Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1860-04-20
LYNCnBURG FRIDAY MORNING. APRIL 20. 1860.
Railg Tirainiau.
Address OF tho Committee OF tho Bolts
Club.


Address Of tho Committee of tho Botts'
Club.
lcoscLupED.l =
Another prominent public act Of the gentle
man under consideration was his effort and vota
for the abolition OF the 2lst Rule. For this he
was severely censured by some Of tho members Of
his own party mt the South, who did not under
stand his views and motives aud still moro bitter
ly denounced by the opposite party, who did not
desire to understand them. Embracing from tho
first the convi ton that IL was but the pretcxt and
occasion for tho manufacture OF an inordinate
quantity Of political capital for domestic con
sumpton.by the extreme advocates and opponents
of tho institution which gave riso to it, he lent his
influence at once and decidedly to its abrogation
His view was, that 1t was Tar wiser to come 10
plain, direct issue ON the question which lay
behind it, than to keep up n guerilla contest un.
der cover of this 2lst Rule. lie discovered
moreover, that is was considered to involve "the
right of petition" and thus TO cause vast appa-
rent increase of the nbolitionists Of the North
In this connection no admitted tho right Of
petition. and used these memorable words -;
Tho right of pctittion, as guaranteed by the
Constitution, isabsolntc, Unqualified, and unim
ted, and TO impair that right is to nfict u fatal
wound upon popular freedom The result was.
rs the world knows, an eventual abrogation OF
tho Rule land that, too by II Democratic Con.
iicted this result In the session before tho ro'
pcll, GOO abolition petitions offered. In the
session after it. cnly str. This was one Of tho
oecasions which brought down upon his head the
temporary condemnation of his own section and
party. but time has shown that he was right, and
vindicnted the significant declaration Of John
Quincy Adams, who IN that occasion pronounced
him "Me miyhiy Tanker Of Me age" Mr.. Boris
speech TN the subject remains a model Of crush
ing argument
In this connection it may be well TO recall tho
painful scenc lat TINT time noyel) which the
lower House OF Congress exhibited Mt the open
ing Of the extra session in lS4l, when for three
weeks the House gagged in painful strng
gle to organize itself for business. This 2lst
Rule WINS the obstacle matters began to look
alarming, men OF the North and of the South
turned to Mr.. B'tts. lie promptly drafted
resolution, which as soon MS it was pronounced
from the Speakers chair, secured the assent of
both contending parties, and order once more
rcigncd in the National Legislature.
The Democracy of Virginia resolved on the
exclusion of this faithful public servant from
political Office. The Legislature 81 the Old DO.
minion busted itself in the iguobc work. They
rcmodclod the Congressional Districts. and in order
to stle tho voice Of tho sterling Wing city of
Richmond, added Democratic majority OF about
500 votes, supposed to be conclusive Of h,s late.
Mr.. Jones, afterwards Soeakcr, was the candi
date in opposition to Mr.. Borrs. After labo
| rious convass and animated discussions in the
| Virginia style, Mr., Jones WAS returned by the
paIuy number of 80 votes. Mr.. Jones declined
| another canvass, and another gentleman. whose
ponularty with tho Wbigs held out high hopes
Of success, WAS tho competitor of Mr. BORIS
Owing to the paral ysiS OF the Whig party, con
scouent upon the defeat OF Mr. Clay, MIR. Boris
fell behind about 30 votes.
A third time Mr.. Boris. nothing daunted, took
the field. llo Vas opposed by gentlemen Sc
L., # Dn,unrrats on1 ntier IN,
animated contest, Mr.. Boris closed the day with
n majority Of near Goo vote. So that the over
whclining Democratic majority expressly imposed
upon him. was not only, in two unsuccessful a'.
tempts, overcome, but was nearly transferred TO
the other side
During the exile IF Mr.. Bits from Congress,
he had nercs failed to speak out, in some en-
phatic manner his opinions upon the great ques-
tons which were before the country, most gencr-
ally in compliance with urgent solicitation.
lie was prompt in an able letter published in
the Richmond Wing December, 1911, to express
his hostility to the annexation OF Texas N the
mode it was proposed to be doue. lie predicted,
with accuracy, many OF tho complications which
resulted from that measure.
Equally was he opposed to tho with Mexi-
CO /; the manner of it, and the objects of it. In IL
letter published in the same journal, in Eeeenl-
her. 1916. reviewing tho Message Of tho Presi-
dent (Pok) he gave q searching commentary up
on the whole Mexican war question.
lie was no less explicit IN his opposition To the
party which claimed the line Of 5l' 40/
Oregon boundary, and who mere piHing 10 hdzard
,rar rih England 10 secure that Inc. lle gave
his opinions upon that subject in an extended let
ter to tho Whig in December, 1915.
Also, upon tie Wilmot Proviso. his views may
be found clearly expressed in n letter to the Rich
n.ond Enquirer, in the spring of lS47. But, as
this question has been swallowed up in newer
phases, We forbear to dwell upon it to quote his
views They may be read.
Since the winter of '4S. 40, with the excep.
ton of being a member of tho Virginia Constitu'
tional Convention, in which he bore u conspicuou
part) Mr.. Bolts has been private citizen. Th
Democracy of Virginia who were in large mae
iority in the Virginia Legislature, had practically
legislated seven-ffteenths of her population out
OF Federal existence-by an extraordinary gerrv-
mander-so that u vast minority OF her people,
approaching Mt the last trial of relative strength,
within about 5, 900 of the ma ority, have had no
voice in Federal affairs. Fortuitous circum stances,
perhaps, have, tn several occasions, allowed them
a member of Congress- but, Tor the rest, n tyrar-
nv rcgns Us despotic and complete as the sway OF
m Eastern calph But though excluded from
place. Mr. Bolts has not remained without q
clear, bright and acknowledged position. II has
been that Of free, undioed citizen, scdruing and
instyucting his fellOp coantrymeA. Had his ad.
vice been needed, had his predictions-now veriii-
ed with the accuracy Of fulfilled prophecy
regarded, how much Of time and treasure would
have been saved, and what is Of transccndently
greater value how much OF strife, and contention
and rancor, and danger would have been aye-ted
from tho Republic!
The last prominent occasion upon which Mr..
Bolts felt himself impeed, by the high duties of
citizenship. to speak out from the privacy to
which he had resigned himself was upon the in
PRODUCTION by Mr.. Douglas, into the Senate of
the famed Kansas Nebraska Bill. From the mo-
ment Of it's introduction, this measure was hailed
hy the Demncrntic press md party of the South,