Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1860-10-05
rha camnaIcn in virginia.

Il H
Especial Dispatch to the New York Times
RICHMOND, VA, Monday, Oct. l:
Hon John Minor Bolts addressed an I'M
ncnse audience in this city, TINS evening, at
the Rel and Everett Headquarters. Over
j. 900 persons, of both sexes, were present
The Stage was beautifully decorated with
wrcaths of flowers twined around the por-
traits of Washington, Clay, Pleasants and 9TH
erS.
Mr.. Bolts was greeted with tremendous ap-
plausc. Referring to the fact that MIR. lancey
was speaking on the same evening, he SAID he
regretted that there should be two pcrlorman-
ces going on at once. Yet, as the one party
was dissolving the Union, it would be well
enough to have the other tinker it up: lie
said he was tired Of politics and Disguised with
politicians but, when he saw treason and dis
union stalking abroad in the old Common
wealth, he felt compelled to enter the arena
and raise his voice in defence Of his country.
He denied that he was n party man, but couia
not forget that he had a country to defend ana
save, so far as his feeble voice could save 1t
He gave notice of Il long speech, and SAID ne
was prepared to take all the consequences. II
he did not speak, and Virginia went against
Bell. it would he charged to Bolts not speak
inc. If he did speak, and Virginia was lost,
he knew it would be charged to the TACT that
Bolts did speak. 49,. ,c
Having declared that he planted himself firmly
upon the Constitution Of his country, ne an
nounced his Wing predictions, and his abhor-
renee Of Democracy. There were out lew
public men who dared to speak openly and
plainly Of the issues of the day. The Press
held them in fear, but he (Alr. Botts) had no
favors to ask, ard should discuss all the issues
fully and freely. lie had no doubt some OF
his views would be denounced as Northern or
Abolition in their tendency, yet ne assumed all
the responsibility, and would carry all the
weight.
The first series of issues was nj horne, III lne
South which should be settled before we take
issue with the North. Squatter sovereignty
has nothing to do with these issues, Tor all
these men are committed to the same views
| Mr.. Bolts alone having raised his voice against
if He would disarm the dlsunionlsts by show
inc that they were not warning on Squatter
sovereignty, but had other objects in view; for
every man who voted for the Kansas-Nebraska
bill did i, for the precise and particular purpose
| of establishing squatter sovereignty. In PROOF
Of this. Secretary Cass, Senator Butler, eX-At-
torney Gen. Gushing, and others, were quoted
particularly the latter's speech in Virginia,
on the occasion Of Clay's birthday, IN which
he declared himself the special advocate oil
Squattcr Sovereignty, and the right OF Terrific
RIGS TO ~lecislate for themselves in all things, in
snitc of the howls Of faction. Mr.. Bolts next
reviewed the a~ntecedents Of Mr.. Breckin-
ridge, quoting that Gcntlcman's declarations,
that to the Territories belong MI the power Of
domestic legislation. Gen. Lane asneN shown
to have been a Squatter Sovereignty leader ;
but independent of the construction given the
Kansas bill by these gentlemen, the bill itself
establishes Squattcr Sovereignty in the broad
est sense, leaving the people perfectly tree 10
regulate their institutions in their own way:
and this is not the true cause of the opposition
to Mr.. Douglas. Mr.. Bolts then proceeded to ar
que the necessity for the South to stick to a strict
construction of the Constitution, for its own
preservation against Northern aggression, and
TO prove the unconstitutionality of the Kansas
| Nebraska bill, by which Congress transferred
to Kansas n power which should have been
exercised by Congress alone. Nor should
Congress surrender the right to prohibit
polygamv in Utah. But why do these gen
tlemen wish to dissolve the Union? Be-
cause Suuattcr Sovereignty produces inequality
among the States, l am told. If this be inc
Quality, then equality has never existed, as
slavery could not be carried into the North
west Territories after the sitting of the first
Congress under the Constitution. Mr.. Bolts
denied that the fact constituted any inequality.
The sneaker next considered the complaints
against the non-execution Of the fugitive slave
law, and contended that this was no reason for
dissolving the Union, even If the charges were
true, which he denied. Then what is the OBJ
iect of the disunion party Some say they
want u slave code to protect slavery Ill the Ter
ritories, but this is only a preteXt Tor other
reasons. Who are they who demand this pro-
lection? Those who for years have denied pro-
lection to the labor Of poor men, and who now
threaten to dissolve the Union if the negro OF
the rich mar is not protected. The refusal oil
protection 10 poor labor has cost the country
three times the value of every slave in the
South. 4 calculation was gone into to prove
this assertion. Some say that the irrepresslbie
conflict iustifies disunion, but these are clap
trap words, which serve party purposes, but
which have no meaning.
Mr.. Bolts did not agree with Mr.. Seward,
that there was any "irrcpresSible conflict, or
that any could arise. As we had lived together
eighty years with slave and free labor, we could
live thus together eight hundred years longer,
il people would discard canting politicians who
continually agitatc the subject Of slavery
The speaker read from Mr.. Stewards speech on
the sirrepressible conflict" but gave Mr.. Pryor
credit for originating the. expression. Mr.. Bolts
thought that slavery let alone could regulate
itself. The charge that Mr.. Lincoln is an 'ir-
reprcssible conflict man is not true, as will be
shown by his opinions expressed before he was
o candidate. The speaker had no confidence
in the declarations of gentlemen after they be-
came candidates. Here he read from Mr.. Lincoln's
speeches, showing his soundncss on the slavery
question in the States and in the District Of CO.
lunbia. Mr.. Benjamin had pronounced Lincoln
| sounder than Douglas, but Of this Mr.. Bolts
had nothing to say. Mr.. Benjamin, being a De-
mocrat, could afford to make such a declaration.
Had the speaker made il, he would be charged
with being an Abolitionist. After reading at
length from Mr.. Lincoln'S record on slavery,
showing his conservatism, Mr.. Bolts said he
left the record for public judgment. Express
ing no opinion Of his own, he wished it dis
tinctlv understood that he regarded it a solemn
duty to lay the facts before the people of Eir-
ginia. il they are to be called upon to dissolve
the Union in the event of Lincoln's election;
but he does not wish to be charged with max
ing a Lincoln speech. The speaker asked if this
great Government was to be destroyed, and the
States to return to n colonial condition? Was
the visit of the Prince of Wales connected with
this return of tho States to his subsection?
Voice in the crowd.-An agent has gone to
England to negotiate.
Mr.. R.-No, sir; the British agent is here.
The Duke of Newcastle will play that inpor.
tant part. But to be serious, continued DR.. B.,
the true secret of this disunion movement is
the revival Of the African Slavc.trade. Tire.
mendous applause. lie contcnded that seven
ty-ive thousand persons in the Southern States
would break up this Government of thirty mil.
lions in order to buy up little negroes for their
cotton and sugar plantations. lie acquitted
the masses of the party of any intention to re,