Davy Crockett Passes The Hat To Congress

Or "When Men Were Men and Congressmen were Constitutional"

When Davy Crockett was serving as Congressman the plight of a widow was presented to Congress. It was proposed that a bill be passed to help this widow of a naval officer. Davy Crockett objected. It wasn't because he didn't want to help widows. He just understood that it wasn't (isn't) the function of the Federal Government to give special aid to particular individuals. He understood (and held to) the US Constitution.

The Congressman stood and said, "I am the poorest man in this house, I cannot vote for this bill, but I'll donate one week's pay to this widow. If everyone else on the floor will do the same, it will be more than the bill calls for."

After having made this suggestion, Crockett passed his coon skin cap around the room. When the hat returned to him he discovered that only one Congressman had contributed. That lone Congressman was Davy Crockett.

Crockett made the observation that Congressmen are much more eager to spend other people's money than they are their own.

This fact is even more true today. Why don't you and I take the fortitude that Davy Crockett had? Why don't we "pass the hat" back to Congress?

Kevin Paul Alawine

Reformed Confederate

(My source for this story is John Eidsmoe, Professor of Constitutional Law)