American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1856-01-10
Thursday Morning Jan. 10, 1856
Letter from Hon. John NJ. Bolts.
R1cuMoxD, Nov. IA, 1855.

RICHMOND, Nov. IA, 1890.
GESrLEMES On yesterday l received
your communication inviting me to attend
grand Mass Meeting to be held in Lou
isyille on the goth inst, and l beg to as
sure you that every feeling of my heart
would prompt me to accept 1t, II clrcum-
stances were such as to Justify it; but they
are not. Business engagements call me
at that time in another direction.
The respect, and 1 might say, the at
tachmeat, have always felt for Kentucky,
would render such visit. at any time ac-
ceptable; but at this crisis (as l regard ~
In the affairs of tie American party. it
would be particularly gratifying; for,
whale the general charseter and inte'ii-
gence of her people haze at all times com
manded my respect. the constaney asd
devotion of she people Of that State to her
most gifted son, who stood foremost among
all his peers. has eiaeied my warmest I'D
rniration; added to which. the identy OF
political feeling and principle that has al
ways existed between US, has bound me
to her with more than ordinary regard
I feel. therefore, tAst If Nave anything
10 say u0 ihe Amottcah Pa''y, '"''' ">
10 my own State, there is no place and no
people to whom might say it with more
proprirty than in Kentucy and to Ken
turkians.
Nothing but the deepest anxiety for the
success of the American cause, and the
confident conviction dehtertain of the dan
ger to which it is exposed, would promp'
mo to offer the suggestions which pro
pose to submit; but having reflected very
maturely on the subject, aad having arri
we'd at the conclusions | have, 1t would bt
breach of faith to the party if did no
expostulate against course which, per
sisted in, must, in my judgment. result il
defeat, and in the triumph Of the foregl
party and their democratic alles-thal
which more disastrous result to the wei
fare of our country could not occur.
For the observations Offer only as
n flir and unpreIudteed consideration be
fore farther business is done, and befor
tits too late to retrieve false or untortu
nate step. The suggestion is. that you d
not follow the example of other Souther
meetings of the American party, by ado!
ting or insisting upon the platform as &C
opted at Philadelphia. 1t is not as an il
dividual, or as a Southern man that
sneak, but as member of the America
party, resolved to hazard and sacrifice.
necessary, everything in ceaseiess etto
to overthrow the foreign influence whie
has to a greater or less degree. controll'
the affairs Of this great nation for the la
fifteen or twenty years, and which, 1t n
checked, will continue to control them
all time to come.
Let Kentucky be governed by her ov
counsels; let her lead off in another dire
tion; let her set an example that her S
ter States in the South will, upon rete
ton, be proud to follow! Let her be
great pioneer on the road that will lead
victory! For if the South shall contln
to persist in holding on to that pl"tfor
listen to me. entreat you, certain
inglorious defeat awaits us. No mat
what you, or l, in the South, may think
that platform, and no matter how righ
may be, it is not satisfactory to major
of the party. 1t has not been. and 1t CT
not be, ratified and endorsed by any
free State in the Union; and if it should
it will be by division at the party an
consequent loss Of the State. Ii Gene
Washington himself could be restored
life, and should be nominated and pla
on that platform. he would defeated.
The recent elections in the North Sc
TO show what we might do as united
ty: but we must not forget that the e
tions in N. York and Massachusetts, "
carried by a population Of that plato
and in spite OF it; and that, in genera
Presidential election. if VIC insist upo
we must be divided, and conseque
must be beaten. And are we willing
lose this great stake at such time ast
for the qualification ofan idle aud ust
abstraction, for mere declaration of
opinions, which at last will accomplish
practical good to any human being
earth?
I'll In the frst place, 1 don't believe in
paper platform for regulating the con
OF ia President sitter he becomes the re
sentative of the nation; nor do belle
necessary in making a section OF the
didate, Uho should constitute plat
within himself. His antecedents in
lie life; his high and elevated chara
his political stability and integrity;
known devotion to the constitution
the Union, should be such as to CONT
the confidence of the country witho
platform: and if we have no such m
our party, then we have no right TO I
to make a President from our ranks
old, and with me, still venerated
party never had platform but once
then it contributed largely towards, IL
not occasion its defeat.