Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1865-09-30
Letter from John Minor Bolts.


John Minor Bolts has written letter
TO committee of citizens of Albemarle
county, Virginia, on the approaching
Congress onaI eI, csion in thai State IL
is daIed Auburn. mar Brandy Station
Ser,ember 10. and like all the etfuslons
Of tina, gentleman, is very long. In re-
gard TO the oath which must be taken by
all elected members Of Congress before
,bev can take their seats in that body, he
saws tina, there is no constitutional PtoVlS'
ion prohibiting Congress from imposing
any oath they may see proper, except 1t
4 be one of religious character.
II any elected members Of Congress
are tainted with former treason, there Is
no surety that they can get their seals.
He therefore thinks il adVist bic for all
voters 10 cast their ballots for those who
can take the congressional oath, and for
them only, as there is not The slightest
chance for the repeal or even modIhc i
ZION Of this oath. at the coming session OF
Congress. There is, however, Proba'
! billy that it will be made more stringent,
for this Congress will be more radical
Than the last.
There is suspicion now, and there
will be then that The South is only ?hysr
cslly crushed-Ihe spirit OF rebellion
sulI living. This suspicion will be IN
creased by disqualified par'les presenting
themselves for admission. 1t will create
the impression that there is some plot in
conception to give the control OF the
Government into Southern hands, and by
that means undo al the work OF the loyal
North accomplished during The rebellion.
Mr.. Bots therefore thinks that tbe peo-
pie of The South should not vote for any
one who hesitales to take the oath III
good faith.
He denounces all those who are en-
deavoring to create disafeclion by saying
that the candidates should not take The
oath. Their foollshness is only exceed.
ed by their spirit for doing mischief. Mr..
Bols concludes with stirring appeal 10
The people TO abide by The law, and all
will be well. 1t is The easiest and best
way to accomplish their ends, and will Of
c, urse, ultimately accrue 10 their benehl'
He thinks, however, that there ought
to be no difficulty on The part OF those
who have simply fed Confederate soldiers
or clothed their own sons while in The ar
my. And on This subject he says:
docs any one suppose that civilized
and enlightened eope would rrg'rd II
as treason to hold refreshing g lass to the
parched lips Of wounded soldier whom
he himself has just laid PROSTATE al hi
feet? Aud the Government OF The Uni.
led States, too, under this Interpretation
has been traitor 10 isrlr-for who fed so
many as Mr.. Lincoln g! Who nnrsed so
many of the wounded as Mr.. Lincoln!
WHO clothed so many as Mr.. Lincoln,
and then restored them TO the ranks Of the
Confederate army; and yet, could not he
take this oath Ii TO give food 10 the
fungIv or nurse the wounded and sick
was an oFcnre, go it was equally a crime
to give a glass Of water 10 the thirsty;
and if this constituted treason, confess
mvsrlf as amongst the most cul Pable OF
traitors; for all mis- have done. ] have
probably fed to greater extent hsn any
one msn in the Confedt racy (only be-
cause they were around me all the tine,
hu, God knows as well as that il was
rever done with view to help the rebel
lion, for which never, for ;he first mo
ment. had the least particle Of sympathy
or respect"