Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-11-14
THE TIMES, Terms.


MI. summers ana OOD. NC DO1CeW.
1t is abundantly evident that the Democratic
press of Eastern Virginia are determined to stake
the gubernatorial issue upon their charge that
Mr. Summers is an Abolitionst because he acted
with the entire body of the West in 1882 on the
question of emancipation. Even the Richmond
Enquirer, which fort long time forbore to partci-
pate in this unjust mode of warfare, has at last
been persuaded to reterate the aspersions of 9th.
err Democratic papers Notwithstanding the me-
morabe course pursued by Thomas Richie, ST.,
at the same period, when he pronounced slavery
''the greatest evil which can scourge our land,
and told the Legislature with solemn vaccinations
that something must be done"
1t is not pretended that Col. Joseph Johnson
differed from Mr.. Summers in 1882, in any resA
pect whatever, save in prominence. 1t so happen
ed that he was not member of the Assembly in
that year, or, as his Democratic organs perfectly
well know, his votes would have been precisely
such as were given by Mr. Summers. His re-
representatives. in the House of Delegates were
Messrs. Williams and VIM. Johnson (whether a
relative of Col. Josephs or not, we cannot say and
on every test question, their names will be found
recorded, like Mr.. Summers with those of James
Mcdowell, and other Western members, togetb-
or with no small number from the East. They
voted against the motion o. Mr.. Wtcher to post
pone indefinitely the report of the special COM
miee, and the substitute proposed by Mr.. Pres
ton. The report declared it ''nexpedent for
the present, to make any legislative enactments
for the abolition of slavery; and the substitute
declared 1t "espedjem to adopt some legislative en-
actment' for that purpose. The motion to
postpone indefinitely having been rejected, they
voted FOR THE SUBSTITUTE. Then they voted
with Jefferson Randolph, Goode, Mayo, Hays,
Mcdowell Roane, Rutherford and other Dem o.
Gratis for motion made by Mr.. Bryce, of Gooch-
land, to insert the following words just before the
resolution reported by the special committee:
"Pfooundy sensible OF the great evils arising from
the condition OF the coloed population of this Com
monwealth; induced by humanity well as policy,
to an immediate effort tor the removal in the first
place. well of those who are free, as of such
as may hereafter become free; believing that this eff
tort while it is in just accordance with the sentiment
OF the community the subject will absorb all our
present MEANS and that further action for the re-
moyal of the slaves should await definite de-
yelopment of public opinion RcsoIued, Se'
This amendment prevailed, and then, finally
Messrs. Williams and Johnson, of Harrison,
whose constituent Col. Joseph Johnson was,
voted for the report as amen led. Nobody has
ever heard that the immaculate glove" dissent
ed from these acts of his representatives, and no
candid man can doubt that he fully approved and
endorsed them. Why, then, should Mr.. Sum-
mers be ostracized for doing in 1882, what his
competitor must be presumed 10 have sustained :?
But we have now new evidence and authority to
bring against the assailants of Mr.. Summers,
and it is of a character which they will find it
difficult to impeach.
1t will be recollected that James Mcdowell, of
Rockbridge, was elected Governor of Virginia by
the Legislature of 1923. The public are we'll
he was one of the most prominent advocates of
the measures for sup porting which Mr.. Summers
is now SO bitterly condemned We have not
room here to cite any extended extracts from the
eloquent speech he delivered in defence of the
policy of emancipation, and in opposition to slave
ry as a political, social and moral evil. Take
these few sentences as samples of the whole:
"With the principle undenied and u1deniable that
it is the right and the duty of every government to
protect its citizens from danger, matter hat be
the form OF i-a right and duty which necessarily
suit from the purposes of political compact and
independently of any direct stipulation that effect
with this principle admitted in the government
and with properly amongst US, the danger of which
IS also admitted, does not the case already exist TO
which the principle should be applied p
Am asked how this protective power is to be ap.
Piled TO the case before us-the OF slavery2 I'm
quesuonabIy, answer, 10 10 other way than by de-
cisve and timely prevention OF its dangers. But what,
1t is further asked Is the mode of prevention l an
swer frankly, that there be other mode than
ut nj dpnitti hiput
the saTe by gradual liberation and removal of Them
would not apply this mode except at the private
election OF the owners, 10 the slaves EXISTENCE,
BUT ONLY To THOSE HEREAFTER BORN. These, and
these onlV should be made the objects OF positive law
II the holders OF these decline vol untary surrender
OF their claims to hem then, in the first place, this
clam sh oud be purchased out by the State but the
State have not the means Of making The purchase,
then this claim should be forfeited the State ia such
manner as shall best preserve tine interests of individuals
without hazardng too much the interests and safety of
the commonwealth.
In these declarations, Mr. Mcdowell broadly |
avowed the doctrine that the State might emanci-
pate the slaves then living with or without the |
consent ofthe owners, upon paying compensa-
ton. and the post natl without compensation, if
it should be inconvenent TO pay for them
Here, then, we have what James Mcdowell was
in 1882. Let us now see how far his anti-slave-
ry sentiments affected him with Eastern Demo-
Gratis, ten years afterwards.
Wenvite the attention of every reader to the ex-
tracts we are about to give from the report of
debate that took place in the House of Delegates,
on the 18th Of December, 1912, which report we
find published in the Richmond Enquirer of the
nth o: December. The same paper contains
leading editorial, a part of which is in these
words:
The Election of Governor.
On Thursday last James Mcdowell, Esq, Of Rock. |
brdge, was elected Governor Of the Commonwealth |
TO come inIo office on the lst January next He had
previously received 63 votes in the Republican caucus
OF "a members, and he run, therefore, The nomi
nee oil me Republican party. On joint OF the Two