Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1861-05-21
FOR ne SPECTATOR.
RICHMOND, April %, 1856


Dear Sir, Again venture to address you, and
again in the name Of convulsed nation to sue
for peace.
Frantic people on both sides may clamor for
war; but the dispassionate and rejecting, every
where, demand cessation OF this horrible and
cruel war, and the party that has it chiefly in its
power to stop 1t, will sink under the weight of
its responsibility, both to God and man, if it is
not stopped.
You know as well as /, the spirit and fiery zeal
of your own Southern race you know that, no
matter what your power may be, you could never
reduce them to subsection. As 1 said in my first
letter, s'overrum them you may but you cannot
subjugate; and even to overrmn them now, is be-
coming more and more doubtful every day. But
if you could, what do you hope to accomplish
by it? Is not clear as the noon day sun that
dissolution of the Union is fixed, irrevocable
fact and is it not equally clear that war be-
tween sections, North and South, only makes it
costly, bloody desolating dissolution instead of
a peaceful separation of elements that are now
as thoroughly and as sternly antagonistic as fire
and water?
The disaffection in Maryland to the cause of
the Government, and especially the scenes enact
ed In Baltimore, render it certain that the revo-
luton is spreading with immense rapidity. Why
not, then, at once, come to honorable terms, and
let each of the Republics, North and South, live
after their own fashion and their own fancy q
The Southern blood is fired, and you may rest
assured that, to the last man. they will resist the
powers of the Federal Government, if their in
dependence is not recognized.
Ii my counsels could have prevailed when
was IN Washington, eight border States would
have been saved to the Union. Now four of
them at least are gone from you, and probably
all. Why, then, make it worse than it is by fur
ther procraStination !?
If you knew what it has cost me in mental ag-
al of fhp o0nt 0f
the United States, as it was formed by our faith
ers, you would listen to my counsels and have
respect for what l say.
pray you to tell me what possible good is to
be expected to be accomplished by war among
ourselves Which party can possibly be bene-
fitted ? After 100000 lives have been lost, and
5OO,00O, 900 OF money has been spent, must it
not at last end In severance of the ties that
have heretofore held US together as one people
never saw the day that more sternly denied
the right OF secession under our CONSTITUTE on
than do now but the right of REVOLUTION,
nave always asserted, and no one has ever de-
MED it. This State has not seeded because
the Convention had no power to secede, and the
vote which the people reserved to themselves,
has not been taken; yet they are themselves in
state of Revolution. 1t matters not whether
you or think there has, or has not, been just
| cause for Revolution. We are not made tfe
Judges of that; they have decided for them.
| selves, and had right to do so. suppose ne
Revolution ever yet arose in which those in
VOWED IN 1t were entirely unanimous to the
suficiency of the that led to ii, therefore
do not conceive that have right to set up my
individual opinion against what seems to be the
| almost unanimous voice OF the entire South, and
l lind myself, with the rest, precipitated into 6
Revolution without any agency of my own, and
against which l am utterly poweress. So it il
with thousands and thousands over the country
some from impulse, some from judgment, AND
some from necessity, until the sentiment has al
most one universal ssaye'' for Revolution.
| l cannot so far stultify myself as to deny the
right OF all Governments to put down Revolution
if they can this is too well recognized princi-
| pie to be disputed; and where a successful
revolution would overthrow the government
itself, do not question the right of the govern
ment to resort to every means for its own pres
ervation
But, would the Government of the U. S. be
overthrow by an acknowledgment of the indie
pendence of a part of its original proportions p
On the contrary, venture to say your govern
ment would be more powerful, more harmonious
| and more happy, (when institutions common to
all pervaded your entire land, and no Earring in
terests were brought into cOntacD than you
have been the last twenty years, and certainly
for the last ten or twelve, during which time
| there has been nothing but one continual stream
OF discord pouring out from the Press, the Pull
pit, the Hastings, and the Halls Of Congress, on
the subject of slavery.
If, after the separation has been accomplished,
| time shall prove it to have been to the interest
of the parties that they should have continued as
| one, would not reunion be far more likely to
be brought about hereafter, without, than after,
such a war as may be looked for, if not checked
/ at once? What would b, deemed an act of for
bearance and libera,ity from father to son, or
from brother to brother, might be esteemed as
cOwardice and poltroonry to a stranger and a.
90 If ba hara Of tba
family, and concessions may be made without
dlshonor.
| Look to the country as it was, which 1 need
not describe, then look upon it it is, and as it
is likely to be. Not only is all business sus
pended, and all prospect of prosperity and
happiness banisAed from the land, but all in
tercourse is cut off between members of the
same household, between partners and traders
in business, between man and wife, parent and
child, who were temporarily or permanently To-,
Gated in different States, by the destruction OF
Railroads, bridges and telegraphic communica-
ton. How long can this state of things be per-
mitted to continue?
| would give millions this night (if had them)
| to have the power of Mr.. Lincoln for one mo-
ment, that might say-ssBrethren, depart in
peace, let there be no more quarrels between
US, aid then, what bright sunshine would
! spread over the land at once .4-
/ Upon TIE restoration OF peaoe, the 'plough,
the loom, and the anvil" would instaDtaDeonsiy
/ leap to their accustomed work Commerce
would again whiten the ocean with its sails -
Prosperity and happiness at home would take
the place Of death on the battle field! The al
| fectionate wifs, the teader mother and the fond
sister, North and South, would hail as blessed,
and a nations prayers would ascend for bene
dictions on the head of the man who was brave
enough to defy and contemn al injurious impu-
tations in order to serve the best interests of his
country, and save it from ruin.
| am with great respect,
Very truly yours.
JNO. M. Bolts.
Z For the Spectator.
Mr.. EDIroR-I observe in the last number of