THE PRESIDENTIAL CANVASS; The Primary and Paramount Duty of Defeating the Democrats; SPEECH OF HENRY WINTER DAVIS (9/29/1860)

In the TIMES of yesterday morning we published exclusively a full telegraphic synopsis of the speech of Hon. HENRY WINTER DAVIS, of Maryland, made at Baltimore on Thursday night. We now give a verbatim report. The speech was delivered at a meeting of the old American Party, which was very numerously attended. It was heard with profound interest and attention, and was greeted throughout with the most cordial applause. The following is the speech: From our Special Reporter. FELLOW-CITIZENS OF BALTIMORE: I regret that absence on public duty has prevented my being with you to celebrate the first note of triumph over the dissolution of the Democratic Party. [Applause.] When the resolution of the American members of the Legislature of Maryland, which has just been read to you, was passed, there was a Democratic Party in existence -- one which was an "old bruiser" -- [laughter] -- as Mr. THOMPSON described Great Britain, roaming throughout the world, thrashing whomsoever it pleased, and shaking its fist in the face of all creation -- domineering over everybody; impudent, intolerant and tyrannical. [Applause] Now, the Democratic Party is divided between the warring elements, headed respectively by Mr. DOUGLAS and Mr. BRECKINRIDGE; who will have the honor of burying the body is not for us to determine. [Applause.] That is left for whichever of these two fragments shall turn out to be the stronger at the end of the contest, and in that way to arrogate to itself to be the sole, united, undivided, universal, national, omnipotent Democratic Party. [Laughter.] Our Democratic brethren last year passed at Frederick a resolution saying that upon the integrity of the Democratic Party depended the integrity of the Union. Then, as the party is gone, where is the Union? [Laughter.]

The New York Times, in the issue you posted above had an article that said the following in your section 7, column 1 (my bold below):

The Latest Southern Sensation – The Wide-Awakes –
It would be ludicrous, if it were not lamentable, to see how easily the people of the South are thrown into spasms of apprehension. One day it is the appearance of a squad of fanatics who are to set all the slaves free. Another it is the burning of a hay-stack,, the discovery of Lucifer matches, or a prevailing sickness in some locality which is forthwith ascribed to strychnine.
The latest bugbear which affects our Southern brethren is our Wide-Awakes. No human being, probably, ever dreamed that the organization had any other object that the usual preliminary preparations for a political campaign. Every Presidential canvass has witnessed the formation of Clubs having precisely the same objects, and seeking them in substantially the same way. They are more numerous, better organized and more effective than ever before, it is true; -- but that is simply because the circumstances gave a more rapid growth and greater attractiveness to the organization. The convenience and neatness of their uniform, the pleasures and advantages of the military drill, and the picturesqueness of their torchlight displays, gave the movement a strong hold upon the imaginations of young men, who were thoroughly interested in the election, and were eager to enter into any scheme by which their services could be made most effective.
It will be seen by sundry extracts which we publish from Southern papers, that this organization is regarded as a vast military enrollment – embracing over 400,000 men, well drilled and ready to command to invade the South, or at the very least to march to Washington and put down any attempt that may be made to resist the inauguration of Lincoln. Some of the Southern journals are quite eloquent in denunciations of such a formidable display of force, and treat the matter as only another evidence of the determined hatred of the South which animates the people of the Northern States!
It is quite useless here to characterize such talk as preposterous and absurd. Everybody knows it is so. We hazard little in saying that no thought of such purposes ever entered the head of any number of the Wide-Awakes in any of the Northern States. Their intentions are perfectly pacific and honorable; and they could no more be induced to invade the rights or disturb the peace of a Southern State, than to rob a bank or sack a Northern town.
. . .

The Wide Awakes were subsequently used as a military force. From the National Republican newspaper of Washington, D.C. The National Republican, May 14, 1861 newspaper of Washington, D.C.. Column 3. My bold below.

COL. BLAIR AND CAPT. LYON.
The recent startling events in St. Louis, which have excited the wonder and admiration of loyal people throughout the country, are the necessary results of a well-digested policy, which, several months since, was planned by Frank Blair, and inaugurated a few weeks prior to the election of delegates to the Convention in Missouri.
It soon became evident that the same unscrupulous means were to be adopted in Missouri, which had accomplished the secession of the Gulf States: that the police of St. Louis were to be placed under the control of a rebel Governor, and the State subjected to the tyrannical provisions of a military law, which would make that traitor the commander of a formidable force, to be directed in furthering the secession of the State from the Union ; and that these expedients were to be especially used to overawe the Union men of St. Louis and of every loyal county in the State, and prevent the election of Union delegates to the Convention.
Mr. Blair immediately conceived the 'admirable plan of converting all the old " Wide Awake" associations which had been so influential in the Presidential campaign into "Union Clubs." It was at once announced that meetings would be held, and at those meetings the " Wide Awakes " would disband. The meetings were held. The " Wide Awakes " did disband. They laid down their torches, and took up their muskets.
They went into the meetings, pacific, political associations; they came out of them, formidable military bodies, already well drilled and fitted by the long practice of the Presidential campaign to act as an efficient organization against the armed treason that was just budding at Jefferson city. For weeks they met and exercised under the supervision of capable military officers, and although their meetings were secret, the secessionists of St. Louis soon became aware of their existence, and consequently endeavored, though unsuccessfully, to induce the Legislature to give the Governor authority to place the city under martial law on the day of electing members of the State Convention, and by that means effect their suppression. The wholesome restraints exerted on the secessionists by the knowledge of the strength and resources of this powerful Union organization, and of their readiness to fight for the Union wherever the occasion made it necessary, prevented all turbulence on election day, and contributed to insure the success of the unconditional Union ticket in St. Louis.
This is the nucleus of the military force of 6,000 volunteers, who, under the command of the gallant Captain Lyon, surrounded the armed traitors under General Frost, and crushed out effectually the only secession organization from which any real danger was to be apprehended in Missouri. Frank Blair is colonel of one regiment of those volunteers, and has doubtless been the ruling spirit in their last admirable coup de gurree, as he was in directing their original organization.

I was surprised at how immediately the South reacted to Lincoln's election. Here are some newspaper excerpts showing how the South responded to the threat of the Wide Awakes after Lincoln's election. As you may remember, the Wide Awakes were marching in huge numbers in Northern cities. The South saw them as a threat and started forming their own Minute Man groups after Lincoln's election to oppose them and protect the South.

The Minute Men Forming in the South (From the Charleston Mercury as reported in the Austin State Gazette, Nov 17, 1860)

We are glad to see the people of our State everywhere preparing for the crisis which is at hand. As an offset to the "Wide-Awakes," of the North, "Minute Men" are organizing in the principal districts of South Carolina. Their object is to form an armed body of men, and join with our fellow citizens, now forming in this and our Sister States as "Minute Men," whose duty is to arm, equip, and drill, and be ready for any emergency that may arise in the present perilous position of the southern States. In Kershaw, Abbeville and Richland Districts the organization is already complete and powerful, embracing the flower of youth, and led on by the most influential citizens. The badge adopted is a blue rosette – two and a half inches in diameter, with a military button in the centre, to be worn upon the side of the hat. Let the important work go bravely on, and let every son of Carolina prepare to mount the blue cockade.

Austin State Gazette, Nov 17, 1860

Two fine military companies have been formed at Waco, to defend the state against Lincoln. The gallant young border men of Hill have raised a large company. The chivalry of Grimes have organized themselves into a company called the Lone Star Chaseurs. The young ladies of Anderson are preparing a splendid banner for the company.
A military company has been formed in Bowie.

Unfurl the Lone Star of Texas Independence (State Gazette, Nov 17, 1860)

The Lone Star Flag of Texas was hoisted in Galveston, in Hemstead, and in Navisota, and a Declaration of Independence was in circulation in the city Houston.
There is a call in the Telegraph signed by 228 of the most prominent citizens, for a mass meeting of the citizens of Harris county, to consult on measures that should be adopted in view of the election of Abraham Lincoln. …
The same honored flag which waved at San Jacinto has been flung from the tallest flag staff in the city.

From the Houston Telegraph (Extra), Nov. 14, 1860, as reported in the Austin State Gazette, November 24, 1860

Charleston, Nov 10 (Special Dispatch to the N. O. Delta) A large crowd assembled to-day and marched to the arsenal with the intention of removing the arms deposited there to Fort Moultrie, but they were unsuccessful in their attempt. The excitement is growing more intense, and resistance meetings are to be held in different parts of the State.
Columbia, Nov. 9. … Eight thousand minute men are drilling tonight.
Columbia, Nov. 10. … Senator Chesnut has resigned his seat in the U. S. Senate.
Augusta [Georgia], Nov. 10. Meetings are being held throughout the State of Georgia, for the formation of a minute corps; a meeting is called in this city for to-night at which decisive measures for the secession of Georgia will be adopted. A Military State Convention is to be held on Tuesday next, at Millsville.
A delegation of South Carolina is visiting Georgia. Several hundred thousand men are already enrolled at the South, and the enrollments are still in progress.
There is great stringency in money matters in Virginia, and no sales of land or slaves.
The banks in Virginia are virtually closed.
Washington, Nov. 10. In official quarters no apprehensions exist that further seizures of forts or public property will take place in the South.
[rustbucket note: "further seizures"? What was seized before this point in time, early November 1860?]
Galveston, Nov. 13. The organization of several military companies in this city is now going on. The enrollment of members is large, and an election of officers will take place at an early day.
A mass meeting of the citizens, irrespective of parties, will take place to-night, to consider the position of the South relative to the late Presidential election, and to recommend an immediate organization, to meet pending or future contingencies.
Additional Dispatches Montgomery [Alabama], Nov. 10. Our military companies are fully armed and equipped, and have tendered their services to the Governor.
Our citizens are unanimous for disunion. The city of Mobile opposes secession, but the country districts are in favor of disunion. Minute men are rapidly organizing. Thirty thousand will be enrolled by the first of January.
Columbia South Carolinian On last evening, the organization of Minute Men of Richmond marched in torch light procession through the principal streets of the city. There were about three hundred in ranks, making a very imposing and brilliant display. They each wore a red scarf, with the letters M. M. printed on it. It is designed as an institution for the preservation of the interests and institutions of the South and the formation of a southern Confederacy.
Augusta [Georgia], Nov. 8. A large and enthusiastic meeting was held to-night for the formation of a club of minute men. Spirited addresses were made and a large number of men enrolled.

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