Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-11-07
rrnn, tha Petersburg Intslliaencsr.


PROOFS ON PROOFS ACCUMULATE.
Never was an unjust charge made against pubic
man so completely knocked into cooked nat as the
accusation that George W. Summers Is an aoolltipn-
ist l. is passing strange, that with the recently re-
corded evidence OF Mr.. Summers views on this sub
lect, that such charge should ever have been made
and we can only account iof the conduct OF Mr. 81
accusers by the supposou that they entirely
ignorant the subject and went to work hap-hazard,
willing to take the chances OF injurng him ii they
could. They knew he was noble fellow, gentle
man. and uuexceptionabe in every thing except being
Whig;' they knew that in mental structure he low
cred high above his competitor the taest peak
OF the Hemaleh mountains towers above an ant Ali;
and hence they made the desperate attempt to aaen
on him the charge OF being aboltlonlst. But we
have said that proofs proofs accumulate OF MI
Summers entire innocence OF this gross charge As
recently as the second OF last July Mr. Summers used
the following language in the Convention:
81 was not aware that the gentleman from Kappa
hammock Mr. Sroher) had ntimaed his intention to
offer substitute. Having been abseot from The hall
Yesterday when it read, had not heard it until
it was read by the secretary just now. l now offer
| the 70 blowing subst ute for the amendment ofthe
gentleman from Rappahannock.
Taxation shall be equal and Uniform throughout
the State and all property shall be taxed ia proportion
its value to be asceraned in such mode shall be
prescribed by law. Slaves shall not be taxed al
higher ad Yalorem than lands but slaves under the
age of II wears shall not be subject TAXATION and
any other species of property may be exempted from
taxation by vote OF majority OF the whole number
ct members elected TO each house OF the general as
sembly.
Il VIII barely repeat that i have offered tins propo
ston as means OF indicating at least my own views
IN reference 10 this question OF taxation, about which
much senstiveness exhibited the part OF certain
| gentlemen in this Convention. Much has been said
about guarantees both i'll rereace TO the right OF pro-
perty IN slaves, and IN reference the probability
possibility OF onerous taxation upon that property iii tu
ture. have sad, both in the canvass TOR seat in
this body and heie, that stood ready at tirnes as
far my vote and my voice could CO. to secure The
| shareholders of eastern Virginia, rom all iuv aston
the right OF property In slaves, ami also from all
pn1Sfo Odl oil
have indicated willingness, both here and elsewhere
| to go for guarantee VIII CHI would inhibt through ali
time, tax upon slave property larger tina that upon
land, and In gong thus tar might well call upon
ern gentlemen 10 award who are thus willing TO
VOTE credit Tor degree Of iberaliy that may well
compare with any thing that is exhibited their side.
! For while am willing to vote that shall BE-
| imposed on slave property larger in reference to its
value than that imposed on land, fail to be
perceived by every member OF this body and by every
cluzen OF this common wealth. that slave property is,
from its very nature greater burden upon the govern
| ment than land When we consider the cost of this
properly in reference TO police and municipal regula-
tons it cannot tail to be conceded thai it does throw
| heavier burdens upon society than land does. But
am willing to secure this species of property. | pro-
pose thai shall not be taxed higher than land which
is obvious y the great, controlling interest OF The COM
| monwealth
Il propose further, to give power to the general
| assemly, by majority vote OF both branches 10
exempt such other property as to them seem best.
Is there anything improper in that Ought every
member OF this body from the RON the west
to be willing himself to the OF majority
OF each branch OF the general assembly, reference
to the exemption OF other proper Y, especially when
| consider that the whole commonwealth is equally
Interested in every other species of property except
>aves? move this then substitute for The amend
| ment OF the gentleman from Rappahannock 1move
it as propo-itio which, If adopted, must
perfect equality in taxation between this property and
all other property. move it here in order that this
| apprehension may be quieted at once and forever.
! am willing to vote TO- it,"
| Listen 10 Mr.. Summers language:
| I"I HAVE SAID, BOTH IN THE CAN
| VASS FOR SEAT IN THIS BODY AND
| HERE, THAT I STOOD READY AT ALL
| Times, AS FAR AS MY VOTE AND MY
| VOICE COULD GO, TO SECURE THE SLAVE
! HOLDERS OF EASTERN VIRGINIA BOTH
| FROM ALL INVASION UPON THE RIG HTS
| OF PROPERTY IN SLAVES, AND ALSO
| FROM ALL UNJUST AND IMPROPER TAXA
TON UPON SLAVE PROPERTY"
Does this, fellow ctzsns sound like abolition D.
| Again, on the same day. Mr. Summers said;
"Do not charge us hereafter with eunwiiling
ness to guarantee property OF this peculiar kind GU
cannot do it. We come here and offer you
exemption OF your young slaves by constitution al pro-
slaves that taxed shall be taxed at higher
| ad uaorern than lands taxed We offer you
this in response to all thai has been said here in refer
| eace TO western aggression and rapacity. We stand
mere as we have stood among constituents ready to
shield you in the protection OF this property every
| form. We offer 1t 10 you. 1t is for yon to ac-
cept reject it, We ask nothing on our part but the
| simple power in the legislature exempt minor por-
tons oil property which may be found 10 The future
perience Of the State absolutely necessary to be ex-
empled."