Favorable or Unfavorable #218: Henry Winter Davis

[vcczar]

HW Davis of MD was arguably the most anti-slavery politician from a slave state to hold elected federal office. He died in 1865, so he misses the peak of Reconstruction. It would have been interesting to see what would have happened had he remained. 

He was a prototypical Know Nothing in the 1850s. He was also a cousin of Justice David Davis, who was in the previous poll. 

His actions:

Davis, Henry Winter	1853	Writes book arguing that the US and Russia as future opponents in the struggles of humanity
Davis, Henry Winter	1855	Joins Know Nothings on Whig collapse
Davis, Henry Winter	1856	Blames "un-American" Irish Catholic immigrants for Buchanan's election.
Davis, Henry Winter	1860	presses NM statehood as solution to secession crisis
Davis, Henry Winter	1860	Declines consideration for GOP VP; Supports Constitutional Union in 1860 election
Davis, Henry Winter	1861	Joins GOP to support the Union and to help end slavery
Davis, Henry Winter	1861	Pivital in keeping MD in the Union
Davis, Henry Winter	1863	brilliant Radical leader
Davis, Henry Winter	1863	Influential House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair. Served during second half of CW
Davis, Henry Winter	1864	Introduces report to the House condemning French invasion of Mexico
Davis, Henry Winter	1864	Lead role in abolition of slavery in MD
Davis, Henry Winter	1864	co-author of Wade-Davis Recon bill
Davis, Henry Winter	1864	Initially supports Fremont over Lincoln for pres, but then reluctantly supports Lincoln

[vcczar]

I'm overlooking his 1856 rhetoric for all the other good he did do. It takes courage to be anti-slavery in MD in the 1850s. 

[OrangeP47]

1 hour ago, vcczar said:

I'm overlooking his 1856 rhetoric for all the other good he did do. It takes courage to be anti-slavery in MD in the 1850s. 

Yeah, there's things here I'm generally opposed to, but I'm thinking given the context of the era and a politician from MD, grading on a curve he'd be favorable.