The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1855-12-01
\ 1)crsonal GItttti).
From he Washington ors1n.
HENRY WINTER DAVIS.

If there is any one lesson taught by history
more cmphatically than any other, it is this
that the times bring forth the men for the
times: that in the same womb from whence
come forth great events, are nurtured the mas
ter spirits destined to bring about and con-
troll those events; to give
''Tho very age and boly Of the time, is form and
pressure
a most striking illustration ofthis factmay
be seen in the history ofthc Revolution which
separated us from Great Britain: in that
which for time overturned the monarchy Of
England, and brought the head Of Charles the
First to the block and also in the French
Revolution. We need scarccl. name the his
torlc characters whom the troublOus periods
referred to brought forward as the great lead
ers and master minds of their day and gencr-
alton, as our readers must he familiar with
them. The names of Cromwell, Napoleon
and Washington. and their colaborcrs are
stamped upon the historic page in characters
of unfading light.
I'll revolutions, all great movements of the
masses, all rcformations, agitatc in n greater
or less degree the communities in which they
take place, stir up and put in action the minds
of the people and thus bring forth and make
conspicuous those who are endowed with cy-
traorlinary talent of any kind, and especially
of sucn as the peculiar state of the times de-
nands, whether it he genius for military
affairs. cloqucnce to arouse and persuade, or
wisdom to calm and direct.
\ great movement, and we hope rcforma-
ton is now going OH in the United States
1t pcryalcs and uphcavcs the masses; it has
seized upon the American heart it appeals
to the American sentiment : it gives intensity
to the national feeling. and has reused our
national pride. But it has also called forth
strenuous and bitter opposition, and the con-
nict has stirred up and brought into the field
the men of moral courage, of energy, Of talent
and of tloquence in every part of the country.
We might mention many Of those who have
thus been brought conspicuously before the
Anglican people, and of whom we shonld
speak with equal pride and pleasure, but our
purpose at the present time is to allude to one
individual only, namely, the Hon. Henry
Winter Davis. Of Baltimore over whose cleo
ton to Congress we have already joined our
friends and his in singing Ie Deum, or renitc
CruicRauS.
Mr.. Davis, though young man, has al
ready attained rank among the first OF the
nation. Unknown. ut least to us and to the
country generally previous to the Presidential
campaign of 80, he then made himself felt by
his surprisingly eloquent speeches i'll various
arts of the country, advocating the election
Of the heroic Scott over the illustriouS Gcncr-
al Pierce. But his cloqlence, and the mill
tary services of the greatest General of the
age. were alike unavailins to turn the tide Of
popular favor which bore into the Presidea-
tial chair its present incumbant. The latter
event became, in the mysterious workings
of Providence in some degree, the cause of
! that great movement OF which we have spoken
! and which brought Mr.. Davis again before