Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-07-20
Mr.. Bolts at Memphis.

vention. the Hon. John M. Bolts was call
ed upon for speech, and he delivered one
off hand in his usual vein. The following
extract gives the gist of it:
Mr.. President, | am very far from desir-
ing to introduce anything Of political de-
scription in this body, though the subjects
YOU have had under consideration have ne
cessariy partaken more or less of gatgls
cal character: it was ,tnPessib@sSthHe
would be otherwise.
of your deliberation were nowopen for de-
cision, should forbear to express the cur
rent of thought that ran through my mind,
on reading the proceedings of the Conven.
ton. But, sir, they are no longer open
that book is sealed-and, looking upon the
.ssemblage before me, somewhat in the
light, as we say in Virginia, of Stree bar
bacue,' I may be permitted, at least, to
express my approval Of and qualification
at what has been done, and the reasons by
which am influenced in expressing that
qualification.
Next then, Mr.. President, congratulate
you, I congratulate the Convention, aud |
congratulate the South, that you have re-
commended to our people, the necessity of
establishing manufactures among our
selves, for working up the raw material be-
fore we send it abroad, by which diversity
of pursuits we shall be enabled to give en-
ployment to all the men, women and chill
dren of the country, many of whom are,
for the want Of such employment, driven
into the haunts of depravity and vice.
This is great truth that have labored for
twenty years to impress upon the minds Of
our own people at home. | am glad to find
that THAT conviction has taken possession
of your minds, and the minds Of the South
generally.
Next, sir, congratulate you, | congrat-
ulate this body, and the entire country,
that this Convention, composed of all polit-
ical parties to be found In the South, have,
with so much harmony and unanimity, re-
cognised the power of Congress to make
appropriations to purposes Of Internal I'M
provement-another great truth that have
labored to impress upon the minds of our
people. Sir, it is glorious result, and one
that trust will shed generous influence
over those who have differed with US here
tofore on that point. How far the domi-
nant party of my own State will endorse
your action, it is not for me to say. l am
no fit representative of their views. The
city from which we came will endorse it
cordially, but I am A LITTLE apprehensive
that the State may not. Laughter
Nor, sir, are these the only, not yet the
chief subjects for congratulation. You
have recognised another great principle.
the truth of which have also long labored
to establish as we'll in the public counciis
as among our own people-which in con-
nection with the great question of Internal
improvements, believe to be inseparably
connected with truly successful and pros
porous administration of our government.
mean the principle protection. Iheart-
lily congratulate the country that at last as
in days of yore, the South and Southwest.
in convention assembled, composed of all
parties, have recognised this great princi-
pie, and asked OF the General Government
it's fostering care and protection.
think, sir, ,.ifI read Alright this morning,
that one of your resolutions which relates
to the direct communication between the
Southern and European ports, it calls es-
pecially and emphatically on the Nation
al Government for its encouragement and
protection" as necessary feature in the
commercial independence ofthe South and
West. Sir, is this not subject for con-
gratulation-that the South has opened its
eyes to its true interests, and that we are
likely hereafter 10 harmonize OIL this great
question of national policy9
Establish your Southern manufactures
as you propose, and it will not be long be-
fore the South will demand at the hands of
the General Government, "protection'' for
her manufactures as we'll as her Haviga-
ton, and then follows what is of still more
pre-eminent Importance, protection to ag-
ricultural and mechanical pursuits OF every
description, and enterprise of every sort.
Now, Mr.. President, having thus briefly
reviewed the proceedings of this body may
be permitted to suggest the chief difficult
| ty which presents itself to my mind for the
accomplishment of these great objects. |
fear, sir, you have come to these conclu-
sions rather too late for immediate practi-
cal results. We have heard of locking the
stable door after the horse has been stolen,
but in this case, fear you have locked up
tbs horse and thrown the key into the
uuddy Mississippi. What pity you did
| not think of this some nine months sooner
-how remarkable that Pennsylvania, Wes-
tern Virginia, Ohio. Indiana, Illinois, Iowa,
Missouri, Arkansas, Mississippi and Louis
lana, all so vitally interested in, and de-
pendent upon the safe and certain naviga-
ton of these two great streams, had not
conceded this power, and looked TO it's ex-
eculion before they deposited, as it were in
the hollow of one mans hands their own
destiny, and to some extent, the destiny of
this great Empire, who is known to be hos
tile to these interests, and constitutionally
opposed to all appropriations forsuch works:
Sir, you have in truth locked up the steed
and thrown away the key-this important
key-to your own welfare and prosperity
and looking at this great imPediment which
you yourselves have presented 10 the full
fiIment of your own views,-I may be jus.
tilted in expressing my dissent to the con-
fdent opinion expressed by the Hon. gen.
tleman from Tennessee, (Mr. Belly who has
just taken his seat when he said that this
road to the Pacific. would be completed in
four years. Sir, | am under some appre.
hension that if you look to the aid of the
General Government Il viii be four years
at least before YOU will commence it.. by
that time think SIR, turning to the Presi-
dent that we will be able to lend help
ing hand to the demands of this Conyen-
tion-and | hope before conclude, that l
may be Pardoned for kindly and respect: