The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-12-05
JUNE, 1889

JOHN MINOR Boris DEFINES HIS POSI-
Minor Bolts to the Richmond Examiner
under date of October lS, has been forward
ed from the army of the Potomac. The
letter is entitled to consideration from the
high positions which Mr.. Bolts has held,
and it will be noticed that he defines his
ernment of the United States in contrast
with that of the confederate states:
Mr.. Bolts denies the charge that he, in
an interview with an Indiana major, pro-
claimed himself a Union man without any
IFS or butts. He had no such interview, and
used no such language. He also denies
having said that he wished the federal gen.
erals knew half that he knew of the rebels
and their resources and intentions. He is
not in the confidence of the confederate
government or the commanders of its
forces, and therefore of their intentions,
and he is profoundly ignorant of their re-
sources. In reply to the charge of the Ex-
aminer that he abhorred the government <
but loved it's money, he says: "whateverFs
may think of the government, yet kneyer
felt myself entirely at liberty, in this land
OF freedom, to say half as much against its
administration as have seen in your own
editorial columnS, but if have never
government, have never ceased to feel q
warm interest in the welfare of the the peo-
PIE OF Virginia with whose prosperity and
1reedom my own are entirely Unidentified,
ana Will take occasion to say here, what
SAID 10 Gen. Meade anu have said to all,
that my earnest prayer is that this revolu-
ton may result in whatever may contrib.
ute most to the permanent peace, happi-
ness, prosperity and freedom of the people
OF Virginia. These are the blessings OF a
good government. This is what / suppose
is desired and aimed at by all unless by
the selfish politicians and the corrupt spec.
ulators in and out of the army. They care
not what sort of a government they live
under, provided they fill high places and
have their pockets filled. We may differ
possibly, and perhaps honestly, as to the
best means of attaining these desirable
ends. If it is by the success of the revolu-
ton then / pray God the revolution may
sncceed {; but if by a restoration of the Un-
ion, then hope the Union may be restor-
ed. What want is government that has
the will and power to protect my person
and my property against all abuses.
That would prefer living as l did be-
fore the war, to living as have done since
the the war, is beyond all question, and
would be madman or fool if l did not,
and knave and hypocrite i'll We're to pre-
tend otherwise. He denies having done
anything of which the confederate govern
ment can complain, unless it be that he has
not become democratized, and has made
no concessions to the democracy. On the
other hand he complains first, that the
power Of the legislative branch of the gov
ernment has been especially directed a
gainst him; second, that the power Of the
executive branch of the government has
been eNerted against him, when under this
detestable, aunwritten and unknown code
called martial law, upon no charge pre-
ferred which they dared to present before
the court of inquiry, they had him arrest
ed in his bed, hurried to filthy negro Jail
where he was kept in solitary confinement
| for eight weeks, when, with all the vigi-
lanceand evidence oftheir numerous detec-
| tives, they could find nothing upon which
to stand charge: And nowa a second arrest
is caused without charge, whilst the ar
my itself has been turned loose upon him
to destroy his property by design and by
officers in high command, and but for a
guard from the headquarters of Gen. Lee,
none can tell to what condition he would
have been reduced. .Have I then," he
asks, 'Mr. Editor, had much reason for
attachment or devotion to a government
by which have been thus treated9 You
com plain of the treatment Mr.. Vallandig-
ham has received at the hands of his gov
ernmen. But Mr.. Vallandigham made
many violent speeches, in which he
took active and strong grounds against his
mongst his friends, as they suppose, but 1
have done nothing, taken no part, but
maintained firmly and consistently, as I
shall continue to do, my own private opin-
ions and the convictions of my best judg-
ment, which have not been controlled by
any considerations Of selfishness, ambi-
ton or fear. ! want no better vindicatiOn
for having withheld my approval Of this
war than is to be found in the fact that
there is not one Of those who aided in
bringing it on that would do il if, with their
present experience, it had to be gone over
again, or If they could have foreseen what
has followed, all of which did foresee and
foretell."
He denies that Gen. Meade took dinner
at his table, yet makes known that he in
vited him to do SO, and regretted that his
constant engagements prevented his ac-
ceptance, and should he return to the VIZ
cinity the otfense would be repeated. The
J truth is, he has entertained freely and hos
pitably the officers and gentlemen Of both
armies whose acquaintance he has enjoyed,
and shall continue to do so so long as he is
master OF his own house. Hitherto ]
i have been silent,' he says, "as to the
lwrongs, injuries and indignities that have
II been heaped upon me. But am not q
: spaniel to lie down and crouch at the bid
ding of any master, or lick the hand that
smites me; and if l am thus to be selected
: as particular object of persecution and
, can find no protection from the law, then
will / protect myself This / cannot DO
against tne government or agdlnSt tud
: army, but / can and will do it when the
law, military and civil, fail me, against
any one man that this Confederacy can
i boast of. cannot be induced to lswerve
!. one hair Abreadth from the line Of conduct
i that my own Judgment and conscience
may dictate, which is to take no lot, part
or share in the responsibility that rests
upon those who have brought this whirl.
pool of desoIation and ruin upon my un.
fortunate country. But if to adhere firmly
and consistently to the opinions and Prin.
ciples that have maintained for thirty
b wears. and if to prefer living as did be.
0 fore the war, to living as have done since
q the war, makes me traitor, then a trai-
: tors life let me live, or traitors death lei
8 me die" I'll r.. -..
i FIGHTING REBELS WITH Doas.-Blood.
@ hounds are used in the South, by slave
t holders and Rebels, to hunt slaves and
I'll conscripts but we were unaware that our