The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-05-21
speech of Hon. Henry Winter Davis

VI f1ekrJ winter Davis,
ihe nan OF the New Assembly Rooms, on Hano-
yer street, was last night we'll filled bv the friends
VI nun. ii. Winter Davis, to hear his speech ac-
cepting the nomination which was secured for him
Oh friday night last the candidate of the Union
men OF the Fourth Congressional District of Marv-
land' About eight O'Clock Mr., Davis was intro.
uuced TO the audience by Daniel c. Bruce. Esn
When he proceeded to thank his old friends for this
renewed endorsement of his public career. In the
last Congress he had voted with an eve snple t ba
welfare as well of Maryland as of the whole Union
ana although protest of twelve thousand voters
hau been sent to Washington, in which certain
votes were disapproved Of he assured them tbst in
the end he was right
lie then followed with review of the action of
the last session of Congress, and stated that he
Wohld not have deemed it necessary lin view of
otaer more important issues having arisen for dis
cussion, TO refer to this subject had not some old
Flends suggested IT. in order dspel any misunder
standing which any honest man might be Iaborinp
under as to the tendency of his action as the repre-
sentative of portion of the people of MARYLAND
ne opposed the Crlttenden compromise, because it
was nothing more than the Breckinridge platform
uIesseo up Tor the emergency; he contested the
election of Breckinridge he could not consistently
support those resolutions. He was always ready to
De Judged by results
In the face of all that had been done to avert If
we are In the midst of a crisis which wise men
nave long seen, good men feared. and for which
oemagogues have labored hard. By the matreat-
menC OF those IN power, what was a small matter
at 1lrst had spread into rebellion covering nearly
0ne-half OF our territory. We have even the revo-
lutionary faction in our midst. They stroye bnt
ssroVe In vain, to induce the Governor to convene
1me LEGISLATURE, In order that the people of Mary
lano might have an opportunity of expressing their
opinion In relation to the rebellion; but the Cover
nor wisely declined to do so. Aud for the 6rmuess
th tehxoloited, he thought that Gov. Hicks deserved
linda e l.. III
OF excitement and personal danger he had Welded
TO tue demand OF mob and called the Legislature
together, that had been redeemed by the tact
that the Legislature did nothing; and he wished
theF mad adjourned forever.
IN referring to the people of the Confederate
States he designated them as canfederates in trea
son. undylng hostility to secession and the long
iist OF evils in its train would be tie ground upon
Mhcn Ne would enter the canvass for the approach
ing election. There was too much disposition to
whisper the significant appendage to the platform
OF Mr.. Bell. "The Union, the Constitution, and
the Enforcement of the Laws" He was in favor of
enforcing the laws OF the laws of the
United States. If this cannot be done then ohIit
crate the name of Washington, and take your nIaca
among the nations of the earth who are fit for moth
ing else but to do the work of their masters.
mere mad never been, since the signing of the
treaty OF peace, such crisis in this country. He
e&horted all to forget, who had been Democrats
Know Nothings, Republicans No man who
stops 10 think OF such things as these is fit to be
trusted oy the people, at such time as this Every
man should be prepared to present an unbroken
iron. 10 this audaclous rebellion, and the Republic
must De maintained. Unless there is a sunreme
government, the people have no security at the
oailot-oox, or IN any right of freeman He woud
not weave metaphysical cobweb about the right
vi secession. Secession was right that can only
De maintained by arms, and by arms it must fall
eopie who talk about the right of secession talk
IKE children. There can be no such thiup II was
an attempt to Mexicanize America. There are
some things men don't argue about One of them
Is principle that lies at the foundation of an at
tempt to overthrow the Government: and it would
De beaten down by force. There are such things as
national necessities and in proof OF this assertion
he cited the purchase of Florida and other ilustra
tlons. Talk of Southern brethrepl He had M
brethren outside of the United States He read
the resolutions adopted by the Legislature, and
proceeded to analyze them. He had thought that
the Legislature would speak tenderly of uncopsti-
tutionai wars, when the loyal authorities of
Do pa' tlmere had burned bridges and com.
M yea other aaSts aSs TO prevent the passage of
pass through as any citizen of Baltimore had
right to go to his counting-room. He made COM
parlson OF the number of fighting men in the two
sections, and found that the numbe 8 of the North
largely predomlnated. 1t the bombardme of
Fort Sumter that had fully aroused the loyal peo-
pie OF the United States. Talk of shedding South
ern n, blood! Robert Anderson is a Kentuckian,-
lhgre were Baltimoreans in that Fort.
lie deprecated the affair of the 18th of April
ana planned the Marshal of Police. He said that
the Legislature had to legalize certain acts which
had brought certain gentlemen within the range of
tne fenltentiary. He denounced the charge that
MIR. lincoln was waging an unconstitutional war.
ne denied that it was war; it is the enforcement
OF the laws. The only illegal act was the procla-
nation fora permanent increase OF the arm v and
navy; but that had been excused on account of the
pressing emergency. He quoted from Washino
tnn' jackson aud Clay to prove the justice of Mr.
Lincoln's course.
In conclusion he said that if chosen to represent
the people OF the Fourth Congressional District of
MARYLAND In the extra session of Congress he
would do all in his power to avert civil war;
Great was bis horror of civil war, but greater was
his horror of a diSmembered Union. He concluded
amid the applause of the audience. Throughout
the speech he was frequently applauded, and the
majority of those present appeared entirely TO svm
pathize with him in his view of the crisis