Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1864-02-06
SI(OIl) EDITION.
4 O'CLOCK P. NJ.
THE JOHN NJ. Bolts LETTER.

As there have been many misrepresentation
in regard to letter written by John M. Bolts
to Hon. George S. Smith, Treasurer of the VIr-
ginia State Government, declining ffor rea-
sons stated therein) the position of u. 5. Sena-
tor from Virginia, Mr.. Smith furnishes us
with the original letter for publication, in order
that Mr.. Bolts may oe setright before the coun.
by 1t is as follows:
AUBURN, CuIpeper Co. Va, Jan. 2, 1857
Dear Sir: / have received the letter OF Mr. 5.
in which he urges in very earnest terms that
/ should accept seat in the Senate of the
United States, al the hands of the LEGISLATURE
now in session in Alexandria an election which
he seems to think have no right to decline, as
the fri nGs of the Union everywhere desire it.
Permit me 10 say, my good sir, that l duly
appreciate the honor designed, which is far be-
yond any thing, that have reason to expect,
now OF hereafter, from any other souree but
high and ignfied as is the position of United
States Senator, which in ordinary times is one
that might reasonably satisfy the ambition of
any moderate man, yet in the present coalition
of the country, and of the state OF which L am
"ratire here and 10 the manner born" could not
with pTopriety ara with my convictions OF
duty, accept any appointment at the hands of
either of the numerous governments, now exar-
cislng legislative powers over any OF the dis.
membs red fragments, of what once constituted
the proud and reyered old commonwealth OF
Virginia.
In takir g the position l have done, in refer
ence to the rebellion, / have been actuated by
no sordid considerations, and by no selfish de-
sire to advance my political. or personal for.
tunes; but it has been forced upon me by the
clear, uncioaded, conscientious and overwhelming
convictions Of my best judgment; free from all
passion. prejudice or ambition.
From the present aspect of affairs, as they
appear from the stand point occupy, it looks
as if the day was not very far distant, when (f
ever may be Of some service in healing those
dissensions and distractions growing out of
the grossest Misrepresentation and frauds)
that now divide the nation, the State, and al.
most every locality, to greater or less extent:
and which, though smothered for the time,
have never yet been extinguished; but this can
only be done, If at all, by adhering firmly and
consistently 10 the opinions and principles OF
long life, which have "grown with my growth
and strengthened with my strength" until they
have become part of my second nature: in
other words, l must permit no shadow OF
pieion from any quarter, to attach to my unset.
fish patriotism, or The disn;erested inteer ity of
my purpose, which the acceptance of office
might subject me to.
The extent of my aspirations for the present,
is to return "g0Od for eri,' to this once yensr-
able and veneIated, bat now poor, down-tr0a-
den, shattered, hcdrileSSiy SGcTifced and dHrpj-
dGied old "Motbcr of States that has been
reduced to her present miserable condition, by
her leading 8nd trus'ed statesmen. who, with
3tifscrlculaton upon mis- cItCuLGti0n and 6fUn-
der upon blnnder, with every prophecy and
promise nnfnlf!led, have been cropping their
way III Siberian darkness, ard with the most
mex cusable ignoraE g. after pirRtoHl, en- GEN
ce1ed ty c1Iroded and diseas I'd imagination,
Wh:ch was excifed by a nearIless ssliishness,
ana in are ambition to perpetuate their own
puwsr, that has been without a parallel in the
bistCiy CT the world.
i am aware that nv councils for the last
three years have been spnrned and derjded, and
my person even threatened with violence, by
many who once looked with more charitable
and friendly eye upon my suggestions and adj
vice. l have reason to think, this halucination
is passing off, and is being rapidly dissipated
by the terrible ordeal to which the fortunes of
the South have been subjected, and it may be,
at least am not without hope, that future
day, may in tcdy stand n link between
the North and the South, by which the chain
that once bound them together, may again con-
meet them, and 10 THIS comple1ioa 1t must come al
tG$t; for neither passion, nor prejudice, nor
suffering, nor want, nor hunger, nor pride, nor
strife can endure forever, and the time must
come when men will LOOK at things as they are,
and no longer close their eyes at bright mid
day, and swear the sun does not shine, because
they desire TO shut out the light.
Fer these and many other reasons not neces.
sary to rumerate here, must beg to be ex-
cused for respectfully declining the high posi-
ton to which it is proposed to elevate me.
Very respectfully, your ob't sesv't,
JOHN NJ. Boris.