Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1858-11-22
The Richmond Wing ana the Hon. John
Minor Bolts.


Minor Bolts.
when the proposition TO repeal the Missouri
Comproniss was arst made BY that political jns-
elsr, Stephen A. Douglas. it was considered As .
booa 70 the South, and was accepted BY most Of
~ Southern people. without distinction Of party
q 1 measure Ia the interest Of slavery. We do
mos believe il was so intended by its author. We
do not believe he 90 regarded it. But while he
wss willing that the South should labor under
.s>oh = delusion--while he was willing that he
should make political capital ct the South from
HI. Identification with the measurable had sagnc-
M eooaeh to anticipate its results. From the
operation Of the artfally concealed principle of
Squatter Sovereignty in the kansas-Nebraska
Bill Mr.. Douglas foresaw, what the event hasjus
sael, and win continue to justify that not another
Slave State would ever be added to the Union.
Among the few Southern statesmen who opposed
this Kansas-Ne braska Bill from the very begin
Mug was the Hon. John Minor Bolts Of this State.
He denounced it at the start as measure which
was not only impolitic in itself, but one from
which the South would never reap the slightest
advantage. He predicted, what the event has
proved, that it would stir up again the bitter wa
PLY Quoted by the Compromise measures of 1850.
In the public press, in private conversation. and
upon the Hastings, Mr.. Bolts brased the public
ssntimcn, Of the South by Nh unrelcnting opnosi-
ton, day in and day out, to a measure which he
had the sagacity to sec would result in nothing
but Southern injury and dishonor.
For pursuing this course Mr.. Botts exposed
himself to the unfriendly criticism Of the South
srn press, and amongst others he was severely as
sailed by the Richmond Whig Blu. that journal.
edited now by the same gentleman who then con-
trolled its columns, has come to the conclusion.
along with Senator Hammond and other leading
Southern men, Of both parties, that the Kansas
Bill was fraud upon the South and upon the ma
ton, as now construed by Douglas and the North
srn Democracy. With this sentiment, the way
has not only openly proclaimed change Of it's
convictions, but. in addition. has exhibited The
characteristics mngnanmity, aud high sense Of
homer Of it's editor. in frank manly. and uneor-
ditioaal withdrawal OF the terms Of rtlr"ac which
il applied to Mr. Bolts al the time Of the agitation
Of this question thr'e years ago.
So especially gratifea are We personally, at
this circumstance, that " 'ah...t .''"e'' " H"
IL made:
at was for his resolute and irreconcablc opro-
sitiou to the repeal Of the Missouri Compromise
says the Wing 'that We dcnenccd John Minor R
Botts in terms Of unmeasurrd severity about
three years ago. We dehouuoed him uninstly i
and q public apology i, dae from rs to him. which
We accordingly tender uow. We have no such
false delicacy i"rhi'is US to make due rcpara-
tim, where have inhitei M injury. There
has been no intercourse OF any sort between Mr..
Bolts and ourselves FOR the last three years nor
are we now even on speaking terms. But that
should not prevent us from making him proper
atonement for the wrong we did him, in 80 VIM
lently denounciag him for his opposition to the
peal oftbe Missouri Compromise opposi-
ton We ourselves, together with numbers OF lead
ing Southern Democrats, now believe to hay"
been wise and right All expressions of harsh
character, therefore, which we applied to that
gentleman, during the memorable controversy in
which we participated three years ago are thereby,
publicly, frankly. and Internationally. reractcd.'
Nothing could be more handsomely done than
that. Nothing could be written that would re-
feet greater honor. alike upon Mr.. Rdgway, rs
upon Mr.. Bolts himself. We copy the extract
with feelings of indispensable satisfaction.
We doubt if any public man. of the prcsentagc,
ever stood up with more frmncss and fearless
ness in the maintenance Of an opinion. than did
John Minor Bolts in regard to the Juggling
Kansas Nebraska Bill of Stephen A. Douglas
He encountered not alone the resentment of the
Democracy-which, indeed, he had right to cx-
peot--but the bitter resentment. Also ofnearly all
Of his own party. But he quailed not for
ment, or faltercd in his persistent adherence his
honest sentiments To him, moro appropriately,
perhaps, than to any other man in the Union,
may be applied the splendid eulogy Of the Latin
poet upon q contemporary statesnan--
"-justum ct tenacem propositi, yirum;
Non ciyinm ardor prava iubcntium,
Non yultus instantis Tyrann,
Menve qustit solida!"
He adhered always to his faith regardless alike
ofthe threats Of Party and the noisy gabblc of the
multitude.
Had air. Bolts been gifted with the spirit of
prophecy. he could hardly have forctold with
more striking accuracy than he did, the disastrous
results which have ensued from the repeal of the
Missouri Compromise. A statesman, like he.
who thus combines boldncss with sagacitv-who
dehes public opinion when he believes himself
nght-who counts not the cost, personally when he
takes position-such man should be cherished
oy the American people. In this age of truckers
ana dme-servers, it is refreshing to turn from the
mocsing conduct Of pigmy politicians. to contern.
plate the gigantic proportions of statesman ike
JOHN MINOR Bolts.
IT
The James Pivar Canal