New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-02-24
from WASHINGTON.

srss,si Correspondent
@'D ''' WASHINGTON, Feb. 81, $780,
when Mr. II. Winter Davis, on the memorable
...a., afternoon Of the 3lst Of January, startled
ca. House Of Representa- ives by his manly vote for
Cav. Pennington as Speaker, he struck chord
vh;cA viii long vibrAte to bis honor in the
nv.asts of all persoos throughout the country
sapaele Of approaching msgusOimOus ana
courageous act We well remember the spectacle
TSe House, snd its galleries and loboes, were
srssded to the brim with manly dignity aod
wsDasly grace, from every section OF the ouO"'
sseerly anticipating the final issue OF the angry
struggle Which, for two months, had shaKeo zee
Cspitol and the country. Rumors, undsnaed snu
,ssdery, were afoat as to the possible vote winch
M DAYS might give, in certain contingencies,
xre,idea he could thus immediately relieve the
fIouse of its deadlock upon the Speakersh'P But,
these rumors could be traced to no reliable source,
and were treated Ike the scores of other stores
with which the air was filed at every stage OF the
contest.
On the call Of the roll on the memorable Tuesday,
Ga dienifed form of Mr.. Davis was esn pacing 10
sna fro in the open area in the rear of the Repubh'
HAn penCnff, tcutAlg 1hU oAVnNb NAS ~
no present object his head firmly poised, and his
whole air ard mien indicating self-Possession an1
settled purpose. When the Clerk challenged him,
!. h's usual loud tone, Mr.. Daeis, being far from
H. desk, gave back the response with voice uu-
eonmonly clear and emphatic. Not only did every
Aanan beng within the vast chamber hear aud aP-
yseeAte the name of " Pennington, " but, to every
sAseryaut and thoughtful mind, there came along
With it the defiant commentary, II thatoe treason
"Aake the most of it y"
And 20 they have And foremost among those
Who have been disposed to make the NEST of this
Nssson to q narrow aud bitter sectiOnalism, auo,
not stoppug inquire into their jurisdiction IN tue
premises, 10 hold up to reprobaton the traitor VINO
had dared to discover any merit 10 men residing
sbe,opd the little limits Of bis own State aud
nSshborhOod," was the Democratic Leg stature of
Maryland. That august body, which, as was
ssswn to. day by Mr.. Davis lie as incapable Of up
vsesistDg truly national at, as it Is OF express
ing its IDEAS 10 ineligible Eoglisb, spurnng alike
ne patriotic principles of Washington and Jefer.
-. and the grammatical aud rhetorical precePts
Of Murray and Blair passed clumsy resolutions de-
.,,peius the member ftsm Baltimore for bis vote
ar Gov. Pennington.
And, as those gentlemen ut Annapolis, not mind
ing their own affairs, saw fit to arraign Mr.. Davis
fer that vote he made his business In the House,
ts-dsy, to scOurge scsrrify and seattle the simple
tens and malguants by criticism upon their pro
ese6iDgs which has resirmed his reputation as one
81 the mOst caustc and sarcastic bold and eloquent
Asbaters in Congress.
1t was generally known that Mr.. Lamar Of Mis-.
s.sippi was to address the House to-day, it beiog
n Committee of the Whole upon the Presidents
Message Mr. Lamar il fsvorite with the Fire.
Eaters. lie is a scholar, thinker, rhetotician;
and, for one holding such extreme views upon the
twin topics of NegrO-Propagandsm and DIssolu-
Zen of the Union, has some common sense and
msBy eentlemanly qualities. He is among the
yissg men of the South; and though his Prin ;ples
and IDEAS concerning human equality and civil
government belong TO the dark ages and would
Better be6t grim Tartary than the American
Republic, still i. is evident toat an educa-
zen in the various branches of science
ssa literature known TO the modorns, and taught in
Northern Colleges with some occasional rays from
tAs MONDAY sun of the Nineteenth Century, have
not been wholly thrown away upon an ingenious
ysuth, intended by God for some useful and honor
abe vocation, but who, unfortunately, happened to
be bern in . state Of society where negro wenches
aake the place Of nursing mothers, and negro
drivers perform the duties assigned elsewhere 20
soAoslnasters. In spite of these rather serious
drawbacks, Mr.. Lamar is interesting, both as
ssssOntr and an orator; aud his speech today very
naturally attracted full galleries sod the close at
testion Of the floor. 1t was noted that pretty
hSee proportion of his auditors were from the
NsnDy side Of tie Potomac
When he had finished, Mr.. Davis rose. 1t was
ast generally known that he was to address the
Hease to-day; for, large though the sssemblsge
was, it would have been still greater had the public
q Washington and Baltimore been assured that be
wa 10 have Occupied the door, and on such topic.
He did not rse till after o'clock, nearly an hour
later tsan the usual time of adjournment; and he
was evidently lsboriDg under cod. But, in spite
sf the unprOptious hour, and Of physical debility,
Rw.s an unanswerable defense of his own position
N regard to the Speakership, and an utter demo-
sion of that of his ASSISTANTS. TDe frat half hour
WA q rscy criticism, a cutting commentary upon
the character and acts Of the Maryland
hgislAtors. With the keenest of Damascus blades,
he frst removed the cuticle from the Democratic
BODY polite of that States and then, with the most
proyokinsly graceful and delicate hand, f:cted to
sicatrze tae wounds OF his writbing victim, by ap.
plyipp 10 the yid 6esh the causiic Of sarcasm aod
meDy, pity and contempt. Having 6ayed them with
L.. a4aH her hafnr