Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-11-13

Hon. Geo. w. Summers.

the arrival in Lynchburg of the Hon.. Geo.
". Summers. On receiving information
of his approach, the fact was Immediately
communicated to our political opponents,
and a discussion rendered them. A mes
was despatched for Col. Willis p.
Bocock, and Saturday night, the Wing and
Democratic tickets, for the first time du-
ring the canvass, came into collision.
At an early hour, the Methodist Protes-
tant Church was filled, to its utmost ca
pacify. by an eager crowd, gathered to be-
hold dis "battle of the giants" The dis
%cussion was opened by Mr.. Summers, in
an address Of an hour and a quarter, in
which, after abiding to the circumstances
which had brought him before them, and
adverting to the opinions and positions,
that he had held upon those questions oil
Federal policy, which have heretofore dlvl-
ded the two great parties OF the country,
he passed TO the consideration of topics re-
lating to the future government OF the
State. He spoke Of the almost unequallcd
endowments OF nature to Virginia; her ad-
vantageous geographical position; the ex-
tent of her domain; the richness of her soil;
her forests, streams and harbors; the moral
elevation of her people; the influence which
as a commonwealth in former times she
had exercised in the affairs of the nation,
and the prosperity which her people were
entitled to enjoy. He briefly recited the
political history of the State, and contrast
ing its condition with hat of others, some
younger and less favored, he pointed out
the sad disparity which existed in popula-
ton, power and progress. Virginia had
once been the sovereign in the whole SIS
terhood Of States. There was a time, when
her voice was almost the voice of the ma
ton; when she stood foremost in rank and
peerless in intellect; when to be "a VIR-
GINIAN," had a higher significance, than to
have been "a RoMAN."in the proudest day
of the Eternal City. Now, though her
heart throbbed as warmly, and her eye
beamed as brightly as before, other states
had taken position in front of her: she was
butt follower in the train she had led; the
sceptre of dominion had been wrested from
her hand and the tiara of sovereignty had
been torn from her brow.
Why was this Why had New York.
Pennsylvania and Ohio outstrippcd Vir-
ginia, in this race of Sta,esl The reason
was, that while she had peer resting in the
shadow Other own monuments OF great
ness, while she had been dreaming DER
the past and sporting with distractions
they had pressed forward-quickening and
strengthening as they wcnt-inviting i'm
mi MISUNDERSTANDING their own citizens to
the soil, educating their pcople-opening
up highways to market-and developing
all their elements of wealth; while Virginia
had becn dcvoting the talents and ambition
other sons o the honors ofthe Federal Gov
eminent, and to controlling its affairs
While she had been talking, and resolving
and promulgaiing formulas Of abstract POI
litlcal truth, they had been concerning
themselves with matters Of internal polity
and State improvcment-while she had
been studying the rights ofthc States, and
fencing herself round with paper breast
works-they MISUNDERSTANDING the pow
ers of the States, and building up an i'm
~prcgnable defence in the strength and af-
%ieciions either people.
Virginia, he thought, had been long e.
nough battling with shadows. We were
now standing upon the threshold of a new
were surrounding the baptismal
font of a second birth. Thenccforth, old
would be lone away and all things
become new. Should we not bow before
the Spirit ofthencw dispensalion,an yield
to the grand impulsions of the age !!
Should not our beloved old Common
wealth assume a new form-stcp out
like the goddess of old, from the cloud that
had envelopcd her and show herself again,
with the star of supremacy glittering on
her frontlctl The past with all its conse-
Grated memories was ours; its glorics would
come down to us and our children forcv-
or. The future was yet to be tried, let US
advance into it with faces unaverted-with
IS great problems. hcnccforward, let us
have to do-with its mighty substances,
and no longer with the shadows of the
past, let US prepare to wrestle. There
was a battle field worthy Of Virginia's
prowess-there were themes of political
philosophy worthy Of her genus. In the
great struggle for CommercialSuprcmacy,
as in her former contests for political as
tendency, why need she not be frst7 No
element of physical wealth was wanting.
She needed only the fostering aid of a wise
and energetic system of State measures. to
restore her the high position, as compared
with the other States, she had held in the
earlier days of the Republic. The only
true and legitimate issues, that should enter
into this canvass, Were, not those of Bank or
or Distribution, but only those which
to the renovation and aggrandise-
ment of the State The only proper ques-
ton to be asked, concerning the candidates
for the high Offices. now for the first time
to be filed by thepeople, were, not wheth-
err he was in favor of Fillmore or Buchan-
an, Webster or Douglass for the Presiden-
cy, but is he the man best calculated to in
fuse new vigor into all the departments of
and enterprise, and direct
State in the true path ofan onward and