Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-03-19
Letter from Hon. John N. Bolts.
RICHMOND. March II. 1850

RiCuMpND. March Il. 1850.
! TNc Editoy$ nfHc Richmo"d why:
The ridiculous and unfair attempts at mis-
representation of what said II short time
since in the Convention, by portion of the
Democratic pres, in this city can only serve
to satisfy all who heard my remarks of the
abandonment Of all attempt To answer the
! argument. and of the desperate straits to
which they are reduced. for something that
will constitute capital upon which the ex-
isting canvass in this State may be con
Quoted.
Drspairing of all efforts to rcfutc the stub
born facts that hay" been presented against
the Democracy. they have rcsortcd 10 the
most uncandid. di>ingcnuou>, and unfair
means, to create popular prejudice for tue
! mnmcnt--not against the candidate OF our
party, but against me, who am i'll no sense
( before the people for any Office. AT this,
! however. have neither felt surprise nor re-
greet. was not surprised because | have
been too long accustomed to such misrepre-
sentation not to have been prepared for it.
i | did not regret it, because it cOnclusiycly
showed the weakness Of our adyersarles' po-
! sition.
! But | did regret to that Mr.. Lctchcr,
! between whom and myself the kindrst rca-
! tons have always existed, had Initiated so
/ bad an example: and taking the ''cm,' from
/ the Richmond Enquirer. had uncercnlonlous-
! " and gratuitousl V introduced my name IN
to the canvass: as if my soundueS>, or un-
soundnc,s, on the slavery or other questions,
had ANYTHING to do with the contest between
! A.. 4. nt,l ~ r.
or dement's were now presented for the con-
sidcration and Judgment Of the State. II
he is correctly reported, he has miSrepresen-
veyed. ~
| am not in the habit of taking positions
that will impose upon me the necessity for
retraction or apology on the score of youth.
indiscretion, or thoughtessness. 1t Is Gus
tomarv with me to weigh and measure all
my words; and it is usual for me to say what
| mean and 10 mean what | say; and, on
the occasion alluded TO- | certainly meant all
that dit say
In the New York Herald of the 10th. Mr..
Letcher is reported TO have said several un-
gracious and uncomplimentary things OF me.
that | had no reason to expect from him.
John VI. Bolts" he said. had taken the
stand against him. How stands he? The
Richmond Wing has been compelled to de-
nounce his unsoundness" ''lle avowed in
his Richmond speech his willingness to unite
with free negroes TO put down the Democra-
cv." "Spoils were Of more interest TO him
than the rights of the South
When and where have taken the stand
against him? have mentioned his name
but once, and then in terms of warm per-
sonal friendship, and chiefly To show the IN
consistency OF those who had denounced
him as being "a decided abolitionist," ''un-
true to the South" 'unfaithful to Democra-
cy.' deficient in moral integrity and
wanting in mental capacity" and yet in
the same breath, declaring their purpose 10
vote and work for him. if he should be the
nominee of the party. My object was TO
show that the institution of slavery and the
interests of the South were least cared for
by those who were most '..tnsSy' on the sub
.Iect, and that the Democratic party had only
used the question OF slavery IA II football
for party unity and ascendancy.
This is the only connection in which
have used Mr.. Letchcr's name. and if that L.
offensive. then | plead guilty of having
thrown the first stone. although did not
make one of the charges myself. Several
weeks ago, certain facts were placed at my
disposal, under the superstition that l in
tended to take an active part in the canvass,
connected with certain speculative operations
of Mr. Letrher in Washington, that cannot
be otherwise than detrimental to his pros
poets if disclosed. as they certainly will be.
If they should be established. but which
declined to NEEDLE with. because they par
took of Il personal. as we'll as Of a political
nature. and because felt towards him all
the ties of personal friendship.
But, 1.-THE Richmond Wing" he says. has
been compelled to denounce my unsound-
ness" How far it is either generous, or
proper. or admissible. for gentleman To re-
peat a charge or denunciatiou, that has been
again and again, to his knowledge, uncondi-
tionaly Withdrawn. voluntarily and without
consideration other than that of well settled
conviction and manly acknowledgment,
leave to Mr.. Lctcher. on y less interested oc-
casiun. to determine. But if he relies upon
the withdrdwn ch0Jye of the Wing To cStab-
lish unsoundncsS in me. how does he propose
to acpuit himarlf of the HHTjthiJdwn and
lately yeitcIuted charges of HnSoUndneSS and
nn~orthjnesy against him by the Enquirer?
notwithstanding he is the candidate Of the
party that the Enquirer is now pretending
10 support.
And, II announced my willingness to
Hnjt" ~iN FREE nr.D""S to put down the Demo-
cracy," he says. When and where did Mr..
Letcher see this, except in the Richmond
Enquircr-au thprity that one might suppose
h. would not be enyer to quote. or establish
as rciablc--and which he was Obliged TO
know was gross misrepresentation of what
had said for he had evidently read my
speech as reported. and that certainly fur
ni>hrl no foundation for such charge.
There was but one report of my speech as
far as have seem and that was taken for the
New York Herald, by it, regular reporter,
who. take pleasure in saying, reported me.
in substance, with great accuracy-and his
report was never seen by me until 1t was i'll
print and that represents me rs saying, III
reply to complaint that was willing to
receive the vote Of the Republican party
that if there was Il State i'll the Union COM
posed entirely of free negroes, and Ms consf'-
iuiion gore them The right 10 rate, ~o"ld be-
mUch oJIigcd 10 them 10 heip ne ~ brat he
Democratic po,y'-and so | would-and