Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-04-15
ALEXANDRIA,, VA.
THE LATE HENRY ". DAVIS. Galaxy
~ aa.4o;ns nnnthar infaraS-inn ne ner
MONDAY, APRIL Is, 1872.

THE LATE HENRY W. DAvIs.-The Galaxy
Magazine contains another interesting paper
bv Mr.. Gideon Wells, formerly a member Of
Mr.. Lincolns Cabinet on the plan and prnci-
lies of Presidents Lincoln and johnson, with
regard to Reconstruction and the resumption
Of National authority, at the conclusion of the
llte war. In the course Of this essay, Mr..
Wells refers to the public character of the late
Henry Winter Davis regarding him as the
real founder Of the present Radical party-and
the leader of the extremists against the South.
We make the following extract:
Foremost among them as a master spirit
aud avenger-not rcstorcr-and moving with
subtle skill aud effect, was Henry Winter DAVIS
Of MARYLAND. Although of abilities superior I'D
many respects to any man in Congress for the
work in hand, and possessed Of keen. sugges-
tive, and intriguing mind, with variable and
salient powers. which could devise schemes aud
excite his associates to their execution nc
failed to win and hold the confidence OF the
people But few even of his most ultimate
friends, while listening to his eloquent sugges-
tons, gave him implicit trust Conspicuousy
aud energctically beyond any other man. he
came forward at this period as the leader and
oracle of the Radical party, the champion OF
Lcgro suffrage and of the equality of the races,
the opponent of State rights, and the open adj
vocate of the omnipotent Imperialism OF Con
gress and the central Government lie had not
been favorite Of Mr.. Lincoln and most OF his
Cabinet, and he knew full well they did not de-
sire his return to Congress. Aware Of these
facts. and that considerable portion of the
Republicans of Baltimore as well as all the
Democrats of his district were opposed to him,
lie feared to stand as candidate tor re'elcc.
ton. and had reluctantly declined and retired
from the contest the preceding fall. But his
ambition, his extreme radicaliSm, and his hos
ritv to the mild and bengnant policy of MIR.
Lincoln and his Administration, had not atat-
ed. The death of the President wrought no
change of feeling in Davis for the same Cabi.
net remained, the same clemency was being eN
ercsed, and the same policy was pursued as
under Mr. Lincoln, with even moro studied
observance of the rights Of the States. He was
therefore among the very first to manifest OPP
posi;ion to President johnson and his policy.
aggravated in bis mind because it was contin-
nation of the policy Of Mr.. Lincoln Henry
Winter Davis was the prime mover and actual
leader of the Radical combination, which in
the summer of 1865 laid down the chart that,
iy caucus machinery, guided and governed
that party 10 after years. He possessed intel
lrctual vigor culture, grasp, aud comprehep-
SION, which inspired and subordinated Wade,
and was endowed with physical as we'll as men
tai ability and activity, that gave him advan-
rages over Thaddeus Stevens who had, per
haps as suggestive. fertile, and adroit mind;
Stevens, however, was in6rm from age, and
was ripple. Davis moved on for time, the
uioaeer Of the Radicals 10 their war upon the
administration But this rising genius was
stricken down at the commencement of what
he and his friends anticipated was to be a bril-
liant and successful career. lie died of fever
at Baltimore in December His early death
was severely felt by his Radical associates who
resorted to extraordinary means to embam his
views he had promulgated, and which became
the textbook and guide of his party.