Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1860-03-03
VARIETY.
Henry Winter Davis.

uuucrStoOu III any quarter, whether IN or out
of Congress. In the House of which he claims
to be member, the pcculiaritics of his mon
tai constitution have long since condemned
him to position of almost perfect political
isolation even i'll his own party From the
day when he sigualised the commencement of
his Congressional career as he has its close,
by contributing to the election of a Rcpubi-
cun Speaker and during the whole of his in
tcrmedate term of service, Mr. Davis idio-
syncracies and vagarics have been constant
barrier to anything like cordial union be-
tween him and any of the political divisions of
the House. Blessed with a serene confidence
in the infallibity of his own Judgment, which
he will permit nothing to disturb, and balmy
contempt for the opinions of others, which he
is at no pains to conceal Mr. Davis has
earned a reputation more for dogmatism and
fluoncy in debate, than for sound statesman
ship or practical sagacity. A statesman, in
deed, he never could aspire to become-lack-
ing both the breadth of intellect and catholici-
ty OF spirit which are essential to the charac-
ter. A glib tongue and bitter, and an in
vctcratc hatred of the Democratic party have
been the qualities by which he has made him
self chiefly distinguished. His iuconsistcn-
cles have been too frequent and too glarng to
make his vote in favor of any side Of any
question matter of surprise to ANYBODY; even
II previous manifestations Of Free-soil pro-
clivitics had not prepared us for his final sum
mersault into the arms of that party. Apart,
therefore, from the fact that his was one of
two votes which were decisive of the contest,
we do not suppose that Mr., Davis action in
relation to the Spcakership awakened the
slightest interest in the House SO far as
tins city and State are concerned it possesses
even less significance. 1t is in fact. entitled
10 none at all. In no sense is Mr.. Davis the
representative OF Baltimore, or of Maryland
lie neither reflects the sentiments of our pco-
pie, nor docs he hold his scat by any valid
title. Returned to the place which he as
sumes to fill, by violence and fraud, he has
no right to speak for this community Con
tent to be the beneficiary of the crimes COM
mltted on Election day, Mr. Davis can claim
to sand upon no higher level than those who
pcrpctrated them. Tho ruiiianS and builics
of his party stuffed the ballot-boxcS. and Mr..
Davis PRODUCES the fraudulent ballots in proof
OF his election. Peaceful voters were beaten
ard driven from the polls by scores and hun,
dreds, and men were murdered in the streets.
and Mr.. Davis proifcrs the returns, rcddancd
with the blood of his fellow citizens, in vim
dication of his rights. The efrontcry that
can claim an election under such circunstan-
ees, is equal to even moro than the contcmp.
tuous disregard Of public opinion and moral
obligation, manifested in Mr. Davis vote for
Speaker Claiming his scat in opposition to
the wishes of an immense majority of the
people OF his District, we have no right to
complain or to be surprised that Mr.. Davis
votes should be equally at variance with their
views. The outrage which placed him in
possession Vi q vote, can scarcely be aggrava-
ted by any use which he may make of it
TO strip him of the fruits of his dishonest
victory, and to divest him Of the character
which he usurps and abuses, should be the
next concern of the people of the fourth con.
grcssonal District, as it is the duty of the
House, upon whose deliberations he intrudcs.
Baltimore E,cchanyc.
WHAT RAILROADS HAVE DoNE.-NIany
persons, shutting their eyes to facts and cir.
eumstances plain as the sun at noon.day OBJ
stinately insist that railroads have been pro-
ductive of little benefit except to stockholders.
1t is waste of thought to arguc with such
dots, and the common-scnse course would be
to leave then, to their ignorances Perhaps
OF all who receive benefit FROM railroads, the
stockholders, directly, get the smallest share.
The landed interest, the mercantile, the man
rtacturing, and industrial these are chiefly
benefited. But that is not ALL Railroads
are institutions peculiar to this age, and ex-
ert an influence upon civilization the com
forts of life, and economy of time. They
render homogeneous distant peoples. and
bring nearer individuals of remote countries.
They pour streams of life through regions
that would otherwise be undeveloped and
primeVal-they bear produce from the most
distant field, and return manufactured goods
and life's necessarcs. But fort hem. interior
land would yield no remuneration to the farm
CT beyond precarious support The river
ways would monopolizc demand, and owners
OF lands along their banks would control the
markets Railroads are to the interior what
rivers arc to contiguous land-offering rap
I'd highway to markets Contrast time and
price, in the following Illustration, with the
saving in both at this day: On the 23d Feb,
l797, Mr. Jefferson left Alexandria, Va. for
Philadelphia, to discharge his duties as Vice
President He reached that city on the I'd
OF March, alta cost of S37 03, and EIGHT DAVIS
timel Now the cost is $3.50, and the time
4 hours
1t IS not man that civilzes man but the
efforts of man. Steamboats,, canals. railroads
,,powerspresses, spinning gjennios mowers
pioWers, reapers-yes, even corn.shellcrs, are
civilizers. Let Old Fogy stand out of the
wayof progress, if he will not aid it's advance.
or ne will pc entangled in some cowcatcheri
-a = 49, .>
ABOVE THE VULGAR,.--There il vouno