The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-11-11

localized. Mr.. Davis did not Tor a mo-
ment hesitate on which side of a line
thus drawn to take his position, anc
henceforth, during all Of the remainder
Of his public service and until his death
in the midst of a great unfinished work
he was an active and effective leader ir
bringing into organized opposition al
those opposed to the surrender of the
public domain to the dominion of slav-
cry or the government into tire hands
of those who would barter the Union
itself, if need be. to secure that end.
The Thirty-sixth Congress, the pc
Rod Of preliminary skirmishes, of bat
ties before the war, was that in which
he Gid most effective work in bringing
together in unity Of action all those ac-
tuated by a unity of purpose in the
maintenance of the national Union at
any cost, and the combining of slavery
to its original limits as the only means
OF assuring the perpetuity of the gov
eminent Here he found himself by
the side and cooperating with that
other great leader whose work we
have been considering. Mr.. Stevens.
although advanced in years and with
sIackened physical power, had never
theIess brought from his retirement al
MS mental force, unimpaired by age.
and will as unbent as ever. From
that moment the opposition to propa
gandism under whatever banner
name it had hitherto acted, put itself
under one common leadership anc
guidance, opposing with formidabl
front the farther progress of the slaJ
power towards universal dominion.
DAVIS POWER IN DEBATE.
1t was in this Congress that the op-
posing forces tried their strength and
tested the temper of their weapons be-
fore entering upon the final wage of
battle. There has not been its paral-
lei before or since for tempestuous
and angry debate, or unbridled rage of
passion and madness. Into its excite
ment Mr.. Davis entered with the con-
fdence of a trained gladiator and he
held his place so long as there re-
manned a combatant willing to meet
him. However much he loved these
contests it was still a great cause
which inspired him and for which he
contended. He was seldom turned aside
from this main issue by the
detail work incumbent on Con-
gressional life and there was as
niue opportunity as there was DISPOSE
non Tor one like him to familiarize him
self with the current business of the
house. He had a wonderful command
OF hlmself, and all his faculties when
on his feet, and he marshalled them
each IN Its place with military preci-
sion and authority. The one lack of
ms oratory was responsiveness. His
statement was precise, clear and con-
Vlnclng. He demonstrated as in the
sunlight, he scattered sophistry as
chaff, his Pronunciation of injustice and
iniquity was terrific, but he persuaded.
enuced' charmed to his side. nobody.
He attacked the judgment and the con-
science of men and having carried
these outworks he was content; the
responsibility was no longer with him.
Indeed he was at his best when he was
hercest, and when the torrent of wrath
was fullest. EXpediency was a word he
never used, and time servers and hypo-
critics he cast out as unclean birds.
These Roman qualities nevertheless
begot antagonists which continual
ly beset his path and fettered his
progress. He was not always fortu-
nate in avoiding them among his own
friends and coadjutors, and he never
conciliated them among opponents, but
quite as often courted and welcomed
them. Unavoidable antagonisms in
great crises must be met and dealt
with, but unnecessary ones are to be
Stunned or cast aside as useless freight
Is thrown overheard in a storm. Here
IN this great orator and leader failed
and was thus always handicapped with
unnecessary weight. Much of it was
unavoidable, but some of it was court
ed and to that extent was a fetter.
DAVIS PROMPT DECLARATION
FOR THE UNION.
Before the end of the Thirty-sixth
congress all issues converged into the
Gil 1cr1a Of he eli
it is or disunion and separation of the
slave states from the free. South
Carolina had declared her independ-
ence of the Union, the flag had been
fired upon by public enemies, and new
had been installed at Mont
gomery. Actual war and treason
confronted the nation. Maryland was
rent in twain. His own constituents
were divided over his course in con-
gress into hostile factions, wrought to
a white heat, and foes behind as well
as in front pressed him sorely. But his
courage did not weaken nor his zeal
abate. He pledged the loyalty Of his
state to the flag Of the Union, and he
was soon called upon to redeem that
pledge.
On the morning of the 18th of April
President Lincoln issued a call for the
assembling of Congress on the Fourth
Of July to deliberate upon the emer-
gency. On the afternoon Of the same
Day Mr.. Davis announced himself by
card q candidate con the basis of the
maintenance of the
Union The fight with him was at
once transferred to his own district,
and was most fierce and bitter All the
hostilities possible of combination were
against him. testifying in their
to his fidelity TO the Union
and his value to the cause. Although
beaten by a small margin at the end
Of a campaign of unparalleled bitter
ness he nevertheless so upheld the ma
tional banner before the people of Ma
ryland and so aroused their patriotic
spirit that the strength of the Union
vote dismayed its enemies and made
their future control of the state we'll
nigh hopeless. He came back, how
ever, 1T the end of two years, having
received the solid vote of the Union
party of his district, and entered with
greater zeal and fresher force sthan
ever upon the work he had temporarily
eft.
PUBLICLY CENSURED BY HIS
OWN STATE FOR HIS 10y
Atty.
1t was now midway in the war and
n the administration OF Mr.. Lincoln,
md period of great depression among
oval men. A series of disasters had
our arms disheartening in the
extreme. And men, patriotic at heart,
lot a few of them, began to long for a
cessation of hostilities and to calculate
conditions of peace. The temperance
II Mr.. Davis upon the scene was time
Y and inspiring. Coming from a slave
folding state, which sympathized with
he rebellion, and full of faith in the
Justice of our cause, his words came
With double force to the faint hearted
Tor this reason he encountered the
most bitter opposition at home. and
ne legislature OF his state passed a
resolution of censure or, as he said,
decorated him with THEN. eensure" for
want of loya,ty to the southern cause.
JAWS GRAFTON ON THE VALUE
OF THE UNION.