Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1842-02-17
MR.. Bolts AND MIR. UPsnUR.

sAhe Nauohai lnteiisgenccr, OF Tuesday, con-
ainsa long publication from Mr.. Bolts. in sup
bort Of the charge that Mr.. Upshur had at ono
ams been tan open, undisguised, and unqualified
advocate for immediate dissolution of the Union"
Before entering upon the proof. no remarks that,
in citing the case of Mr.. Upshur before the
House, he did not intend to prefer charge a.
gainst him, but to state fact which he had no
idsa would be denied by MIR. Upshur or any
friend protesting to bs intimate with his political |
opinions. The responsibility CT making the |
charge was voluntarily assumed by him after the
denial Of the fact, and in the very language in
which MIR. Upsaur had been. leased to present
the issue-namely, that he had avowsd himselfa
disunionist, without qualifications or conditions.
10 sustain this charge, Mr.. Bolts FIRST in,rodu-
'ces Mr.. Upshur as witness gimst himself, by
quoting largely from an article in TIC Southern
Review, entitled "Revolu,ion in Disguise, or the
process Of infusing new principles into cons,-
tuition Of Government without changing its form;''
under the belief that Mr.. Upshur was the au-
,thor Of the article AS this, however proves to
be mistake, we omit that part his publication.
But (says Mr.. ID. it was not this upon which
Rahss4 eGSdaedf G dSa Gi ha,
which held with Judge Upshur upon the deck
OF steamboat, in the presence of CROWD of
passengers, and in which the late Judge Philip
Barbour occasionally participated and MIR. Sc
'cretary upshur.fir denies that he ever held any
conversation with me, intimates that he has new
'er recognised me as an associate, challenges mo
TO the proof that he ever uttered such sentiments
as ascribed to him, and concludes with an "a.
seron that whatever did hear from him was in
.aprivate and confidential conversation as between
gentleman Strange confidence this, Indeed, to
man that he did not know, and whose associa-
non Was SO Tar beneath .a..dt to which ho was &C
cuStomed
Conscious of the integrity Of my purpose and
oil me accuracy OF my recollection, | promptly
gave him the benefit of the issue which he him
self had chosen to present, and accepted the issue
OF varaci,y which he had made, and invited the
severest consequences to be visited on mo if
failed to establish what | had asserted i'm any
one particular; and here is the testimony which
propose to oiier, from gentleman of as high
ana nice and delicate sense of honor as his
State can boast; 10 whose high, unmpeached.
aud unimpeachab,e character, OF the thousands
who know him there is not one that will not tes
tify
'RIcnMoND, JAN. 81, 1912.
my DEAR SIR: Yours Of the 22th instant
reached mo on the following day. In il you say !:
"You will perceive by reference to the Nation
al lrteigencer OF this date, that have i'm debate
charged the present head of the Navy Department
AMr. Upshur) with having been at one time an
OPEN unqualified, and undissuised advocate for
an immediate dissolution of the Union. Upon
suggestion OF MIR. Wise that there must have been
some qualification annexed repeated the charpe
and challenged Mr.. Upshur to denial under his
own hand, and / would undertake to prove H.
You further say y on il were present when the
conversation alluded TO by me took place, and
your recollection of it must be distinct. since j.;
conversation held nv lact :,
mond, when Mr. Upshur was spoken of for the
Senate OF the United States, You Ii1 reminded
you of H.. must therefore request you by The
return mail, to furnish me with whatever YOU NAV
oeeW pertinent TO the question, coming within
your knowledgc.''
"Iou arc aware, my dear sir, am sure for
aho last ten years more have not n,erfered in
inc poiitical contests; nor have been an actor in
the political struggles and party strife of the day
TOT 'hese contests, OF late, have had no spirit
OF taste; and II had, the digent prosecution Of
my profession has left me no leisure, for them.
nave never scrubbed political essays for the pub
TIC Journals, and have always felt the greatest re-
pugnance to being brought before the public in
any manner connected with these matters
"Governed by this feeling. YOU are aware that
during the late great contests between the viii,
ana democratic parties, attended no political or
Log cabin meetings; and from the love of priya-
Gy and peace, neither made nor listened to apv
Log CABIN speeches, except on two occasions.
hon
heard him for the first time.
~ GU may imagine, then, with what rsiuc,,nco
comply with yoGr request, seeing the hazard
run OF having that privacy and quiet in which
have SO long nduged disturbed and-broken in
upon. ="
"But having carefully considered the matter
notwithstanding the repugnance which feel.
thnk am bound in ustice to you to give the in
formation which you request, seeing the embar
RAISING position in which you may be placed if
Judge Upshur should not recol!ect the EXPRESSION
OF the opinions attributed to him by you. | think
IL due TO justice and 10 truth, and that have no
right morally, to withhold it any more than |
should be legally, You and Judge Upshur
at issue upon your civil rights before a court Of
justice, and was called on to give evidence be-
tween you upon the trial.
I'm reply to your letter, then, have to saw that
nave distinct recollection Of The conversation
or discussion between Judge Upshur, Judge Bar
oour' ard yourself, at the time and upon the oc-
casioh TO which you refer, and of the opinions
then expressed by Judge Upshur upon the subiec,
OF t,e dissolution OF the Union of the States
IL mad, on more occasions than one before
heard Judge Upshur express the same opinions
openly, unreservedly, and with great boidness and
freedom OF manner. These cifcuin stances have
the more deeply impressed upon my recollection
the opinions expressed by him upon the subioci.
at the time aud upon the occasion 10 which Won
have alluded. '
"Ihe first ofthese occasions was AZ Williams
burg, when the Judge was hoidin0 one of his