Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-10-28
Opinions IN 1892.

Our columns Will bear witness tnat we nave
earnestly demonstrated against the mode of war
fare upon Mr.. Summers, that has been adopted
by portion of the Democratic press We refer
to the assaults made upon him Especially by the
Petersburg Democrat,) for his course in the Les
gislature of 1912. He himself has admirably
rebutted these absurd charges in his letter pub
shed in the Times of yesterday. But, as it is
evident that some at least Of his opponents mean
to RELY chiefly during the canvass upon their re-
miniscences of what he said and did in the As
sembly OF 1882, it becomes necessary, by coun-
ter-reminiscences, to sustain position that the
history OF that period is one which no party in
Virginia can safely revive for the purpose of ma"
king momentary political capital.
The offence of which Mr. Summers is implea-
ded consists 1--WE shall state broadly in the facts,
that, during the session of 1631-32, he advoca-
ted a scheme of prospective emancipation, and
boldly maintained that slavery was an evil.
We have already reminded the reader that
ofthem now leading Democrats, acted with Mr..
Summers at that session, voted as he did, and ex-
pressed sentiments similar to his. We have al
80 mentioned the fact that both the political pa
psrs then published here were on the enamel pa
ton side. Iii now our special purpose to show
that the Richmond Enquirer, especially, then a S
now, the organ of the Democratic PARTY, and edit
ed by its founder, Thomas Richie, ST., promul-
gated the very doctrines for which Mr.. Summers
IS now denounced, and in terms fully as strong
as he ever used. We much regret that the ne
cessity has been imposed upon the friends of
Mr.. Summers of resorting to this species of ar
gument. We should be heartily glad if the re-
cords of 1882 could, like the Syblne leaves, be
destroyed forever But as they are revived to
convict prominent Wings of holding unsound
opinions on the subject OF slavery, they must per
force be appealed to to prove that the guiding
lights of Democracy went quite as far astray.-
Mr.. Richie, we have no doubt, has changed his
views, as Mr. Summers has changed his and, if
he had received the Democratic nomination for
Governor Gas some of his admirers desred) his
course in 1882 would certainly in our judgment,
have been no good reason why shareholders
should distrust him. We are pleased to observe
that the present editors of the Enquirer, sensible
ofthe injustice Of the recent attacks upon Mr..
summers, nave aDSldlneQ1 from en1OrSng tnem.
To all, then, who have been advised that oppo-
sition to slavery in 1882 is an objectionable sin,
however much repudiated in 1851, we commend
the following article from the pen of Thos. Rtch-
lie, written after the House of Delegates had ap-
pointed special committee to consider the SUBJ
ject of the "cooured population" and before it had
reported:
fho pinb,Y o41H Of -tL
The two great subjects before the Committees are
those which relate to the coored population of the
State and to its Internal improvements Upon neither
OF these is the Committee prepared TO report
1t Is probable from what we hear, that the Com
mttee GA the coored population will report some plan
for getting rid of the free people of coor-Bu is this
ali that can be done Are forever to suffer the
greatest evil, which can scourge land not only to
remain, but TO increase in its dimensions s'We
may shut eyes and faces, if we please -
(wrtes eloquent South Carolinlan on his return
from the North few weeks ago)-"But there it is
the dark and growing evil, at doors; and the
question we must at no distant day God only knows
what Is the part OF wise to do that moment
GUS and appalling subject. Oh this | am very sure
that the dlfference-nohing short of frightful-be,
tween all that exists side of the Potomac and
all on the other, is owing that cause alone The
disease 5 deepseated is at the hearts core-lt is
consuming, and has all along been Consuming our
vltals, and could laugh, If could laugh on such
subject, at the ignorance and folly Of the politician
who aseribes that to an act OF the government which
IS the inevitable effect OF the eternal laws of Nature
What Is to be done ? On my Cod don't know
but something must be done.'
Yes-something must be done-and it is the part
OF no honest man to deny ltof no free press to af
feet 10 conceal 1t. When this dark population is
growing upon US; when every census is but ga
therng its appalling numbers upon us; when within
period equal to that in which this Federal Govern
ment has been in existence these numbers will in |
TO more than two millions within Virginia
sister States closing their doors upon our
when blacks for sale, and when our whites moving
Weswardly in greater numbers than like to hear
ot--when this, the fairest land all this Continent
GO4l plIp fH ctfu nh
as sort OF garden spot, II 1t were worked by the
hands of white alone, ace, ought ace, to sit
quietly down, ibid our arms, and say to each other
wen, well; this thag will not come TO the worst ia
our day. We will leave it our children and grand
cnlldren, and great grand children, to take of
themselves-and to brave thu storm? - Is this 10
act like wise men? Heaven knowsi we are no "a
natics' We deiest the madness which actuated the
AnnIs des No1r. But something ought to be done =
Means sure, but gradual, systematic but discreet
ought to be adopted, for reducing the mass of evil
which Is pressing upon the South and will still more
press upon her, the longer IS put OIL We ought not
10 smut our eyes nor avert our faces And though we
speak almost without hope that the Committee mr.
that the Legislature will do anything at the present
session. to this question: we saw now in he
utmost sincerity of hearts, that our wisest rneT
give much OF their attention to this subject
nor can they give 1t too soon.
We have no comments to make upon these
paragraphs. The reader will, for himself, observe
the strength of the writer's convictions of the evil
OF slavery and Of the necessity of "doing some-
thlng to remove it. The avowal of such sent-
ments by journal Of so much influence as the
Enquirer, did not fail to excite opposition.
In the Enquirer of January 18th, appears
longedtoria elected by the following cur. mole
from Mr.. Nathaniel Alexander, of MeckIsnb~rg
member Of the Senate
Mes-,s Editors-Owing to the late nuhcsi ions ia