Baltimore daily commercial. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1865-1867, 1866-02-23

the professions, law, divinity and medicine poetry
and the mscellanies of literature and in all these
great departments OF human lore he moved easily
as most men do in their particular province. His
habit was not only to read but to re-read the best of
ms books frequently and he continually supply
ing himself with better editions of his favorfes In
current playful conversation with friends he quoted
gat lett IN brief and at length from the classics,
ancient ana modern, and from the drama, tragic and
connie In his speeches. on the contrary he quoted but
little, and only when he seemed to run upon thought
already expressed by some else with singular
force and appositeness. He was the best scholar I
ever met for his years and active life, and was sur
passed by very few, excepting mere book-worms lie
mas for many years been engaged in collecting ex-
tracts from newspapers containing the leading facts
ana pubic documents of the day: but he never com
head. 10 " '' Ii LIS
l have but little personal knowledge of Mr. Davis
as Z lawyer II was never my good fortune to be as
soclated with him in the trial of cause; nor have
ever been present when he was so engaged But at
Lne tlme OF his death he filled high position at the
par, and was chosen to lead against the most dis
tingushed of his brethren. On public and consttu-
tlona questions, distinguished from those invoiv-
ing only private rights he was host, and in the ar
gument of the which grew out of the adoption
Of the new Constitution of Maryland he won golden
laureIS, and drew extraordinary encomiumS even
from MS opponents in that angry litigation. He was
thoroughly read in the decisions of the Federal
Courts ana especially those declaring and defining
Possessed of mind of remarkable power scope
and activity with an immense fund of precious in
1ormatlon ready to respond to any call he might
make upon It, however sudden; welding a system of
logic formed in the severest school, and tried by long
pracClce gifted with a rare command of language,
ana an eioquence well-nigh superhuman: and withal
graced witt manners the most accomplished and re-
hned, and a person unusually handsome, graceful
ana attractive Mr.. Davis entered public life with
almost unparalleled personal advantages Having
boldly presented himself before the most rigorous tr
Sunal IN the world, he proved himself worthy of its
favor ana attention He soon to the front rank
OF debaters, and whenever he addressed the House.
all SIDES gave him a delighted audience.
shall not attempt review Of the topics discussed
IN the Thirty fourth and Thirty Congresses The
day was last coming when contests for the Speaker
the fierce struggle over Kansas would sink into in
significance, and Mr.. Davis, with that political pre-
science for which he was always remarkable seemed
TO discern the hrst sign OF the coming storm. The
winds had been long SOwn, and now the whirlwind
was to be reaped. The Thrty-sixth Congress which
had opened so inauSpicously and which his vote had
saved from becoming perpetuated bedlam, met for
its second session the Sd Of December 1860 with
the clouds OF civil war fast settling down upon the
on the fourth day Of the session the celebrated
Committee of Thirty three was raised with the Ia
as the member from Maryland. When the committee
reported Mr. Davis sustained the majority report in
ment in favor of the report, he boldly proclaimed his
own views, and the duties of his State and country
In his speech Of 7th February, 1851, he said:
Il do not wish to say word which will exaspe-
rate the already too much lntamed state of the pub
lie mind but will say that the Constitution of the
United States, and the laws made in pursuance there
Of must be enforced and they who stand across the
path OF that enforcement must either destroy the
polger of the United States or it will destroy them"
OF his State was on that day prepared Seduced by
the wish. they still believed that the Union could be
preserved by fair and mutual concessions. They were
on their knees praying peace ignorantthat bloody
war had already girded on his sword His Language
was then deemed too harsh and unconcatory, and
hundreds, L among the number, denounced him in
unmeasured terms. Before the expiration of three
months events had demonstrated his wisdom and our
foily, and other paragraphs from that speech
became the fighting creed ofthe Union men of MARY
land. He further said on that occasion:
But, sir there is one State | speak for and
| that the State of Marylaud Confident u, fLn
strength of this great Government to protect every
interest, grateful for almost century of unaloyed
blessings, she has tomented agitation; she has
done no act to disturb the public peace she has
rested IN the that there be the
| that none exists which revolution would not as-
grayate.S
say that do speak. for the people Of Maryland who
| are loyal to the United States, and that when my
Judgment is contested appeal to the people for its
accuracy and am ready to maintain it before them D."
In Maryland we are dull. and cannot comprn-
hend the right OF secession. do not recognize the
| right to make revolution by vote. We do not
recognize the right of Maryland to repeal the Consti
tuition of the United States, and if any convention
there, called by whatever authority under whatever
Maryland, their authority viii be resisted and deed
in arms the soil of Maryland in the name and by
the authority and Constitution Of the United States
In January 1861, the ensign of the republic whilst
covering mission OF mercy, was fired by traitors.
In February Jefferson Davis said, at Stevenson Ala
| baIna, We Will carry war where 1T is easy to ad
Yance-where food for the sword and torch await our
armies in the densely populated cities" In March
the 3bth Congress- after vainly passing cOnciHatory
resolutions by the score, among other things
mendng the repeal of all personal liberty bills de-
carlng that there authority, outside of the
States where slavery was recognized to interfere
with slaves slavery therein and proposing by two
| thirds votes OF both Houses an amendment of the
CONSTITUTION prohibiting any future amendment
giving Congress power over slavery in the States ad-
| journed amid general terror and distress.
Abraham Lincoln, having passed through the midst
OF his enemies appeared at Washington in due time
and dehvered his inaugural closing with these
| orable words
| I'm your hands, my dissatisfied fellow-country-
men, and not in mine is the issue Of civil
| war The Government will not assai you.
You can have no conflict without being your
selves the aggresSors. You can have no oath regis
| tered in Heaven to destroy the Government while
shall have the most solemn one to preserve protect
Il am 10th to close. We are not enemies but
friends. We must be enemies Though passion may
nave strained 1t must not break our bonds of aeo
| ton,
THE mystic chords of memory, stretching from
every battlefield and patriot grave to every living
heart and hearth-stone all over this broad land, will
yet swell the chorus of the Union, when again
touched as surely they will be, by the better angels
OF our nature
| stone through the long ages yet to come,
| Will plead like angels, trumpel-tongued against
| The deep damnation of his taking off,"
The appeal was spurned, and in the face of its al
most Godlike genheness they, who already goried in
their anticipated saturnala of blood inhumanly and
falsely stigmatized it as declaration of war. The
| cried, my brother; oh my brother!" 1t remained
| for that final. ineradicable infamy of S.nt5r to
arouse the nation to armsl At last to murder at one
piously dragged in the dust the glorious symbol of
our National life ndmajesty. heaping dishonor upon
1t, and like the sneerng devil ut the crucifxon cry
ing out, come and deliver thyself;" and then no man.
| With the heart Of man. who loved his country or
feared his God, dared longer delay to prepare for
that great struggle which was destined to rock the
! earth.
Poor Maryland! cursed with slavery doubly cursed
! Wit nd said hot
was loyal to the United States and had pledged him
self to maintain that position before the people, The
| time soon came for him to redeem the pledge. On
the morning Of the 18th of April the President issued
his proclamation calling extra session of Congress
Whlch made an extra election necessary in larry and
Before the sun OF that day had down. this card
was promulgated.
TO the Voters Of the Fourth
| Congressional District Of Mainland !.
II hereby announce myself as n candidate for the
House Of Representatives Of the Thrtyseventh Con
of the unconditional maintenance of the Union
Should my fellow-ct of lie oie,cs manifest
their preference for different candidate on that basis
/ 1t is not my. purpose to embarrass them.
April IL. 1861"
But dark days were coming for Baltimore ( mob
systematically organized n eonplicty wit the rebels
at Richmond and Harpers Ferry, seized and kept in
Sun1eeton d an ansaspeetns ana unarmed population
murder and treason held joint sway and at the CON
clusion OF their tragedy of horrd barbarties they
gave the farce Of holding election for members &C
the House of Delegates.
To show the spirit that moved Mr.. Davis under this
order cite from his letter, written the 18th to the
| Hon. VIM. H. Seward the following:
Il have been trying to collect the persons ap-
pointed. scattered by the storm, and tc Cul4uei chem
/ to IA ke their Offices or TO de,nG.
| i haya sought mon of undOubted courage and ca
| pacity fGr the places vacated.
| We must show the Secessin1ists that we Are not
1rghtenea, put we are tsoIved to maintain the Cav
ernnAe M me exercise Of all its funct;ols Mary
4 land.
I'VE have organized guard who will accompany
the officers and hold the public buildings against ell
| the Secessionists in Maryland.
"A great reaction has set in. five nolp act prompt
| ly the day is ours and the State is safe"
These matters being adjusted, he Immediately took
the field tor Congress on his platform against Henry
May, conservative Union. and 10 the face of an OPP
position which few men have dared to encounter, he
carried on unTemttingly, from that time until the
election the 18th of june the most brilliant cam
| paign against open traitors, doubters and dodgers
that unrlvaed eloquence courage and sagacity could
| conceive. Everywhere, day and night, in sunshine
and storm, in the market houses at the street cor
ners and in the public halls his voice rang out clear
loud and defiant for the unconditional maintenance
| name of unconditional Union ip tue vocabulary OF
every true Marylander, He gathered but 5000 votes
out of 1900 yet the result was triumph which gave
him the cal fruits of victory and he exclaimed
friend with laudabe pride, With six thousand of the
| workingmen of Baltimore my side, won in src4 a
| contest, defy them to take the State out Of the
| Union." Though not elected ne never ceased his eff
| forts. With it a struggle for homes, hearths
| and lives He said at Brooklyn, You see the CON
agration from distance; it blisters at rGy side
| You survive the integrity of the naJlon we il
| nd h., of