The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1853-10-08
WHOLE No 636

vidual member of the Convention to be
entitled to cast his own vote. Had this
motion prevailed, it is generally under
stood that Henry Clay would have OBJ
tanned the nomination--and his friends
afterwards deeply regretted that they
had not sustained Mr.. Bowle's motion.
A nomination of Henry Clay at tint
election would have certainly made him
President of the United States.
After the nomination of Gen. Harri-
son, Mr.. Bowie was placed on the cleo
toriaI ticket, and with his colleagues
from Maryland. had the honor of voting
for the hero OF Tlrp:canoe.
From the time OF his retirement from
the State Senate in 1888, to the cleo
ton of 1919. Mr.. Bowie continued to
devote hlmsefio hisprofession, in which
he has attained a very high position,
being not only the leading member of
the bar of his own county, but also a
frequent and distinguished practitioner
before the Court of Appeals.
In 1919, he was nominated by the
Wing Convention of the District COM
posed Of st. Mary'S, Prince Georges,
Charles, Calvert, Anne Arundel and
! Montgomery counties, as candidate
for the Ilousp of representatives, and
in Congress, Mr.. Bowie was emphatic
cally working man. He also lreqeni
~ participated in the debates, and many
Of his printed speeches would do credit
to.any one Of the ablest statesmen Of the
country.
To Mr.. Bowie belongs the honor of
having been the first mcMber n tie
UouSc Of Representatives who took
ground IN favor of Mr.. Clay's Com
promise bill. He made a beautiful and
thrilling speech in lis favor, which was
highly complimrntrd at the time. The
following is taken from the report OF Il
neutral journal:
[From lie Bali. Sun. Of Jnne I, 1850.
"Mr. Bowie, of Maryland, made Il
gerry powerful speech, in which he char
acterized the contest now waged by the
antl-slaverv men, as one in which they
wanted to force through the ballot-boX,
upon other men, principles which We're
with them matters Of conscience, thus
to make our government religious
instead OF political institution.-Alr
Bowie expressed his views against the
abolition Of slavery in the District of
Columbia, arguing that it would be il
violation of the compact by which the
cession was made by Maryland of her
territory to the federal government for
a seat OF government. Mr.. Bowie fin
ally denounced the Wilmo' Prov1so; and
after highly eulogizing Mr.. Clay, ex-
pressed his views of the Compromise
bill introduced by that Senator, and his
determi nation to support it.'
1t will be remembered that this was
at time when the then administration
(that of Gen. Taylor) was supposed to
be unfriendy to Mr. Clay's measures,
because preferring one OF its own-and
when southern representatives We're
fearing to speak in its favor. Their
constituents afterwards forced them TO
its support; but Nj. Bowie had the pa
triotism and boldness to advocate Henry
Clay's glorious Compromise upon his
own responsibility, and without watt
ing to be prompted by petitions from
home.
In the course of his speech, Mr.. Bowie
Eel; it his duty to allude to and defend
the character and services of Henry
Clay; and we cannot iorbear to make
the following extract:
ain commenting upon this Compro-
mise, an honorable member from New
Hampshire (Mr. Tuck) deemed it
misfortune that the whig party had been
governed by great men for the last forty.
years, and in his ardor was understood
! to pray that God would take the most
gifted men to his bosom. For my part,
Mr.. Chairman, though no enthusiast
regard it as benign lnterpositlon OF
Providence, that the great light OF
former DAYS has been preserved to guide
us IN the hour of difficulty and danger.
A misfortune that the Wing Party
should be led by such a man Has the.
honorable member forgotten the ines
timabIc services of that genius! Has he.
! forgotten that his voice reused the dor
mant energies of our infant Rrpub!.a TO
graphic with the mistress of the seas,
and strung the nerves of those who
struck for free trade and sailors rights"
/ in the war Of 1872 that his voice
animated our armies, and scared vic
tory to our feeble ilee's 1t was his
voice that first hailed the Republics of
the South and almost called them into
being. His name is now echoed IN '...e
handicapped Cordilleras, and ,lics away
but to be repeated in the valleys II
Grenada. surrounded hy OH.
entail despot'sm, acknowledges h'm4 as
her benetactor. VIXEN his couatry for
gets his services, may forget | am an
American"
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