Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1858-09-16
JUDGE SUNNI ER..

The following lstter from tho Hon. Guo
w. SvsrrRs has t,ken load Of an xisty OF
the shoulders Of a. least two Of .hs Demo
cratic aspirau,sfor the Governor.hiP, whose
record on the slavery question has given
their hiends much trouble in the way Of eS.
plaua,ion aud apology for "youtbful indiscre-
ton" If Summers were the opposition can
dids,e a, least one Of the guns Of the Demo
craey would have been spiked. We should
have hearl not q word about apti-slavery
spa chcs or sentiments, aud the cIbvass
would have to DO carried on altogether upon
the magic power which the name Of Demo
eracy carries with it Summers did not
resign bis Juigeship with view to the eau
VASE, as will be seen from Iii. letter, nor
would he take part If eligible. His friends
look forward, however, to his service in Con
gress ., no distant day--and many candid
man in the State, Democrat as we'll as Wig
is ready to admit that he would furnish pref,
~ good materials for a Dresiien. Of the
United States, IL the day should ever come
Ss'in when ueD Of real ability are to be
| chosen.
To the Editor eftAe Richmond ITAig:
For several weeis : asst, my name has fro
quently appeared in the Newspapers Of both
the political parties OF the State, in coInee.
. ton With the next election Of Governor
So long as this unnecessary presen tatson
before the public, vas limited TO mere con.
| lectures whether would be n candidate, no i
| speculatiOns rs to probable success or defeat
in such event, | have not felt called upon TO
give it any formal notice.
But tue "Riehmond Enquirer" Of Aug
3lst, in leading editorial, designed 10 show
the ineIPetiepcy Of Mr.. Letekess nomina-
tion, as the Democratic candidate for that
Office, has been pleased to assume, as the
basis Of ito argument, that | am destined
10 be the candidate of the Opposition.
As evidence that l am TO DO the cauji.
date, the enquirer" FIRST asserts that 70.
signed the judgeship in time to complylwith
the annexed requirement Of the constitution,
and adds, that having resigned 10 tune, lit
is significant Of purpose :"
mo Judge, during his term Of service,
shall hold any other otiiee, appointment, or
J public trust, aud the acceptance thereof shall
vacaie his judicial Office nor shall b, dur
ing such term, or 'eIthia one gar thereafter
be shgitie 10 any political office"
My resignation seems to have pcrplsEed
my Democratic friends in pore quarters
then one. With thop., Is Is neIplieable,
that person should resign an Office, except
TO 60 iu;o another. Mr.. Jefferson said In
his day, Of the ofi,e holders, "few die, none
'eSign."
Bat the Enquirer, before aGtributiug a
motive, should have made itself moro cor
lain o. is facts. Ny resignation although
made 10 March, by Its express terms did not
take. effect until tho first day Of July -
| Now, the election for Governor will take
| place in May next, which will 10 lets
than ono year from the expiration of my
term as Judge.
But being unwilling to leave my purposes
IN this regard, to mere inference, the En-.
! quirer" quotes from the "Warrentou Wing
an article Of which the following is 4 para
graph
"Wo hear from 4 source entitled 10 credit
that George w. Summers, Of kauawla, in
tends, with the permission Of the Wings and
| Americans, 10 announce himself candidate
10 due time for the ofice Of Governor of Yir.
giiia"
What may have been the source Of infor
nation alluded TO by tho "Warrenton Wing"
have no means OF knoHing, but this 40
nouncement being in a shape which NJ light
be regarded authoritative il left ubcontradic-
ted, think 1t proper to declare, that have
at DO time entertained the most remote in
ten,ion Of being a candidate for the Office
referred to, at tho next election, nor do | in
tend under any circumstances, to become q
| candidate.
hope this declaration will at least serve
10 relieve the "Enquirer aud its co adjutors
from any further dis1uietude, on my account,
IN the selection Of proper candidate for the
Democratic party.
GEORGE W. SUMMERS.
kASAwHA G. ii. Sept itb, 1858.