Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1852-05-12
LETTER FROM MR.. Bolts,

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LETTER FROM MR.. Bolts.
WASHINGTON, May Sd, 1852.
My Dear Sir-You have no doubt been look
ing for a letter from for the last several DAYS,
but did not reach here till yesterday, having
been detained by indisposition at home.
This morning | called on Gen. Scott and stated
to him all that had passed between u.s. had a
very long, free and full interchange of views with
him, and L found his position to be precisely this
IN reference to writing: he is differently advised
by friends North and South (whose counsels are
entitled to consideration to write, and not to
write; a large majority, including many from the
South, urging him to remain silent. This cond-
ton OF things embarrasses him not little, as his
individual preference would be to publish his
views at large, while he does not feel himself at
liberty, In his present position, to take the bit be-
tween his teeth, in disregard of the advice of
much the larger portion of his friends from both
sections of the country. If he writes, he obliges
small, and perhaps offends large number of
those whose counses he ought to listen to- while
II ne remains passive, he gives no particular cause
OF offence to either
Gen. Scott occupies no doubtful or equivocal DO
sltion on the Compromise, nor does he desire to
do so, and it he did l would not support him,
even IT nominated. His views are freely ex-
pressed to every man who approaches him, no mat
ter to what party or section he may belong He
Is accessible to every respectable man in the coun
try who chooses to approach him, aud he has
never hesltated to say that he is in favor of the
compromise measuresin all their parts, and op-
posed to any disturbance, agitation alteration of
the Fugitive Slave law; and he enjons confidence
and secrecy no man to whom he makes this
communication.
NOW, what more could we ask? Suppose he
was to write, would it satisfy any of those now OPP
posed to him! venture to say not one Il! For they
cannot now doubt his perfect and entire soundness
on that question. He has expressed himself to
huhoreds OF the first men in the country, and no
man has yet been found who has said he everhed
any other language to any human being.
1t is an outrage upon decency, Justice and fair
dealing that any man should at this day, pretend
to question the nationality or patriotism of Win
neld Scott did not expect him to escape the an
lmadVerslons misrepresentation and abuse of the
more inscriptions portions of the Democratic
spress, but do think his reputation is entitled to
the respect and patriotism of every true and hon
est Wing.
Under the circumstances mentioned, he has
come to the conclusion land l incline to think
a0asety) that the true for him to pursue is
to publish nothing, unless he shall be the nomi-
nee, when, If the Convention shall adopta course
that VIII make his acceptance necessary or other
wise afford him the opportunity, he will speak
out freely and fully-and this would place him,
IN my opinion, int more elevated position than if
he were to permit himself now to be bullied into
writing to receive the nomination.
His condition is indeed a hard one IF he
writes, will be at the dictation of those who are
not his friends, many of whom desire an oppor-
tunlty OF going over to the other party, land God
grant they may have it,) and he will thus be made
to verify the predictions often and early made,
that he would write himself to death; whereas,
IT he don't write he is to be killed by the de-
nunciatlons OF protesting friends for not wri-
ting. Gen. Scott is too old and too good soldier
to be frightened by bugbears Or bullied by his
enemies.
For my own part cannot perceive the wis
dom of the South agitating this question at all,
and especially of our agitating for the benefit of
those we have labored for more than twenty
years to defeat. / think the Compromise has no
business in either the Wing OF Democratic Ma
tional Convention. The Fugitive law has passed.
1t remains not only unrepealed, but no PROPOSE
ton is made nor, | believe, ever will be made,
to repeal it-and if it is it cannot succeed 1t is
acquiesced in by the North more and more every
day, and if the South will let it Alone all opposi-
ton to it will cease in two years. 1t has already
been reafflrmed by the representative body that
has been elected since its passage, and since the
'appeal to the higher law;" and 1 see no more
propriety in pressing the North to the wall, on
this subject, when they are submitting to the quiet
and peaceable execution of the law, than there
would be in requiring them to re-affirm the prin-
cipes of the Missouri Compromise-which is
quite as likely to be repealed as the Fugitive
Slave Law. In point of fact, question if, in a
few years, the Fugitive Law will not have fulfill
ed its work and become imperative, as it will
have been enforced against all those slaves that
are now settled in the North-and it is only as to
those that have been long settled and have made
friends that we can have any serious trouble-and
already the practice of slaves leaving their mas
tiers for the North has been greatly arrested
If we know that our candidate is sound, what
do we care for the abstract opinions of Mr.. Seward
and his associates upon the general principles of
the Compromise! If the law was not already on
the statute book, there might be some show of
reason and good sense in requiring the North to
yield their idosyncrasies before we would co-ope-
rate with them; but when before was it known,
that party or any other party, objected to Abb
Free-soiers, Native Americans, Dem
ocrats or Wings helping them to elect their own
in Presidential or other election p
What party candidate ever yet complained
that those of another party would help them to
success! If Mr.. Clay now before the peo-
le | do not doubt he could get large Free Soil,
Abolition, and Democratic vote, and would he or
his friends complain of it, or make it an objection
to him And why should we object to theirsup-