New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1866-01-01
HENRY wINTER DAVIS.

| HENRY wInTER DAVIS.
The boldest aud most brilliant politician,
lawyer. orator, statesman, Of Maryland died on
Saturday at Baltimore, very suddenly, Of pneu-
monia. 1t is long since any man OF his State
filed so large place in the public eye as Henry
Winter Davis. His distinction, however, Is due
to himself rather than to his career lie held
no high Office, entered Congress only ten
year. ago. was twice reelected, defeated for re-
nomination, aud was AZ years old at his death.
At the bar he was distinguished longer than III
politics. His intellect was admirably suited
| 10 his professionalism, inventive. salient, ana
with that power OF continuous thought which Is
essential to every man that has to 90 with affairs
of the forum or of the street Above all, he
had courage; courage to think and courage to
speak. He had convictions and was bold
in pursuing them to their consequences. HIS
fidelity TO ideas was one of his most admirable
! traits and when it came 70 be applied in poll
ties and 20 make itself known on the hoor OF
Congress, his undinching integrity often as
sumed the appearance Of audacitg. Such man
could not fail To make his marx and
10 command respect. Accordingly, when
he spoke, the House, which listens to few,
listened to him. BY nature self-reliant, he sell
dom permitted the opinions Of Others, even OF
his friends, to influence his own resolutions;
hence be grew to be thought Is politician sell
wlled aud, by those who made expedIency
heir cardinal doctrine, to be denounced as M
practicable. Little cared he. In 1889 he
avowed his'entire independence Of pro-Slayery
desootism By voting for Mr. Pennington, the
Republican candidate for Speaker. The act drew
down on him a storm of reproach and abuse. The
Legislature of his own State passed resolution
that he had misrepresented Maryland and for
leited the confidence of her people. In a
speech made in Committee OF the Whole IN
the House Immediately after be told the
members of the Maryland Legislature TO take
their message back to their masters, for only to
their masters, the people, would he reply
In q still higher key, he declared that he
should rejoice if his duty to his country could
always be made to square with the interests OF
his immediate constituents, but there might be
occasions when it would be necessary to con-
slider the welfare of the nation, and disregard
the wishes of those who elected him.
Naturally, u man who talked in that strain
found enemies TO misrepresent and asSall him at
home. Nor was he one to court popularity by
the common arts OF the politician. Like Burke,
he had no arts but manly arts. When II was
doubtful whether his denomination could be Sc
cured, he told delegation of friends who waited
on him that il the people in his district wanted
him as representative, DO was willing to-
serve them in his own way; if they did not
want him. they might choose somebody who
would serve them in their way. When his
State stood ready to plunge into Secession, he
resisted that madness with his utmost zeal and
ability. lie was not merely ttuo to the Union,
BIO was true to Freedom. Representing Slave
State and Border State, he was, nevertheless,
conspicuous in Congress for his incorporating
Radicalism, his early advocacy OF Emancipation,
Charming the negroes, and of every measure that
looked to the establishment Of permanently
Free Union. His great speech at Chicago last
Summer-we believe his last speech-was for
Negro Suffrage. His Southern birth and cduca.
ton, his political hopes, which wore always high
and his professional interests, to which he was
much attached, weighed as nothing against his
faith in tho principles of the Declaration, OF
Humanity, of Freedom and of Equal Rights.
This is not an hour when the country can afford
10 lose him.
He was born in 1917 at Annapolis, Maryland,
graduated at Hampton Sidney College was
bred a lawyer and Wing, entered Congress in
1850, was reelected, was chosen again to the
XXXVIIIth Congress, 1863 TO 1865, and served
during those years as Chairman of the Commit |
tee on Foreign Affairs. Hewas a. aristocratic in
his feelings and tastes as ho was democratic by |
conviction and in public life; of elegant person,
with refined face and intellectual head, of
wide and generous culture, a ready, swift, and
brilliant speaker, aggressive, fitted to shine in
debate and in opposition, and of the most win
ming and graceful personal characteristics.
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