Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1851-11-12
THE CHARGE OF ABoLIrioSIsm.

The boldness with which the charge of
aboltionism has been made against the
Wing candidate for Governor, shows the
desperate straits to which our opponents are
driven. Unable to find anything else OF mo-
ment TO allegc against him, they have man
ufactured this charge, and the leaders aud
mouth-pieces of the party ring il about with
as much eflrontcry as il they themselves
believed it to be true. The utter absurdity
of the charge and the degree to which those
who use it stultify themselves, are manifest
from the facts that NJ. Summers is himseJ
shareholder, and roied in HE Contention
for tia! precision in The nrw Constitution
,chich specially prohibits emancipation.
That the charge should have been made
in the recklessness ofparty warfare in Eas
tern Virginia where some political capital
might be made of it. is not strange but to
hear it repeated in this Congressional Dis
trict, is astonishing beyond measure. We,
however, observe that it is republished in
several newspapers in the District, and it
is even echoed from the stump. Yet the ed
itors of these same papers, and these same
speakers, have voted again and again for
James Mcdowell, who stood side by side
with Mr.. Summers in 1882. 1t has been
asserted, indeed, that Mr. SUMMERS views
at that time were more ultra and obnoxious,
than those of other members Of the Legisla-
ture but the published debate, will show
that he uttered no sentiment which does
not find parallel in the speeches of prom
inent Democrats who have since been trust
ed and honored by their party. What, for
instance, can 60 further than the following
extracts from speech delivered by Thom-
as JrFerson Randolph a prominent and IT.
huential member OF the late Staunton Con-
vention, and whom nobody now charges to
be an abolitionist. Mr.. RANDOLPH said
He has attempted to justify slavery here, because
it exists in Africa and has stated that il exists all
over the world. Upon the same principle, he could
! Justify Mat0meianism, with lis plurality Of wives,
petty wars for plumber, robbery and murder, or any
uiher Of the denominations and enurmitles Of savage
tribes. DIes slavery exist in any part ot civilized
Europe? No. sir. in no part Of it. .4nericG is
The only cirih:cd Christian nation that bears The
opprobriun
The gentleman has appealed to the Christian re-
ligicn in Justification Of slavery would ask him
upon what part Of those pure doctrines does he re
ly To which Il those sublime precepts does he ad.
vert to su,tan his position? lsil that which teach
as charity, justice and good viii to all, or 10 that
which teaches'lh that ye do unto others as ye would
they should do unto you ?"
But it is alleged that Mr.. SUMMERS as
serted the power of the General Government
to. appropriate money 10 be used By the Stale
for the purpose of emancipation. Well, if
there is anything outrageous in that JAMES
MCDOWELL did not perceive it, for he allu-
ded to the subject without expressing dis
appreciation. MIR. SUMMERS also spoke of
slavery as an accused thing, it is said.
Perhaps he did, although we have not seen
the word in his speech. We know, howcv-
err, that JAMES Mcdowell SAID, "Shall we
perpetuate the calamity we deplore and be-
come to posterity the objects, not of kind
ness but cursings" Mr.. SUMMERS, more
over, asserted"that slaves are made proper
ty, not by natural right, but by power and
necessity So did JAMES Mcdowell
He declared distinctly that property in
slaves erisicd only in ririue Of The lars
of The Slate. Finally, Mr. SUMMERS con-
tended that the Legislature had the right to
free the children of slaves thereafter born,
without compensation to the masters, and
this is the great heresy of which he
was guilty. JAMES Mcdowell, how
ever, asserted precisely the same doc
trine. He argued that private advantage
must always be held as subordinate TO the
public good, and SAID
II the holders Of these (the after horny decline
voluntary surrender Of their claim to Them then,
in the first place, this claim should be purchased
out by the State, but if The Stale hare not The
means # making The purchase, then this claim
should be forfeited 10 he Stale in such manner
as shall hest preserve the interests Of individuals
without hazarding 100 much The interests and safe
,y o. the commonwealth"
Mr.. Mcdowell furthermore declared IN
substance that the West would not give up
some scheme of emancipation and would
listen to no postponement. Yet notwith-
standing these sentiments no one has ever
branded HIM as an abolitionist. He is uni
versally regarded as great and good man,
and had his life been spared he would now
be the Congressman-eect from this District
by the votes of Wings and Democrats. IfI
GEORGE w. SUMMERS is an abolitionist,so
is JAMES Mcdowell, and so also is every
man and woman in the County of Augusta
who had arrived at years Of discretion in
1882.
And let it be remembered that Gov. Nc
DowGLL never gave any direct evidence of
having changed the opinions he entertained
IN 1882. while Mr.. SUMMERS has. We
have not only his vote in the Convention,
alluded to above, which is perfectly salts
factory, but in recent letter he uses this
language
81 AM STAKEHOLDER MYSELF TO 4 CONSIDER
ABLE AMoUNrand live in the largest say eiioidlng