Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1860-05-22
THE GAZETTE.
Hon. G. w. Summers's Address,
TUESDAY MORNING, MAY %, 1860.

IT, 1T MeU' recent CtteO,dttOt- EXTRACT
Mr.. Summers was received with loud and
continued applause. lie began his lecture
by abiding To the circumstances which bad
led to the formation of the Old Dominion So
cietv. lie then gave a very lengthy ana HI
tere,tlng history Of Virginia from IFS hrst
settlement, and during It's existence as a
colonial dependence OF Great britain The
ancient Indian names Of many OF It's towns
and VILLAGES, and the heroic deeds OF the
early settlers, he also depicted in vivid colors.
On the great question of slavery, winch now
agitates the country, he discoursed at great
length. pointing out the form and manner,
in which aboitiousts have distorted the facts
of the case TO suit their own views. lie con-
clu1cl his able and elaborate lecture III the
following Words
Abstract opinions on slavery are not APP
plicable to that system as it exists in the
Southern States at the present day. We
profess to be, and are, practical people,
Now, if slavery were abolished In the South
ern States TO morrow, who would be benefit
ted by the act? Not the slaves, who would
be helpless paupers, and to whom labor is q
necessary condition, whose very nature
prompts to dependence and reliance on oth-
erS: who, unrestraincd, would become the
victim Of every vice, and, unprotected, the
easy and certain dupc Of the designing and
nnprncipled. Are they to be subjected to
such vagrant acts as prevail III the tree
States, by which vicious idlers and paupers
are withheld from bcggary and crime? low
infinitely preferable is their present condl-
zion, which secures to them constant and
certain support, the sympathy OF known
friends, religious instruction and medlca!
succor. Motives Of humanity and OF interest
uni,e to guarantee kind treatment 1t would
be difficult 10 find elsewhere laboring pop
uation so looked after and cared for, 50 tree
froln the burdens and anxictcS OF life, or 50
happy and joyous, as the negroes OF the
Southern States. If any desire to sec the
children of toll radiant in smiling content
ment, free of dread that their application for
employment may be refused, or their wages
unpaid; exempt from the pressure OF debt or
,he fear Of want to hear the ready Joke or
The ring of the merry laugh, let them visit a
Southern plantation. If you wish to see
specimens OF gayety and fashion. the incest
cot of the muStachc or the most approved
extension of crinolinc, make acquaintance
Nth the culorel ladies and gentlemen OF our
Southern cities If You desire to look IN up
or devout and orderly congregation OF
three thousand worshippers, and 10 hear the
most stirring choral music IN America, 90
% the African church at Richmond Would
The Tree States be benefited by emanclpa-
ion? Let the ueighboring British provin-
Gee. already sensible Of the burden thrown
upon them ny comparatively iaconsidera-
BE accession Of free negroes, answer the M
4. / l,,t,, n Al.
iree States themselves prepared Tor the dis
astrou: competition which might be occa-
Toned by the liberation of some four mil
lions of slaves? Is there less difficulty to be
found in the financial view Of the question?
The slaves Of the South represent III value, rs
Drope.ty, It least s. 800, 0O0, 900. The last
annual export of their labor reached 500
000, 0C0, of which cotton alone was Of the
value o. Sl6l 100000. l. the country at
large, free States or slave States, prepared
Ior the consequences, direct and remote, 10
be brought about by the annlhilatlon OF this
amount of property and Of production? Is
the city of New York, the great commercial
emporium Of the nation, 10 be benefited by
emancipation? Is Boston. whose merchant
princes go down to the sea III great ships:
Are the cotton mills of Massachusetts ready
for such catastrophe? | need not point 10
the condition of the South IN such an event.
We ask our Northern brethren to remember
that slavery with us differs from the ancient
servtude of ,)udea, Of Greece and Rome, ANA
from the yillainage of England and the sert-
dom Of Russia. With Us the subordinate
race Is cut OF by caste. No change of legal
NtttH$ can change their actual condit1n.--
They could never be incorporated III the
body polite or admitted 10 social equality
IF they remained at all, itwouid be as slaves,
or If permitted to remain IA free negroes,
they would he free Ill name only, but cut
of from the privileges OF ireemen. We
:sE them To believe that there is as much OF
humane public opinion extant with Us, a.
among themselves, and acknowledging the
common depravty and Slntulness OF our ma
cure, We claim L. be as sincere Christians Is
they. We BEG them to leave the fortunes
and the fate OF this race III the hands OF those
upon whom they have been dcvolvcd, and Ia
the GOOD providence of that Being who has
permitted the relation for wise and benlilccnt
purposes, and who caring for all Ills crea-
lures will either continue their dependence,
or ii his own time, and in his own way, open
u1tor them peaceful ,teliverancc. utterly
deny that there is any "irrcpreSSlbIe cDn-
tiict" between the people or the States OF
this Onion The diversity Of institutions, OF
climate and production, which exist among
IS 50 far from being cause of discussion, Is
The strongest bond Of mutual and reciprocal
dependence The aimantine chains Of inter
est would themselves hold Us together, were
here not still nobier ties to aid in uniting US.
Why, we cannot cast our eyes upon tlic con
Iguruton of the country we nhabtt,t the course