Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1860-01-24
Bolts and Helper Stand Together.

po,cer, has spoken; and, possibly, we ought at
tn be silent But rs he has finished and taken
his seat, and as he only issues his pronuncia
mentoes at long periods, we may be permitted
to look around and say word. In letter,
under date Of Richmond, January 18th, 1860,
written by Mr. Bolts to J. X. Marshall, Wm. D.
Pate, VIM C. Wickhum, Wm. W. Csrraway,
Jr., Alex. Rives, Jas. ~ Carter, Geo. Townes,
Wm n. Mckenny Of the Senate; Jos. Segar, a.
S. Borcman, Lewis Mckenzie, }. y. Anderson,
D. 7. Bisbie n Richardson, Vim. L. picfin,
son, II. ". Holloway, Ii. i. Maupin, a. j.
Watts, D. Frost, r. NJ. Bentley, y. Watson,
q. L. Magruder, j. j. Thompson, j. N. Nc
Cue, G. \. Myers, A. Patterson, j. 6. Martin
OF the House Of Delegates, Mr.. Bolts pro
claims his views to the world upon tho
questions now passing, and which have pass
cd. Before We proceed further, it would
seem to be proper and respectful to ask, il
the above named gentlemen, members OF the
Senate and House of Delegates, adopt and ap'
prove Of the opinions expressed by Mr.. Bolts
in his letter. But we conclude they do,
from the editorial Of the "Whig' Of the 18th
Of January, 1860, in which the letter is pub
li>hed. The editor of the "Whig' says:
:" We have not yet had an opportunity OF
reading it." (that is the letter oil Mr. Eo,'s,)
and insert it ut the request Of the genllcnlen
whose names are appended to the call.
Treating this letter, then, as bring perimed
by Mr.. Bolts, but as containing the views and
opinions Of the members Of the Senate and
House Of Delegates, upon whose request it was
written and published we will proceed 10 en-
anime the principles it enunciateS.
Mr. Bolts says, in speaking of the excited
state of the public mind for the last ninety
days, he kept silent, Because did not wish
to lend my name or countenance 10 anything
that in my Judgment was calculated either 10
increase or keep alive state Of excitement in
the public mind; the necessity for which, from
first to last have not been able to realize. '
Do the senators and delegates who called forth
and published this letter, intend to be under
stood as saying, that from the first to the last,
Of the last ninety days, they have not been
able to realize any cause for excitement in the
public mind of the people~of Virginia? No
cause Of excitement in the public mind of Viz,
ginia in the last ninety days! Was i1no cause
of excitement, that the soil of Virginia was
invaded By John Brown and his followers with
hostile intentions and unlawful purposes
Was it no cause Of excitement, that John
Brown and his lawleSs dcspcradoes brought
with them large number of arms, to put in
the hands Of the negroes, with which 10 mur
der our unofending men and innocent women
and children? Was it no cause Of excitement,
that John Brown and his followers seized upon
Harper's Ferry, within the limits OF Virginia
Was it no cause OF excitement, that John
Brown and his followers, at the dead OF night
dragged innocent and unofending men from
their beds, and cast them into prison, and kept
them there until they were rescued by their
countrymen in fatal aud deadly combat? Was
il no cause for excitement, that John Brown
and his followers murdered, in cold blood, and
unproyoked upon the soil Of Virginia, rlr'
tuous worthy and intelligent sons Of Virginia:
All these things, and many more, have trans
pircd within the limits OF Virginia, within the
last ninety days, calculated to arouse and ex'
cite her people; and yet, we are gravcly told,
BIZ twcnty.seven members Of the Virginia Lesls'
lature, that they have not, from first to last
been able to realize any cause of cxcltemdnt in
the public mind! No cause Of excitemtnt in
the public mind, forsooth. Gentlemen legisla'
tors, let us urge you to think calmly Jon this
subiect-you have deceived yourselves. We
doubt not you are all wise. rirthous and
good men, If you only allow yourselves to be
guided by your reason instead of being swaycd
by blind prejudice. Yon will no doubt act as
wisely as any other great and good men, You
are sentinels, placed upon the watch tower to
look after the rights and interests of the people
of Virginia; it is your duty TO espy danger
afar off, and cry aloud at its approach; but il
YOU have not been able TO realize any cause oil
excitement in the public mind Of Virginia,
within the last ninety days, you must be as
marble statues, blind and. bloodless, neither
able to sec or feel. But If you have seen no
cause of excitement, the people Of Virginia
have. The public mind Of the State has been
rolling and tossing as the storn.whlpped bii,
lows of An enragcd sea- Have your respective
constituencies been like you? Have they, too,
realized no cause Of excitement, or have they
called upon you, through their public mcetlnss
in the counties, to organize the militia, and
nrovide all necessary means Of defence? Tho
people Of Virginia have not been blind Tor tho
last ninety days, nor have they relied upon
blind guides. They have seen just cause i''
excitement they have been aroused, and n'
mere words uttered by any man, though II
he the Hon. John NJ. Bolts, and endorsed
BY twenty.scyen members Of the Legislature
ran ever hush them into silence and submis
sion. until their lives, liberty and property arc
rendered more secure and safe. Mr.. Bott'
says:
al do not wish to judge harshly or do any
man injustice; l am willing to hear before
7 strike: but it is undoubtedly true, that a con
dition of things has been brought in this State
and which has been extended greatly beyonc
its it's limits, for which if any sufficient reasor
has existed have not been able to discover ol
comprehend it,"
OF course our twenty-scven members Of th'
Legislature do not mean to judge harshly, Of
do any man injustice, so they say-and they
are ali honorable men; but we shall presently
see that, whilst they will not judge harShly o1
do any man injustic by direction they arc very
ready to do man the grossest injustice b,
inuendo and indrection. They say, condition
Of things has been brought about IN TINS state
and which has been extended greatly bcyont
lis limits for which, if any sufficient reason
has existed, they have not been able to dlscove
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