Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-11-17
MESSRS. SUMMERS AND BOCOCK IN
LYNCHBURG

II,
time during the canvass, came into collision.
AT an early hour, the Methodist Protestant Church
filed to its utmost capacity by an eager crowd
ga hered to behold this battle OF the giants The dis
cussion was opened by Mr. Summers, In address of
an hour and quarter, in which, after abiding to the
circumstances which had brought him before them,
and advefng to the opinions and positions, that he
had held upon those questions OF Federal policy,
which have heretofore dlvld Id the two great parties
OF the country he passed the consideration of topics
relating to the uiure government OF The State. He
spoke OF the almost unequalied endoWments OF ma
ture Virginia; her advantageous geographical po
son: the of her domain; the richness of her
soil; her forests streams ana harbors; the moral ee
yatIon OF her people; the influence which as com
mouWeath in former times she, had exercised NTH
affairs of the nation, and the prosperity which her
people were entitled to enjoy He briefly recited the
political history OF the estate, and contrasting It's con-
dltion with that OF Others some younger and less ia
vored he pointed the sad disparity which existed
IN popuiation powersand progress Virginia had once
been the sovereign III the whole ssterhood OF States
There was time, WREN her voice was almost the
voice OF the nation; when she stood foremost in rank
and peerless in inellect when to be "VIRGINIAN,"
had higher significance, than to have been ga Ro-
MAN. in the proudest day Of the Eternal City. Now
though her heart throbbed walmly, and her eye
beamed brightly as before, other states had taken
position IN front OF her: she was but a follower in
the train she had led; the scepre of dominion had
been wrested from her han1 and the tiara of sove-
reignty had been torn from her brow.
Why was this? Why had New York, Pennsylva
mia and Ohio outstripped Virginia, in this race Of
States! The reason was that while she had been
resting in the shadow OF her monuments OF great.
ness while she had been dreaming DER the past and
sporting with abstractions-they had pressed forward
quickeaiug and Strengthening they went--inviting
immigration binding their own citizens to The soil ed
ucatng their people-opening up hgh~wa vs. to market
and developing all their elements OF wealth; while
Virginia had been devoting the talents and ambition
ef her the honors of the Federal Government
and to controlling its affairs. While she had been
talking, and resolving and p,omdgatng formulas OF
abstract political truth they had been concerning them
selves with matters OF internal policy and State i'm
provemen while she had been studying the rights of
the States and fencing herself round it'll paper breast
works-they had been developing the powers of the
States and building up an impregnable defence in the
strength and affections OF their people.
Virginia, he thought, had been long enough bat
ting with sha dows We were now standing upon the
threshold of new crave were surrounding the
baptsmal Iont of second birth. Thencetorth, cd
things would be done away and all things become new.
Should we not bow before the Spirit of the new dis
pensation. and yield to the grand npu sions of the
age? Should not our beloved old Commonwealth as
sumo new fOru-step out like the goddess of old,
from the cloud that had enyeloped her and show her
self again, with the star OF supremacy glterng her
frontet2 The past, with all its conseerated memories,
was ours; It's glories would come down and our
children forever. The future was vet to be tried; let
advance into with faces unayeed-wh lis great pro-
bens, hencefo ward, let US have to do-with It's nigh
" substances and no longer with the shadows of the
past Let us prepare to wTestle. HERE was a battle
field worthy OF Vrgina's prowess-there were themes
OF po tcal philosophy worthy of her genius la the
great struggle for Commercial Supremacy, in her
former tor political ascendancy, why need she
not be first? No element OF physical wealth was
wanting. She needed only the fostering aid OF wise
and energetic system OF State measures, to restore her
| the high position, compared with the other States,
she had held 10 the earlier days OF the Republic. The
only and legitimate Issues, that Shou enter into
this canvass were not those of Bank or rariff or Dis
tribute on but only those which related the removal
| ZION and ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF the State. The ouy prop
er question be asked eoncercng the candidates for
the high offices, tor the hrst time be filled by
the people, were, not whether he in favor OF Fill
more or Buchanan, Webster or Douglass for the Pres.
| dency but is he the best ca culated to infuse
new yigor no all the departments OF labor, commerce
and enterprise, and direct The State IN the path of
| an onward and upward progress.
Upon such topics these, not in such words, but
with an eloquence and power, that moved his audi
ence as if some supernatural influence were sWayng
them, this great champion OF State Rights and Stale
renovation, poured his thoughts like ''lvng wa
ter.'' To say that those who listened to him were
carried away by his tervd langGage--his high
ceptions, and the noble devotion that he manifested
| towards the old Commonwealth, would convey no
idea of the deep and glowing enthusiasm ne excited.
Before concluding he referred to charges which had
been made against hun, based upon garbed extracts
| from speech delivered by him, in the Legislature CT
Virginia, in 1892. He spoke of the widespread and
ANXIOUS that had been excited in the public
mind by events of deeply tragic character 10 the
| county of SOUTHAMPTON. The occurrences had been
brought to the notice OF the Legislature by the Gov
| einor in his annual message. Petitions numerousy
signed came in from various portions of Eastern Viz
ginia and prominent men, some OF whom had since
Marty took decided ground In favor OF some action by
the Legislature, looking to the ultimate radiance Of
the State, from what was then almost universally
parded an evil. 1t in this state OF things that he
made the speech, isolated portions OF which lad been
torn from and tortured into meanings that could MOI
be given to them if the whole speech were published
1t was proposition for action by ourselves, which
then seemed to be IN accordance with the general de-
sire of the State. Very shortly afterwards the abo-
litionists of the North commenced their Infamous
pottiggs, and revolution passed through the sentl-
mi ct Ol changing
ing upon the subject, and no mans more thoroughly
than his Ever since he hadlooked INTO the sub
jet, he had been firmly OF opinion that Congress had
more tight TO esisIae upon slavery either ia the
States territories of the Unon than had the govern
men OF Russia In his position as member of Con-
gress, ne had uniformly held this doctrine and he had
voted against the repeal of the 2lst rule prohibiting
he introduction OF abolition petitions, because he was
unwilling that the South should recede from any posi-
oa that it had taken. la the recent Reform Conyen-
ton, he had voted for the clause in the Constltu-
tion denying to the Legislature the right to emanei-
pate slaves. He had not only voted Tor il, but in a
speech made some weeks before lis adoption-he had
iavted Eastern gentlemen 10 brngt forward and had
declared his opinion. that, even without consti-
utionai Inhibition, the Legislature would have such
power He mad also voted tor the clause eXemptino
slaves under twelve years of age from taxation. He
had held and expressed these views, not only in the
Convention but in his canvass for seat in that body
and uniformly for years He declared that there was
no portion of the State more keeny sensitive upon this
subject than the particular vicinity which he resided
here on account OF The salt works, slave property
was more valuable than in any other portion Of the
Stae-and more exposed, on account OF the facilities
for escaping into tree State. He had lost slaves IN
this way With emphasis and manner that CON
clnced every of his sincerity he declared, there
,gas no man in this Commonwealh-Eas or West,
Highlander or LowlaRder more decided in his oppo-
sition to any and every scheme calculated TO affect
lhe rights and interests Of the saveho!dsr than he
jhat before he would yield one nch to the foul spirit
If Nortnera tan4ticsm~-he would be torn TO pieces
limb bv limb. He had never regarded slavery mo-
raj evil and though II might not rreyerently unlta
.I1t IA. RON