The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-11-07

IN Virginia. sxned 'JuSfscs, which has been sent 10
u.s. and every word OF which is vouched for by one of
the most respectable and bestinfomed men in Virginia
The attempt OF the wing candidate create prejudice
agans, his competitor by act OF equal injustice to his
sentiments, feelings. and services, has scarcely parallel
in political warfare and have mistaken the character
of Virginia chvay if such attempt does not recoil on
its author and bring himself the injury he expected to
nAct unodending citizen. whose only fault il the
charges against him had remained that
he had the confidence Of his adopted State by acts
which honor that State and which her nobest and best
sons may be proud of. Mr.. Summers unable TO justify
his position the general question of slavery,
would hide his own weakness by alleging that his
opponent is not stakeholder. if sound views Of
such subject could be determined by the number
OF negroes which citizen possessed. The truth is.
that the only difference between him and his oppo-
nen in this respect is, that the latter is not as large
a STAKEHOLDER as he is, only because he was not
born rich inheritance, and had to acquire his fortune
by the slow degrees which natural TO youth who
had no other resource but his labor Colonel John.
son WINS only ten negroes; but Mr. Summers owns ten
times that number and is, perhaps, the largest owner
slaves in his section OF Virginia But this is all 1t
is gravey alleged by Mr. Summers that Colonel Johnson
was born in New York, and not in Virginia The fact
turns to be that Colonel Johnson came, under the
protection of kind but poor and widowed mother TO the
soil of Virginia when he only fourteen years OF age
that he deprived OF the aid OF his father BY
wounds which cost him his life in revolutionary
vice. that he grew up and prospered amidst great prva
tions and has served noby and usefuy his State and
country whenever they needed his services Is there
Vrginan who say that such citizen is less worthy
OF confidence than he would have been if born on her
SOIL and to rich inheritance like tina, of Mr. Sammers'
| NOVEMBER 8, 1851.
| To The Editor of the Union:
| have jus, seen in the Richmond Wing of the 2s,h
ult letter from George w Summers, esq, dated Octo
Der 10, 1851. in which the following passage occurs:
| 'And yet this ridiculous and false apprehension ire
ferriDg TO the charge OF Summers's abolition opinions.
fegned by those who will vote for Colonel Johnson-a
gentleman born in the State OF New York. and who came
| TO Virginia in mature life, who perhaps owned
slave and who lives in part OF the State having less in
,srss, IN that property than any other part Of the Com
on Colonel ]. foreigner or on any other account"
Now, sir, am not surprised at the wings fabricatng
any story TO suit their purposes; but am both dsap
pointed and surprised that MIR. Summers himsef-yes
even the god-ike Summers-should prefer such pitt
able charge as this, euen rere true. But Mr.. Sum-
mers il he knew anything OF the facts. knew this state
ment OF his was false in every material points, and If he
knew nothing about these matters, he should have said
nohing Now, ! am willing TO this paltry piece OF
eleconeering deception upon the plain ground OF fact
And what the facts' Colonel Johnson's father lived
| in New York. and soldier in the revolutionary
trar Just before the close Of that be was 80 badly
wounded that he discharged and in that condition
returned his family. After three years OF sui.
ering caused by his wounds, he died. leaving Colonel
Johnson then infant. Mrs Johnson's youngest and
last child born about six months after the death OF
her husband and after she with her little children
moved TO the State OF New Jersey, where they con.
nued to reside until Joseph Che pesen, Gov Johnson)
IN his fourteenth year. when they removed Viz
gnia. and settled in the neghborhood where Colonel
ohnson now lives, and has since lived.
SO much for the charge of Colonel Johnsons coming
| to Virginia in "matue fVe"
In refutalion OF the second charseviz that Colonel
Johnson "perhaps owned slavsit is but neces.
sary state and that such is the fact that he has
been OF slaves for than thirty years. and
now least eight tan and this in the county
OF Harrison, which, the census will show, is the
largest savehoding county in the northwest II may be
true tina, Colonel Johnson does not many slaves
or much land as Mr. Summers; but ii is because he
has had fortune left him by brother.
But Mr. Summers says: 81 make attack upon Col
j." &C. Oh. no-not he or this I leave gentlemen
to Judge. This objection, however, is but relic OF fed
cal aristocracy, and in perfect keeping with the whig
| professions OF no pariyism. .....#s.
How stands the account between those gentlemen and
| the State OF Virginia. OF Mr. Summerss services we
never heard except TO fill Offices OF ease. honor. and
| emolumenL Col. Johnson from his youth protected an
aged mother, who, though fully entitled. had TOO much
pride TO ever claim the bene6, OF the pension laws OF
that govern men TO which her husband and CON-
panon had sacr6ced his life When, in 1874 we were in
volved in fierce with Great Britain, where was young
Johnson found He was then captain OF militia CON-
pany, which he called together upon his own farm and
prevailed upon every member thereof volunteer for the
They rendered their services, and marched TO Nor
folk 10 defend Virginia and Vsinia's rights and there
the remains Of half his company lie in the dust
This a time "that tried mems SOULS" and where
was Mt Summers then Perhaps not having reached
'maure life" he was seated upon The banks OF The
Kanawha, fishing Tor mnnows with pin hook Who
them has served and honored Vginia-he native or the
adopted son suppose The latter; and Virginia, as she
has done. will, in December next, honor him
MIR. Summers fortunate in having been born in
Virgnis or perhaps he never would have been here
Col johnson sought this his home and il lie has not
proved worthy OF his adopted State, those who have
known him best have besa deceived; and before them
and those old soldiers who endeared 10 him, Mr. s.
dare not raise the cry OF foreigner
But whether native adopted son, he has been
in Virginia fly years. twenty Of which have been spent
in public councils and has he uttered such sent
ments respecting Virginia. and the character OF her peeu
liar interest," TO be found in that remarkable apeech
OF Mr. Summers, delivered in 1891, Immediately or sson
after the Southampton massacre. ae h
And now. to use his language will the Richmond
Whig and the other papers that have published Mr. SIS
letter. "coms forward and do Col. johnson justice by
publishing this correction We shall see"