In 1844, Yell ran for Congress again, in order to help his friend James Polk, who was elected president in that same election. Yell's opponent was the well respected, but somewhat priggish, David Walker. As was the custom of the day, the two men "traveled the stump" together, debating the issues for any crowd they could find to listen. Early Arkansas historian John Hallum supplied this account of that campaign:
"When on the way to Yellville to fill an appointment, they stopped on the wayside at a shooting-match in progress for beef. Judge Walker's conscientious convictions cut him off from either shooting for beef or indulging in a drink."
"Yell, after shaking the hand of every man and boy on the ground, bought a chance in the match for beef, and fortuitously made the best shot and won first choice. The crowd yelled and huzzaed for Yell, whilst Judge Walker looked on in calm and cold stoicism and some degree of disgust."
"Governor Yell then inquired for the most necessitous widow in the vicinity, and sent his beef to her. Next he sent for a jug of whiskey and tipped glasses with the voters."
"On another occasion they took in a camp-meeting on King's River, where Judge Walker thought his superior moral qualifications would come into play greatly to the disadvantage of his adversary, who he thought had no pretensions to qualification in that direction. A man who would shoot for beef, and take a drink out of a jug on the roadside, must necessarily be at great disadvantage on a campground, where religion was altogether in the ascendancy."
"But to his great disgust, he soon found Governor Yell leading the old class-leaders in the amen corner, and singing with musical voice on a key above all others that old hymn 'How happy are they who their Savior obey.' He was as great a favorite at the campground as at the shooting match. His consummate knowledge of human nature enabled him to shine with equal splendor in a camp or court. He was born to lead men."
"Judge Walker, in a fit of despair, was heard to say to one of his political friends: 'You can't beat such a man as that; he is all things to all men, and all men believe in him; he is as popular with psalm-singers as with those who take their dram and shoot for beef."
It really doesn't matter whether these stories about Yell were true. What is important is that such stories were told about him. Yell's enormous popularity with the masses, however, was little use to him in his desire to rise above state office. U.S. Senators in those days were elected by legislatures and Yell had many enemies among his fellow politicians. This stemmed in part because of jealousy of Yell's popularity, but also because Yell's imperious manner won him few political allies. So in spite of Yell's popularity with the voters, in 1846 the legislature rejected his bid for the Senate in favor of Chester Ashley, a land speculator and co-founder of Little Rock who had never really held public office before.
