The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1866-03-17
Henry Winter Davis.

Col John W. Forncy, in an Occasional :
letter. pays the following eloquent tribute to
Maryland's orator and statesman, the late
Henry Winter Davis:
"Whcnevcr think Of Maryland and the
rebellion. | think of H. Winter Davis. OF the
millions who fought for the flag, and Of the
more than half II million who died that it
might float over an undivided, free people.
there was not one who loved his country
with holicr icrvor. or who gave a more
unSclish service to her cause. He was born
to command. No character more kniGhtly
or less venal ever adorned the pages of ro-
maTce. Suspicious of power, intolerant of
vice, lncxorabe in his dealings with tyrants
he reposed the confidence of II lover in the
masses. counsellcd the most generous forgiv-
eneSs to the pcnitcnt, and discamed a re-
ton ofimmortal principles. His eisamong
the rcsplendent proofs of the value ola good
example. Maryland might have been saved
without him, but that seems doubtful enough
upon his single voice in the winter and spriag
I of 1861. When Tie loudcst DISCLAIMERS of
Democracy were hushcd, when those who
had prospered under the shelter of the Gov
crnment were either paralyzed with fear or
preparing to desert when the rich were hoard
| ing their treasures, and the poor were long
ing for a leader, this man, with his refined
tastes his studious habits, his Indifference to
popularity, and his scorn of the arts of tie
demagogues, came forth to give practical eff
| feet to his ideas, and to exhibit to terror
stricken city and startled country, an ex-
pie of moral courage and disnterested-
ness, unparalleled even in those days without
parallel. He had erected an altar to freedom
in his heart, and he worshiped the image of
his country with passionate idolatry and re
gious devotion. Rarely are such priceless
gifts given to a great movement. Rarely has
public life been adorned by so many virtues,
and never has spubic exigency commanded
noblcr qualities and more chastened patri-
otism The intelligence of his sudden and
unexpected death, coming at time when
his life was more than necessary to his Stale
and to his country-whcn around his own
doors d'emagogues were Matching new teach
cry, seeking to destroy the fruits of his un.
equalled labors, and to re establish upon the
wrecks of his work that naughty conspiracy
supposed to have been forever defeated on
the battle feld-was a shock to the patriotic
multitudes only second to that which pros.
tratcd them when Abraham Lincoln was
assassinated. 1t was then that good men
realized how much they had lost in the death
of Henry Winter Davis. 1t was then that we
took the measure of his intellectual stature,
counted over the mighty victories he had
achieved against prejudice and treason, and
sorrowfully remembered difficulties he had
encountered, the dangers he had passed, and
the franchises he had saved. Unhappily,
almost at this moment, the loyal millions
began to feel a new solicitude. The shadow
of another woe projected itself across their
path way. Where confidence had lived dis
trust began to creep in, until at last hearts
that were filled with hope were made heavy
with despair. When Henry Winter Davis
was called away he was profoundly solicitous
for the fate OF his country. Dreading the
influence that surrounded our accidental
President, he nevertheless discarded the idea
that they could mislead him from his faith.
Yet, previous to his final summons, he was
prepared for that calamity which our best
efforts arc needed to redress. And as we