Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-11-03
FIR. Summers Slavery Views.

| ne reader VIII recOfect mat MIR. icum-
mcrs, in the frank and manly letter which
we published in our last number, referred
to the speech delivered by him in the late
Convention. COMPOUNDED as lis revilers
were by that letter, they have no other re-
source left them, than to question the sin
cerity of the avowals that it makes, insin-
uating that it was only written from the cx-
igencies of his present position, as candi-
date before the people. They know little
of George w Summers, who imputc to
him the capability of doing anact so much
better suited TO Locofoco habitudes and
tactics. TO place the matter beyond cavil,
even from them, we copy from the speech
to which he refers, delivered before he be-
came a candiJate) the following conclu-
sive passa gcs:
81 huvc gone iato this examination, not Will,
view 70 bring M counter charges against my ore,
least Of I'LL against the gentlemen % whom have
had reference, but for tho imrle purpose af sl0w-
ing What il tie trpe history u this movement.
have shown that il founded an eastern memo
rials, presented By eastern men, referred Tor cx,i-
nation and relief by eastern voters and sustained
aId maintained by the eastern press.
Sir, this is a bye gore transaction. Il occurred
twenty y"nrs ago. 1t was thea in ACCORDANCE to n
very great clent at least with tEcpub'ic sentiment
of Virginia rs developed by petitions and mcmori-
ais. by public proceedings in many Of the counties
and lily the public press. Ifthsre was an error or
sin III H. the >in lies the dcor of eastern aud n,t
western Viryinin. Since Tint Gnc ste,c otthines
, q D
consideration u crery saet fopic "a rgjgi4 occur
srlie hore ctaAgcd Ire rtole fonc cf yni}ic
Sentiment 0'f II TRlir opinion H,0ygb A. egry par
fioa II tics CcmmoswclAb. |. a movement in
accordance with the public sentiment of past PC
riol, of the present and Won might Just as pro-
perry have gene back 70 the days Of Jefferson and
Wythe. an- Patrick Henry and George Mason aud
have shown what were tlier opinions in reference to
the GHozton Of sn-. ~ and what the plans by
which they proposed to got rid oft.
Nooae proposes to remove alter tie ciarsc Of
the constitution which says that private property
Stall not bctakcn orthe public use without ist com
pensatinn- but IN addition 90 this, if you desire
insert in the constitution positive and mandatory
prohibition upon the legislative authority to enlar-
cipaic slaves, make objection its being done,
lYDErEND&NT or sUcH cLAusE,Mr PRESENT oPiN-
ion IS THAT THE oRDtSART LEGISLATURE HAS not
THE POWER WITHOUT The CONSENT OF TIE OWNERS.
| 70 EaIAScIrArE uEsLAyEs oFTHE C nMIDSwEALTH.
THE OPINIONS WHICH WERE ENTER
| TANNED AT THAT DAY. ARE NOT ENTER
| TANNED NOW. AND THAT is KNOWN TO BE
| THE FACT. Why then refer To this? Why seek
20 a rast portion If legislative histoy' az On
argument against western snceers on the great ques-
ion now pending before usl WHY resort to il as a
ground forfefi>iag equal distribution of the leg
islative powcri
Who can read these sentences, asks the
Richmond Times, and honestly doubt
George W. Summers Mr. Timothy
Rivcs himself, who fairly intimated in the
Convention that he sustained the mixed
basis not from conviction, but because lie
was representing lis constituents, ["fght-
ing for Sal, . told Mr.. Summers, in one Of
his interpretations, ''MoHgA yog admit you
harecaaRged, it is none the less our duty TO
guard against, not only the hand fthe ty-
rant, but also against hasty legislation il
moments If excitement, by which private
property might be taken from the owner
without adequate compensation" The
words italicized being part Of the res
gesta as the lawyers sayl serve, indepcn-
IDENTIFY Of Mr.. Summers own language,
to disprove the assertion, that he has never
avowed a change Of the opinions he held
in 1852.