Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-01-22
LETTER FROM
THE HON. GEO. W. SUMMERS,
HIS VIEWS on THE CRISIS.
DR. JOIN J. THOMSON,

KISAwHA c. H, Jan. Sth, 1851.
On JOIN J. THOMSON,
House Of Delegates, Of l'irgin'a;
Ny DKAR SIR:-On the eve Of your departure for
Richmond YOU made earnest request that would take
salv occasion 20 furnish you my views. in regard 20
the threatening dangers which surround US and the re-
NEEDLES ,bv which they proposed 70 he syerted.
These dangers are longer speculative but are rea
srd imminent Any opinions entertained, or measures
boprtt WORTHY Of suggestion liable to be abandon
"A = inappcable or Inappropriate BY the occurrences
Of the succeeding hourfor seem TO be already IN the
midst Of q revolution.
one Of the original States has BY the action offs con-
vention soemny ordained her secession from the Amer
jn Union Other States have taken iuitatory proceed
ing looking 10 the same result and We have every rea
son TO apprehend that Of them may follow the e1
annie Of South Carolina Nor it TO be denied that
throughout an the Southern States there IS at this me
very large amount Of discomfort and current OF On
uaon sentiment Of greater less volume in each We
,,ro, disguise the fact that great events are unfold ug
themsev, before u.s. the issues Of which we cannot lore
see but which uuquest0uaby, destined 20 effect per-
rpsrently and vitality for veal or for woe the eommr-
pify 70 which We Immediately belong, and the beloved
5-1rlonwealth Of which We form part
Standing as t we're inhe presence Of such future,
becomes the people Of Virginia TO realize the respon-
sbi.ics which rest upon them 20 speak ana 10 act Win
,lmosss and moderation to commune with each othtr
49, srrtt of b-oherly kindness and forbe1rance; and,
Arovpp o the trammeis Of party, elevate themselves 10
f, higher and more important work, than has hitherto
tssksd their notwithstanding 20 tasr aid IN rs perform
a1ce the examples of patriotism, which our own history
N sbYnSsntlv furnishes and invoking the blessing Of
that Providence which seemed often TO inspire aud
protec. our fathers.
In his temper let ia look al the difficulties Of our pre-
sent position and the duties 10 which we are called
No one completes Of the Constitution OF the Onited
States On the contrary, plan OF government Tor
leraisd States 10 has been the theme OF panesyrc
and an object OF admiration and reverence, at nome ana
abroad Even South Carolina, IN the moment oil S'i
sk., NJ - ffNrr mn
withdrawal from the obligations OF the Oousu'uou pr
posed It's rtajopou Tor the temporary government al
I-ss. OF "a southern Contederacy, when one sd4A te
formed presenting one OF the best Inducements To-
Oller states 70 unite With ntc
the .ui s.slt0u OF -He Government, under the CoH-
-.uuo1 has not produced the present crisis For tie
ir,sf usrol since wen. into operation, the Govern
.1. Of Gle country has been 10 Che hands Of southern
5.ttesu.a and guided by Southern policy IL IS re-
ul.a..'t feet. fhlt aN -Ht teri l2rf acquired 10Y L''
United aes ~ircc tle uli-il OF The U1'eruulel h'-
I., ma ~ che r-e of Southern Presidents has any
tate ever been passed cy Congress touching the CON
i.doD uf the T,.r,.oI.s- vlch hss not received TIE
s.-ctiou OF Southern reTr. -'ooti7ls.
We hsve ueycr El. Gre ty-Iuuy OF rulers under any
President or any rs-iF ., IS not proposed 90 ovcr.croT
-be Government row because Of any oppression Pric
d or experienced under los e..hOsty any where within
tle broad limits of cur land. No man Is ea.l"u.y d.
.r,ypd Of E.e liberty property by the Government %
,ls Cl,td States No wrJal can oe pssperaed by toaI
Government any STATE OF c.-4ea 'or which tneFe is
not redress under she CJust,CIln.
Ir +, p-c8lsei them o. Withdraw from Government
which las not and not oppress Us and against vince
we make complaint, and TO abandon a Union ulo,f
which our ponu ion has grown from three TO more Than
fir-v millions of inhabi,auts-which has produced aud
nov exhibits an aggregate OF material prosperity uneH-
amo.,d ID the history OF any people ana whose nag d.
ry llud aud upon every sea, respected IS an emblem
.-uA11l pOSer and hailed as The eu-isu Oi an ad'a"-
snug sui 5eue6ccut civilization
lt WILL be admitted that che causes which could justify
s.h q srup,ou must be cogent and i7renOveab.e aud
. our condition 70 be rendered more secure aud &C
ecla5'e by the change proposed
The causes alleged are. already stated not fOlnd 10
any detective construction Of the Government Of the
a,d States or in the perverted or oppressive admin
STRAIT Oh Of IT, powers.
The sources of our present troubles and the causes Of
the present widespread dissatisfaction in the South, NAV
b., traced in the first place 10 certain unconstitutional
and most r,prehcu-j5e eNpetens, adopted IN some OF
.aa ro--slscho'lng Sts,es TO o5Sruct and virtually
aifv the fugitive slave law Secondly to what seems
lo DC h, present purpose OF party uoS 10 the ascend
anew a those States 10 rciI5a the further extension OF
very ,aio as Territories Of the United States thus de-
ir 20 the people Of the South an equality OF right IN
tie common property Of the nation; And lastly, bIt
srhaps nose than ALL may be attributed 20 that bind
Ina apeticsl spirit of hostility towards the institution Of
fvetv which acN peryajes. more o. less generally al
che uon-szveho3ug States, frequently manes''ng sei
IN language aud conduct wholly Inconsistent With tie
courtesy due between neghoorlng Commonwealth, %
-.y Lohng OF tte delicate relations and obvious
lg,ies Of SISTER States.
Tacss violations OF duty aud these infringements on
s. tc-tu,orsl rights OF the South, ase rot new, 'r
LOW Tor the frsJ time complained Of. They have uefl
.,rpe Wi;b under hope that they would be corrected,
md .bqt tine and returning sense OF iraierna justice
would remove every cause of irritation. Tbs recent Press
nt.,l election IN wlich party purely sectional with
Us candidates taken from the geographical division
OF tle country succeeded i'm It's nominations oy large
plurality has been regarded IS an exponent OF toe Pu-
posses and policy of that party anc has served 70 later
,v I'm ,lc Southern mind those seUtuents Of dstrut
aud apprehension which have HERETOFORE prevailed
Whne tie success q the Republican party in the
election at B candidates however much 10 DC deploreo,
.loe. not furasu a ius,itlug cause for diSmcm5erAs
lie Triou vet it seems me- the period las arrived
when tIe North and the South should cone 70 jul
understanding on these points We can lot i've m a
cate OF continual evaporation and hoShiiy ne AS'-
"a iou OF toe slavery question must cease tuesels no
rrtcouc4bia conflict Of interest between the sicfo.-
ding and uo1-,aSeboldug Sates On the coatrary. tue
diversity O., climate, aud OF production which carSc-
te5z-s cur favored land, points uuulis;e@aoy 10 TIE
smuloyueut Ct slave and free labor as alike necessary
20 the ful dcyeopcmeut Of is varied capabilities and
"a empaatcsly declares that the Two systems, 80 far
from being auagouc are necessary 70 each other ana
reciqrccay beu.hcL The existence Of African siaV'
err iu a portion Of the States oil our JulOu iurnlshts
M r-ouad whatever for compliant, Interference, on
che part Of thOse Who do no. co's 20 atop- or retain
lI4 systcm. Between foreign aud lalePeaIsai aies
Ia amty with each other IL would be cause OF var Tor
either 10 par lc 0t hostility towards The dOmes-
t po,v and Institutions ct the other. Il Uuicn is
L, continue u mus, bee or the basis OF the equality Of
,e Sats tao faithful observance Of constitutional CD
Iato.s and the cessation Of yitupeEauOn and section
al lsLulciauoa.
REGARDING tAen the evils before enumerated, as con-
.utog he real grievances 20 which We are subjected
aud cencediug that If these shall ultimately be found
i-reueLsbe thew would furnish sufficient esuse for
t-rmiusruc further connection wi;h he Offending
States vhch shall have thus proved themselves deaf 10
he voee OF reason and consequently, let before pro
cesding enquire to The best mode Of meeting ard
overcoming these evils consider 10 moment how iai
o- condition is likely be improved in any OF the par
tclrs o,ose referred TO- by Abandoning present IT,
lu0us tue Union aud the Constitution. such Xtrnt
nation srve LEAST 70 stimulate Us 20 further anC
graycr efforts % remove the difficulties OF which We
have 20 much cause 20 complain.
Virginia is a borde- State aud has had as much rea
son any Of the sizes 70 complain o. the oss OF slave
prooerv by escape across the lne The fervOr oil hS
t.5uuoa sentiment, far as t rests upon the
cltou Of the fugitive slave law seems 70 be In The IN
verse ratio OF the distance from the border and IN,
amount Of los sustain g. Those States which are fur
tb-st removed from the hazard Of escsps aud which
have flt the least Injury in this regard the mos
earnest aud camOrols for redress by dissolution. So
when We come 70 toe Border Slave states themselves
those counties situated most remote from the line and SUI
feog rarely II Al all by loss OF slaves are, gene
r rule more prone look 70 this mode Of relief thai
eounteslying on the immediate frontier and where slav
owners are compelled TO be on the constant watch.
This arises from the fact that those Who by reason
their reaoteaess and by being surrounded on all side
by lave holdug communities, have not and eAnuOt D.
snfiected 10 loss OF annoyance consider the qneso
aig IN an abstract theoretical point Of view They kno'
T.