Daily national Republican., 1863-11-24
JOHN MINOR BOTry LETTER.

NEW YORK, Nov. 23.-John Minor Bolts
letter TO the Richmond Examiner, under date
OF October IS, has been received from the cor
respondent of the Associated Press with the
Army of the Potomac. Mr.. Bolts denies the
charge that he, In an interview with an Indiana
major, proclaimed himself Union man with
out any Ifs or butts. He had no such interview
and used no such language. He denied having
| said that he wished the Federal generals knew
| half that he knew Of the rebels and their re-
sources and intentions. He is not in the CONT
dencc of the Government or the commanders
Of It's forces, and therefore of their intentions
he Is as profoundly ignorant as OF their re-
| sources.
In reply to the charge of the Examiner, tha,
he ahhorred the Government but loved It's mo-
ney, he says =" Whatever may think of the
Government, yet / never felt myself entirely
at liberty In this land of freedom. to say
| half AS much against Its administration as |
have read in your own editorial columns, but
IL have never made professions of devotion to
the Government, have not ceased to feel
warm Interest In the welfare of the people Of
| Virginia, with whose prosperity and freedom
my own are entirely identified, and will take
occasion to say here, what ! said to General
Meade, and have said to all, that my earnest
prayer is that this revolution may result in
whatever may contribute most to the perma-
nent peace and happiness, prosperity and free
dom of the people of Virginia. These are the
1
II suppose is desired and aimed al by all,
unless the selfish politicians and the corrupt
| peculators in aud out OF the army may consti.
| tutc an exception. They care not what sort of
a Government they live under, provided they
| I'LL the high places and have their pockets well
lined.
We may differ possibly, and perhaps honest
ly, as to the best means Of attaining these desi-
| rabe ends. II il Is by the SUCCESS OF the Reyo-
luton, then pray God that tho revolution may
| succeed; but If by a restoration of the Union,
| then hope the | niOn may be restored. What
| ! want Is a Government that has the will and
power to protect my person aud my property
| gainst all abuses; and that would prefer llv-
| ing as did before the war, to living as have
| done since the war, IL beyond all question, and
| would be madman OF a fool II did not, and
a knave and hypoCritC IL were 10 pretend
otherwise.
| Mr. Bolts denies having done ANYTHING of
| which the Confederate Government can com
plain, unless II be that he has not become DEM
ocratized, and made no concession TO Democ-
racy.
On the other hand, lie complains, first, "that
the power of the legislative branch Of the Gov
ernment has been especially directed against
him. Second that the power of the executive
| branch of the Government has been executed
| against him when under this detestable un-
written unknown code called martial law.
Upon no charge preferred which they dared to
present before the court OF inquiry, they had
had him arrested in his bed and hurried to
1lthy negro Jail, where he was kept In solitary
confinement for eight weeks, when, with all
the vigilance, use and research Of the numerous
detectives they could tnd nothing upon which
TO hinge charge. and now comes a second
arrest without a charge, whilst the army itself
has been turned loose upon him, 10 destroy his
property oy design and by the orders of officers
In high command, and but for squad from
the headquarters of Gen. Lee, none can tell to
what condition he would have been reduced y
Mr.. Bolts says, Have |, then, Mr.. Editor, had
much reason for attachment or devotion to a
Government by which have been thus treated.
You complain Of the treatment Mr.. Nallan-
digham has received at the hands of his Gov
crnment. He made many violent speeches, in
which he took active and strong grounds against
his Governments; for this he was sent amongst
his friends, as they supposed. But have done
nothing, taken no part. but maintained firmly
and consistently, as shall continue TO do, my
own private opinions, and the conviction of my
best Judgment which has not been controlled
by any considerations Of selhshness, ambition,
or fear.
want no better vindcation for having with
held my approval of this war than Is to be
found In the fact that there 10 not one Of those
who aided in bringing 1t on would do itif, with
their present experience, 1t had to be gone over
again, or If they could have foreseen what has
followed, all OF which l did foresee and fore
| tell.
| Mr.. Bolts denies that Gen. Meade took din
| ner at his table, yet makes known that he in
vited him to do so, aud regretted that his own
| constant engagements prevented his accept
ance, and should he return to the vicinity the
| offence would DC repeated. The truth is, he
has entertained freely and Hospitality the off,
GERS and gentlemen Of both armies whose ac-
lquaintance he has enjoyed, and shall continue
TO do so 80 long MS he Is master of his own
lands.
Hitherto ] have been silent, says Mr.. Bolts,
as to the wrongs, injuries and indignities that
have been heapcd upon me, but ] am not a
spaniel, TO lie down and crouch at the bidding
OF any monster, nor to lick the hand that
sinitcs me; and ii ain thus 10 he selected as a
particular object of persecution, and can find
no protection from the law, then will protect
+ myself This caunot do against the GoverA.
nent or against AN army, but can and will do
II when the law, military and civil, both fail
me, against any one man that this Coniederacy
can boast.
| l cannot bc induced To swerve one hair s
breadth from the line of conduct which my
own Judgment and conscience may dictate,
which Is 10 take no lot part or share In the re-
| sponsbllity that rests upon those who have
brought this whirlpool oi dcsolation and ruin
upon my unfortunate country, but ID to adhere
hrlnly and consistently TO the opinions and
. principles that have maint aimed for thirty
years, and II to prefer living as did before the
war, to living as have done since the wal
makes INC a traitor, then a traitors life lot mt
. i've, Or traitOr's death lot me die.