Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-12-02
EXTRACTS FROM MR.. SUMMERS SPEECH
OF 1875
HOUSE OF DELEGATES, Saturday, JAM 16, 1896

EXTRACTS FROM MR.. SUMMERS SPEECH
OF 1886.
HOUSE OF DELEGATES, Saturday, Jan. TO- 1896
ABOLITION RESOLUTIONS.
"Mr. SUMMERS said, that he did not propose going
at large into consideration of all the topics connect
ed with this debate II he understood correctly the
rule of proceeding, adopted by the chair, the pre-
sent might De the only opportunity which ne would
have of explaining the grounds upon which he had
voted against the amendment offered by the member
from Orange (Mr Woofolk) which denied to Con-
gress the right, under the Constitution 10 interfere
III any manner with slavery in the District of Coum-
bia, and which declared 'any attempt the part of
that body to liberae the slaves that District,
violation of the Constitution He felt anxious that
he should not be misunderstood that question, and
begged the indulgence of the House for very short
time, while he explained the ground of his vote, with
out going infinitely into I'll the reasoning by which
he thought it might be sustained The lucid view of
this question, taken by the gentleman from Jefferson,
| (Mr Grigg) who had just preceded him, Mr. S.
said had relieved him from the necessity of entering
large upon its discussion otherwise he might
have considered it proper TO do so. He said that no
man, here or elsewhere, could go further than him
| self in deprccang RESISTING the action Of
| Congress upon this subject Against the policy and
expedency of any interference by that body with the
question of slavery in the District Of Columbia,
one could be firmly fixed than he He con-
cured most heartily In the sentiment embodied in
the second resolution Of the substitute offered by the
| gentleman from Goochland (Mr. Watkins) land, in
the language there employed, would "regard any at
tempt on the part of that body TO liberate the Saves
that District 0olation Of the rights Of PROPERTY
breach of faith owards the staUehodtng States, and
precursor to scheme for the abolition Of saoey IN
adopt the terms of the seventh resolution, in the
res originally reported by the committee, which de-
clared that the action of Congress upon this subject
woul ID be "an implied if not direct demnncjatio'. of
the sdUeholdng States, By the Government they had
contributed to create-aD0rdtng Just grounds Of are-
tension that future schemes against the rights Of the
saUeholding States are meditated, and rendering it
certain thai thereby The schemes already formed cH be
foStered, and advanced post secured, from Uhich
they may be carried .cih surer aim and more tlis
ch1euouS activity and He willing to go
further, and declare, that any act on the part ct Con-
gress having for its object the liberation of the slaves
in the District of Columbia without the consent of
the owners, or without just compensation made them
therefor, would be violation of The Constitution
But the resolution under consideration, perfect
ed by the amendment Of the member from Orange, de-
MES to Congress the power OF action under any con-
ceivable circumstances whatever; and is made to
ser the broad proposition, that "any ATTEMPT en- the
part OF that body to lberate the slaves in that District
would be Uiolation of the Constitution.
| After explaining at some length why he could not
sustain this broad proposition, although ready to
cur in the above strong declarations, Mr.. SUMMERS
| proceeded as follows
"This, Mr.. S. ead was the honest conviction Of
his mind, upon the best reflection which he had been
able to besnw upon the subject. So srirom eerettng
| that he had found comparatively but few coinciding
with him in the vote on this question: he reciced that
so large majority OF the House eftained The oppo-
site opinion. He gralifed that the voice of the
Legislature would 60 forth denying the power without
qualification, as 1t might better serve to check the at
| tempted exercise OF such power. This he trusted, was
| the true construction, and his wrong; but, upon
the oahs which we had taken to support the cons,tu-
ton each OF US must consitue according to the best
| lights of his own Judgment Pursuing this he said
no had been un able TO adopt any other conclusion than
| that which he had stated"
One OF the principa questions discussed in the de-
bate, was whether the resolutions to be adopted should
refer to ard condemn in decided language the action
of the Abolitioniss of the North citizens The ORR
ginal report of the committee contained such refe-
renee. The substitute OF Mr. Watkins did not, and
it was therefore warmly opposed by Judge Stsuard
Mr. Summers and other members On this point, Mr.
Summers spoke in the following terms
"The second resolution of that report 1.-THE resolu-
| tons reported by the committed after maintaining
the sole and exclusive right of Virginia to control the
subject OF slavery within her own jurisdictona limits
declares call interference Herewith by the General
Government, the other States, the citizens thereof
to be invasive OF the rights of the slavehoding States,
and violation OF the constitution. The first resolution
of the substitute, which is the proposition competing
with that above mentioned, also maintains the exclu-
sive right of Virginia to legsate upon this subject
anG goes on to declare that "any attempt to change
their condition. rhat of the slaves whether made by
the Federal Government the other States, will be
regarded as an invasion OF our rights under the Fede
raj compact The substitute wholly omils to declare,
that the action of The citizens of other States having
for their object the abolition of slavery in VIrg mia, is
tons exclusive y 10 the action of the General Govern
ment, and the aci on of the States, or States"
Mr. S. proceed to argue with great earnestness in
favor of the de saraton contained in the committees
resolutions:
"He held that the action of an Abolionist in New
York or Connecticut; aiming at The disturbance Of the
slave population OF Virginia, offence rot only
against the latter State but against the peace and int.
rest OF that TO which he might himself belong. By the
terms OF Union which connect these States, that which
| ~ utta h.
in one State ncltes rebellion instruction 10 ano-
Their, is as much the enemy of his State Of that
against which his unhoy efforts Immediately
dlrected-and TO be held the common enemy of all
s'Thls is certainly new doctrine said Mr. S..
which leads gentlemen to imagine that citizens either
in their individual character, combined societies
| tor Improper and unlawful purposes, incapable of
committing violations of the Constitution; bat that it
had been seriously and earnestly maintained in de-
bate il would scarcely deserve refutaton. The OBJ
Jectons which have been taken go release any ex-
tent of association from censure. however vile their
designs or potent their means of mischief, that
they have not the eountenance OF governmental sane
ton. That Is, although FIVE thousand any larger
number OF the citizens OF non slayeholdng State
confederate together, and, by means of money and
presses, Hood contiguous slave holding Stale with
publications. and pictorial representations, directly
cacul lated and designed to foster discomfort among
the slaves and to endanger the lives and property Of
the white population: nay, although these fanatics
after thus exciting the spirit of INSTRUMENTATION should
furnish to the slaves arms and ammunition carry
out their purposes, such conduct their part is not
TO be regarded in conflict with the rights secured
to us by the Constitution, the ground that the acts
complained of proceed from the citaaens of another
Government, but not from the Government ITSELF
The CONSTITUTIONS he said, made express provision for
the apprehension OF persons escaping from service
into other States, and declared that such persons
should not thereby "be discharged from such service
or labour, but shall be delivered up, the claim of the
party to whom such service or labour may be due'-
In violation of this dsliact stipulation individuals and
societies In the non-s aveholdIng States not only gave
protection and concealmen to fugitive slaves, render
but, not unrequently when such discovery has been
made, prevent by force the retaking of such slave
IN THE, however, they commit violation OF the
Constitution, according to the argument on the other
side, because they are acting without the authority
and sanction of the State to which they belongi Mr.
5. SAID, the resolution was utterly worthless, de-
prived of that portion which the substitute omits and
upon which he had commented.''
Mr. Summers then pressed The yiew which had