Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1848-02-22
To the Editors Of the Wing.
WASHINGTON, Feb. l3, 1913.

| WASHINGTON; FeD. ID, 1910.
For twenty odd years The RicEm ond Wing ha
| been The channel Of communication between my
self and the public, on all matters connected will
political questions in which | have taken an
part, and this must be my apology Tor asking ;
place in your columns now, 20 Iepel an improve
ked and unfounded denunc iation, made as vel
on my former as present political course, by MIR
John w. Syme, Of The Petersburg Inlelligencer
whom have been accustomed, Tor some year
| past, 10 regard not only as political, but person
| al friend. know the ioly OF public mans un
denaking a newspaper controversy with n edito
who has daily opportunity 10 throw his shaft
al his adversary, whilst the adversary may NJ
have The ime inclination or access 10 The press
TO defend himself; and therefore have been &C
cus,omed 10 treat such attacks as this deserves Il
be treated now, without notice, and without care
but that was because they came from source:
neither protesting PERSONAL nor political kindness
! much less both.
My attention has been called, by some trienc
who sent me Petersburg paper, 10 the follow
ing paragraph, or extract oil letter, written y
the editor Of The Petersburg InseiligcnccT, Iron
Richmond 10 his paper:
an connection with This subject, regret TO see
| in the city papers, this morning, a letter from
| Mr. John M. Bolts, which | think, exhibits an
inloleranl a zeal in favor OF Mr.. Clay as mas
ever been exhibited in behalf Of General Taylor
! Concedng 10 Mr.. Bolts, as We cheeriuily do
ability and honesty OF purpose, we cannon De
blind 10 fGuHs which mar dts nssfn!,iess as a pub
| lie man. He is loo san3uine, relies Too much
| on his own Judgment. and has c0nsancy OF
purpose, which too often degsneyaics tni0 obsttaacy
| These effects TO his many good qualities have
| lcorkcd mischief upon mere than 0Ac OccGsiOn, and
his letter this morning Will very surely hare tiat
| TENDENCY"
Now, what is il | have done 10 justify Mr..
John w. Symc in this general ard wholesale de-
nuncia!ion Of my "fauiIs," "obsinacy," and
"mischievous propcnsiIics" as pubic mani
| II he had been as iair in his conduct as he has
been Tree in his censures, he wonld have ell
himself under some obligation 10 have published
nv letter in connection with his remarks, that his
| readers might have Judged for themselves whe.
| Their il was obnoxious Ia bis complaints; or was
| he afraid they would hold him 10 account iol
playing "b.iad mons bmG" with his principles
and leading them in the dark, without knowing
where he was going himself!
| Ic as a member Il the Legislature from Re.
,ersburg, undertakes 10 recommend gentleman,
most worthy and cstimable, no doubt, in all the
relations OF life, and brave, intrepid and merilo-
rious old soldier too but whose political principles
he knows nothing about TO his constituents as a
most acceptable candidate 10 the Wing party OF
Virginia, and thinks him more available than
any oiher-bul he is not content with this: for he
also undertakes 10 deny my right 10 question The
&C .uracy Of his judgment, and, as member
OF Congress, 10 recommend 10 my constituents,
another that believe (aad he won't deny) is bel-
Ter qualified, and | think, more available than
the one he has presented; Tor ac.cn / do, he turns
too and rails like old ,gOnlan wih the toohaei<,
and calls me obstinate, sell.wlled and mischie-
vous and charges me with having ''more than
once before done mischief 10 my party" He does
not condescend 10 say when, and how, that others
may judge Of The iallibiiity OF his judgment, bul
thinks il enough that he should pronounce it so.
Now should like 10 know no" much more e1-
tensivc is Mr.. Symc's association confined 10
the members Of The Virginia Legislature, than
mine, extended 10 the members o Congress from
every Stale and district in The Union, TO enable
him 10 form SO much more accurate Judgment
than ], upon The question OF availability, and
should like, also 10 know what more elevated po-
sition in The Wing parry he occupies Than do,
that will enile him to express his opinions in le-
sislaiive form, and deny the right 10 me, 10 express
m inc in letter 10 my constituents. | think that
htier touched The gentleman on the raw lille.
Let him defend his cause by argument, and
reason with me- and Tell me far achat should
vote for General Taylor, AMI not scold and fret
TO his.
suppose, TO win for myself The confidence Of
the Editor OF the lnteligencer, | should discard all
judgment, throw aside all decision Of character
hold my principles as yarn string, 10 be wrap.
ped around any mans finger, and be constantly
barking out 'ezpediency, 'cLpediency,' and then |
should entitle myself TO be considered a reasona.
Bile, practicable, and useful Wing. The editor OF
the lnlellisencer may make himself useful and
practicable in This way if he sees fl; but he mus
excuse me Tor declining either 10 take his advice
or follow his example.
Now one word in regard 10 the candidates and
the mischief my letter is 10 produce Who would
have believed, four years ago, that should have
been held up by Wing paper as selfwied,
useless, impracticabe and mschievous poili.
clan, Tor saying preferred Mr.. Clay TO General
Taylor as my candidate Tor the Presidency, and
for recommending him 10 my brother Wings, not
only because he was available, and more opail.
able than Gen. Taylor, but because we were moi
permitted 10 know wha, Gen. Taylor's opinions
werel said nothing God forbid should) disre.
spectfu Of Gen. Taylor; for as soldier and man,
he commands my highest respect; as politician
and statesman, said, and repeat, knoav no.
thing; and the editor of the Petersburg Intelligen-
Ger, with all his new born zeal for military Presi.
dents, knous kss There is letter in this civ. at
this time, from Gen. Taylor, indusirously shown
TO his friends, that is concealed from me as a
friend Of Mr.. Clay, and have been refused a
sight OF il; and am to play Nind mans buFtoo-
lie the handkerchief over my eyes, and srope
my way in the dark, in search of one into whose
hands may depose the principles of the parry,
and the welfare and Interests of The natiop4 MOI
quite so fast, Mr.. Syme, if you please. When
can find one with my eyes open, shall not shut
my eyes 10 look for another.
Suppose MIR. Clay shall ge, The nomination
OF the National Convention, as he 1ylH sunpose
he shall be elected, as he ,ciN; who will be
the mischiei-maker then? And suppose him out
of the way, and Gen. Taylor 10 run on the prin
ciples avowed in The resolutions of mis- friends in
New Orleans, who feel authorized 10 say, |
that, come tchat may comc,' he will not change
his position, and he should be beaten, as he |
acou'd be- for the want of union in the Wing |
party, in supporting 'no-par,y candidate as
both ne and his friends proclaim him-which |
will prove The mischievous and which the use
fnl politician Mr. Syme or MYSELF And when |
Mr.. Clay shall have obtained The nomination, will |
MIR. Syme consider il very mischievous then To |
hoist his flag and advocate his claims7 IF so, he
will nd almighty sight mlscdiet makers before
November No! he will be fast enough then 10 |
join me in all my mischief, although he NAV have
endeavored, in advance 10 destroy my usefulness, |
which he has heretofore solicited me 10 employ 10 |
his own town, and afterwards exlolled beyond |
any pretension have ever set up. When Mr. |
Syme shall have made himself as useful TO the |
Wing party, or have renderedihe tenth part of un
requiled labor and service, or made The twentieth
partof The pecuniary sacrifice in its cause that |
have, il will b. time enough for him TO beraie me
on usefulness.
Respectfully, JNO. M. Bolts.
N. B. | do not answer Mr.. Syms's letter be.