Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-12-09
THE WORK OF ISLANDER.

The battle is over, and we know not yet now
it has resulted put already we may probably
take a retrospect of some incidents of the conflict.
Never, in any political canvass did partizans on
one side resort TO more acrimonious and ungene-
rous accusations than have been employed to ex-
cite the public mind against George w. Sum-
mers. His assailants first charged him with be-
ing an Abolitonist, and contended that he had
never changed the opinions he held in 1881
When, in his various public speeches, he une-
quivocaly declared that he had changed those
opinions his sincerity was mpeached and the cry |
ofAbolition was rung through the land with more
activity than ever. Nothing could appease the
malignity Of his opponents. The speeches he
made in the Convention, containing the stronges
conceivable evidence Of his loyalty to Southern
interests, were adduced but his detractors only
pursued him with still greater virulence. 1T many
honest voters have been misled by this unjust
mode of opposition, it will not be surprising but
we trust, for the honour of the people of Virginia
that they have properly appreciated this unparal-
led crying down of one of her fairest and ablest
men.
A remarkable instance of the unscrupulous
manner in which Mr.. Summers was assailed, is
furnished in an article which has been extensive
~ copied from the Wheeling Argus, paper which
was recently the warm advocate Of the election to
Congress of man who once applauded "the
noble blacks" as he called them, for committing
the horrors of instruction. This journal affirm
ed that Mr.. Summers was an Abolitionist in 1912
because. as it stated with specifications and re-
ferences to dates and authorities, Mr.. Summers
voted with John Quincy Adams for resembling
the 2lst rule, which forbade the reception of Abo-
lton petitions. This, the Argus said, Mr.. Sum-
mers did on two several days, viz the 7th and
9Th o. December, 1912, voting, in each instance,
on "the main question:" and the semweeky
Globe it cited as authority. Now, the fact is, as
our readers are advised, that Mr.. Summers
throughout sustained the 21st rule, and voted
against resembling it, acting upon the view that II
unwlse to abandon any position which the
South had taken. The true history of the mat
ter is thus clearly given by a correspondent of
the Norfolk Beacon, drawing his citations from
the Congressional Globe" Tor the session of
1923:
In the 18th volume, page 81, find that on the 9th
Dec 1912: 'sNr Adams submitted the following re-
solution of which he gave notice on the day before:
"Resolved, That the 2lst Rule for conducting bust
ness 10 this House. in the following words mo petit
ton, memorial resolution, or other papar, praying
the abolition of slavery in the District OF Columbia,
any State or Territory, the slaNe trade between the
States or Territories of the United States in which il
now exists shall be received by this House, or enter
tanned in any way whatever" be and the same is
hereby rescinded." Some little discussion up
on entertaining me resolution and on page 81 1t is
ton be laid the table, and on this motion called
for the yeas and nays which were ordered The
yeas and nays taken and resulted, yeas 49, nays
49, and among those voting to lay the motion on the
table, we find the of w. o. Butler, Gilmer,
Gqggin, JoHN 2 kENNEpy' Ma, MALLoRx. Rhett. sum
MERS, Taliaterro, and Wise among the nays,
Adams Giddngs, Slade, &C.
Mr. Everett then moved the previous question, the
motion seconded and the next question in order
"shall the main question be now put" The yeas
and were ordered and resulted as follows yesss4
nays SO. Among the yeas are recorded the names OF
Adams Giddings slade, &c, and among the nays the
names Of Glmer, Goggn, Mallory, A. H. ii. Stuart
and SUMMERS. so the main questoc was not put. On
the next day. Dec. 7, page 37"Mr. Adams called the
attention of the House to the position in which
ton made by HIM yesterday to rescind the 2lst Rule
left; the House having negatlved the question,
'shallthe main question be now putP alter the pre-
vious question had been seconded Some further de-
ton of w c. Johnson, of Maryland, TO lay the whole
subject on the tabe; was negatyed, yeas 80 nays 81
Among those voting to lay it the table and thus dis
pose OF it, we find the names OF Gmer, Mallory. Ray
ner. SUMMERS and Wise, among those voting against
laying on table Adams, Giddings and SlaGe
On The 9Th of December, (page 39,) the subject was
again called up, and on motion of Mr.. John W.
Jones, to lay it on the table the yeas and nays were
GEO w SUMMERS again voting to lay ii on the |
table, with Wise and Mallory. On the 18th of De- |
csmber the subject again brought up and finally |
disposed of on the motion of Mr.. Cost Johnson 10 lay
it on the table The yeas and nays were ordered and
resulted yeas, lo6, nays l02 and here again we find
GEORGE w. SUMMERS voting to lay 1t on the Ia
bic with MALLORY, WISE, GIL3IER, tsoGGTN, and
other Southern men, in opposition TO Adams, Gid
dlngs, Sade &C. The main question, on the vote to
rescind The 21s Rule, neUer taken and thus
this foul SANDER, given on The eve OF the eiecen re-
celves its quletus
We think this correction worthy of place in
our columns, though the election is past for it
serves to show by what GU pable expedents Mr.
Summers opposed during his canvass. We
are happy to see that the Norfolk News, in which
the article of the Argus copied, makes the
following manly atonement for the injustice t
contributed to do to Mr.. Summers
A few days since, there appeared in our paper, an
extract from the Wheeling Argus accusing MI, Sum
ners of voting with Slade, Adams, and the like,
favor Of reset ndlng tho 2lst rule Of Congress.
We informed, that the "Gobe,'' which was
adduced az authority for the statement, has been ex
amned and the assertion of the Wheeling Argus
proved to De false. If this be true, and we have no
reason for doubt, must express our unqualified |
ind gnaton that any Democratic paper should stoop
low as concoctfatsehoods IN support of a cause
which only requires TRUrh Tor lis vindlcdtlon and
ascendancV; and we regret having repu6shed ar
tice of this We make this statement cheer
fully and willingly as would, thousand times, !
prefer that party should be defeated Than triumph
by means of fasehood and deception.
Now that the election is over, and before its
results are known, it may he interesting to our
readers, to be supplied with some means of spec
uating on the all-absorbing topic. The ques-
tons generally asked with most interest are,
What will be the effect Of the extension of the
right OF suffrage? How much will the popular
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