Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1880-07-30
THE non. HENRY G. DAVIS

The architect Of his own fortune, this dis
tinguished gentleman, United States Senator
from West Virginia, has most clearly dem
onstrated 10 the coming manhood Of the
country what energy, industry, and integ-
rity Of character can accomplish in the way
of success in life. 1t is the old story of
every selfmade man who has risen to emf
hence and wealth
Entering the employ of the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad company at an early age, his
strict attention TO business, his jealous vigil
lance over everything that related to the in
terests of the company, his sound and dis
eliminating judgment in matters of weight
and importance soon established him in the
favor of the officials of this gigantic corpo-
ration. 1t was, perhaps in this school of
discipline, where were so finely wraught
those powers of conception and their adap-
ton to trying emergencies which he has adj
mirably displayed in the councils of the
Senate chamber.
During the war Mr.. Davis was known as
decided Union man and gave the cause of
the Union his support and the strength of
his influence, but he was ever regarded as
pacific and concilatory, and accomplished
more at the termination OF our civil troubles.
perhaps, than any other man in his State in
bringing about fraternal relations, burying
old ISSUES and relieving the people from the
oppression of rash inconsiderate and UNI
healthy State legislation.
Mr.. Davis did not enter actively upon the
political arena until, we think, about 1868,
when he was pursuaded by prominent and
influential persons without regard to party,
to become candidate for State Senator. At
that time his Senatorial district was regarded
as largely Republican, but the unlimited
confidence that he held with the people his
tried and known honesty as well as ackiNwl-
edged ability secured for him a signal VIC
tory over his opponent
1t was in the Senate OF his State where Mr.
Davis displayed those nicely balanced pow
ers of legislative ability which have earned
for him such an enviable reputation in the
United States Senate. lie at once bent every
energy of his heart and mind to the exter-
patton of the then existing evils, and greatly
aided in that system of legislative enact
ments which gave tone and strength to the
material enterprises of his State opened up
the avenues of trade, invited immigration
and encouraged those industries which de-
veloped the various resources of his young
and ambitious State
Experience has shown that the vast ma
jority of the people are never slow in appre-
ciating the services of their public men, and
as much from this cause as from any other,
Mr.. Davis was called to more conspicuous
and responsible sphere of duty, the one
which he now holds and which his State
delighted to show its preference and appre-
citation by honoring him with second
| term.
We remember to have heard it predicted
upon this gentleman's advent into the United
States Senate, that he would make q reputa-
ton for himself of which his State could be
justly proud, and this prediction has turned.
with all the force and truth of prophecy.
Immediately upon his entree into this distin-
guished body Mr.. Davis became hard stu
dent and a close observer of the great events
then agitating the country and which were
receiving the calm, dignifled and dispassion-
ate consideration of the best minds in the
country, this, added to mind of great ma
tive strength, tleXibility and cearness soon
enabled him to move step by step, until
there is no voice in our national assembly
more potent in shaping the legislation of the
country than this honored public servant
When the Democratic party assumed the
ascendency in the Senate of the United
| States, and public attention and interest
were directed as to who would be called to
the responsible duties of chairman of the
! Committee ON Appropriations, with unan-
unity of sentiment almost without prece-
| dent was Mr.. Davis invited TO this charge.
/ 10 any one who is at all acquainted with
| the arduous duties which devoves upon
/ the chairman of this committee he will ut
4 once recognize that it requires more than
! physical endurance, more than executive or
| financial ability, requires mastery knowl-
edge Of all the workings of this govern.
lnent at homo and abroad, and in good old
Democratic days none were called to its
discharge but the most able of its members
and our party in obtaining the control of
the Senate have not departed from the estab-
lished rule.
Mr.. Davis is easy of approached, prepos-
sessing in manners, fluent in speech, of fine
personal appearance and never fails TO leave
a pleasing impression upon those who make
| his acquaintance.