“I am gratified that I have spoken the truth to the people of my district, regardless of the consequences.  I would not be compelled to bow down to the idol for a seat in Congress during life.  I have never known what it was to sacrifice my own judgment to gratify any party; and I have no doubt of the time being close at hand when I shall be rewarded for letting my tongue speak what my heart thinks.  I have suffered myself to be politically sacrificed to save my country from ruin and disgrace; and if I am never again elected, I will have the gratification to know that I have done my duty.  I may add, in the words of the man in the play, ’Crockett’s occupation’s gone.’”

Two weeks after this he writes, “I confess the thorn still rankles, not so much on my own account as the nation’s.  As my country no longer requires my services, I have made up my mind to go to Texas.  My life has been one of danger, toil, and privation.  But these difficulties I had to encounter at a time when I considered it nothing more than right good sport to surmount them.  But now I start upon my own hook, and God only grant that it may be strong enough to support the weight that may be hung upon it.  I have a new row to hoe, a long and rough one; but come what will, I will go ahead.”

Just before leaving for Texas, he attended a political meeting of his constituents.  The following extract from his autobiography will give the reader a very vivid idea of his feelings at the time, and of the very peculiar character which circumstances had developed in him: 

“A few days ago I went to a meeting of my constituents.  My appetite for politics was at one time just about as sharp set as a saw-mill, but late events have given me something of a surfeit, more than I could well digest; still, habit, they say, is second natur, and so I went, and gave them a piece of my mind touching ‘the Government’ and the succession, by way of a codicil to what I have often said before.

“I told them, moreover, of my services, pretty straight up and down, for a man may be allowed to speak on such subjects when others are about to forget them; and I also told them of the manner in which I had been knocked down and dragged out, and that I did not consider it a fair fight anyhow they could fix it.  I put the ingredients in the cup pretty strong I tell you, and I concluded my speech by telling them that I was done with politics for the present, and that they might all go to hell, and I would go to Texas.

“When I returned home I felt a sort of cast down at the change that had taken place in my fortunes, and sorrow, it is said, will make even an oyster feel poetical.  I never tried my hand at that sort of writing but on this particular occasion such was my state of feeling, that I began to fancy myself inspired; so I took pen in hand, and as usual I went ahead.  When I had got fairly through, my poetry looked as zigzag as a worm-fence; the lines wouldn’t tally