or HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION-types, or "David Crockett fan clubs" to help.

FWIW, here is an e-mail that I received from Jon Roland - from post #111:

"I have not personally verified the source, and commend you for your efforts to do so.
Let me know what you find.

As I understand it, the report we have originally appeared in a newspaper of the time, so may be historically inaccurate as newspaper articles often are.

--Jon

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Who wants to HELP find and contact these potential David Crockett/"Not Yours to Give" experts?

[wattsmag2]

Or, if the wood was rotting.

4) It was an easy way to get the rotten wood out of there without public expense.

[wattsmag2]

Now, if we might only find a way to get the "dead rotten wood" out of the Congress once again...