Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-05-13
JOHN MINOR B0TTs.

JOHN MINOR BoTTs.
am we'll convinced, from facts within my
knowledge, that Mr.. John Minor Bolts. pre-
vious to the publication of his letter which ap'
pears to-day in the columns of the enquirer,
was informed of the authorship Of the ed'to-
rial to which it has reference. Nevertheless,
he has pretended to write under the suppos-
ton that was the author, obviously for the
purpose Of making inc the target of reflections
as insocnt as they rcludicrous in their strain
Of pompous pretension.
Thus, while Mr.. Bolts prctends desire to
avoid all personal quarrel with the Juvenile
editor" of the Enquirer" lie resorts, as ! be-
licvc, to direct falschood for the sole purpose
of seeking such quarrel.
This is not the first nor the second time that
this person has, unprovoked by me, attempted
in al insidious manner to iniure me; even du-
ring my absence from Richmond, he has not
failed to inSinuatc SANDER against me. Ncv-
erthelesS, ! have never thought it necessary,
until now to youchsafe him word Of reply.
will never wantonly assail even so vicious
and unworthy a person as John Minor Bolts.
But when forced, in duty to myself or to the
public of which I am the servant, to refer TO
this person, it is impossible that J should do
50 in terms of respect, or even Of toeration.-
Were Mr.. Bolts as we'll known abroad rs he is
at home, would not even now subject him to
the modification Of an exposure But he has
imposed upon the credulity Of strangers. and
it is due to them, as to myself, to announce the
reasons why cannot conScientiouSly treat HIN
with ordinary respect.
\ man who sustains among those who know
him best the character Of 4 fraudulent bank
rupt; man who does not pretend to decent,
worldly morality in any respect or relation off
life; man who habituay refuses to pay hisa
honest debts; man now laboring under the:
incapacity Of an insolvent oath, and who, never-o
thcless, authoriScs and permits himself to Der
described in political newspapers as slavc1j
holder; a man who on the hustngs can affcct
disgust even at the mentioned name Of hybrid
race and vet who is notoriou>ly pointed out one
the streets Of Richmond as obnoxious to even al
graver charge than that Of avowcd Willingly
ness to combine politically with free ncgrocS,c
the active coadjutor Of an abotionist par
ty, without even the possible plea of moral
fanaticiSm to furnish his excuse; dcnounceGt
rs traitor to bis country, and the deol
nunciaton proved before the people Of Viris
ginia; pretended teacher Of the people, whosdr
utter ignorance Of what he pretcnds to tcactu
is only partially concealed by insufterable in.n
socncc; man at this moment detected in abb
unmanly act of calumny; surely, cannot, III
self respect or in dccency, pretend to recognised
this man on any footing Of equality. Il
Iregret, extremely, that the task Of exposing
this person to those who arc, as yet unac-,
ouaintcd with his character, and the reputation
which he bears at home, should fall to my lot
The work of public censor is at no time agree
able; and especially disagrceabe, when directed
against an individual who has no efficient re.
source of dcfencc-not even the last poor re-
source of physical courage But he forces me
to the task of complete self-justification: and
my justification involves his exposure.
So far as Mr. Bolts last assault on me is con-
cerned: was not the author Of the article of
which he complains. Nevertheless, read it,
before its publication and it met with my en-
tire approval. believe that Mr.. Bolts was in
formed as to the real authorship of this article
before he proceeded to make it the occasion Of
his inSolcncc towards me- If am mistaken
in this belief, land do not think it at all pro-
bablc that am still Mr. Bolts had no right
whatever, to act rs ne has, upon the mere as
sumption of my authorship, which he chose to
take for granted.
As to my Juvenile" age and imputed want
Of discretion, | am past twenty-cght years of
age Since attaining manhood, have success
siycy received from the Chief Executive Of my
country, two commissions of high trust and
confidence. During four years have served
that country to the entire satisfaction of my Off
cial superiors it involves no cgotism to say
that the service was rendered far more faith
fully, more usefully, more efficiently, than Mr.
John Minor Bolts has ever served even those,
whom nature has confided to his guardianship
"Worse than an infidel," he has failed to make,
provision even for those of his own households
If am wanting in discretion, certainly Mrb
Bolts is not the man to instruct me in thaa
virtue. Even when child if know myself n
I could hardly have committed the indiscrctio S
of publicly replying wilfully or even undo !
misapprehcnsion, with insolent languasi i
too, to one who had not assaed me. Still le Il
could have committed worse indiscrctio {
by exposing myself as the public assertor Of S
malicious calumny. If discretion be the tc: |
confidently assert that, at twelve years $
age, was superior to Mr.. Bolts past ma
rty.
Equally unfortunate is Mr.. Bolts attcmpto ,
instruct Inc in what is due to the "tastc,,-
fincment or decency" Of the good city of Rii- {
mond. If it is altogether indccorous to deg
nate Mr.. Bolts as the "Groom OF Gohann
through the public press, can answer trrn'
fully that have never committed that err-
nifty Of truthful designation. But worry
gentleman, whom willingly recognise asat
least my equal in taste and refinement, as
done the deed, for which cannot blame I'm.
He had at least, right noble precedentor
its application the relation of which may IT.
nish innocent amusement to some rcacrs,
though it may shock somewhat the new ldnd
prudcry Of Mr.. Bolts. When the Hon. ar-
geant S. PrentisS, great man and poliacd
gentleman, first behcld Mr. Bolts, he isaid
to have vented his admiration in the follo1nS