The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1865-08-26
Letter from John DIinor Bolts I'm Reference
to the $4,000 Clause.


We do not deem tho sayings Of Mr. JOHN MINOR
Bolts of any very great Importance, nor do we
consider his views national subjects of much
weight, but as part Of the news Of the day we
publish tho following letter from him:
AUBURN, NEAR BRANDY STATION, August 4.-My
Dear Sir: Your letter of the 30th July, asking for
my Interpretation Of the proclamation of President
ed, and avail myself of the first leisure moment
to it. think it clear that tho oath Of am
nesty and pardon u.s. by that proclamation, offered
to ALL with tho exception of the fourteen difforont
classes of persons enumerated, and from them the
benefits OF the amnesty oath are withheld unth q
special pardon is obtained, and this pardon, as
altes that have been incurred by those who have
endeavored to overthrow tho Government, without
conferrng any politica! privileges whatever which
of tho United States Congress- and in others by the
provisions of State Constitutions and State laws Gas
in this State), neither of which can be dis
turbed by tho pardon Of the President In refer
ence to the thirteenth section. which reads:
CAN persons who have roluntarily participated in
said rebellion, and the estimated value of whose
property is over twenty thousand dollars"
This clause seems to be less understood than any
OF the exceptions contained in the proclamation;
and there are very many making application for
pardon who are not ut all embraced in the eXcep-
tions Union and loyal men throughout tho war,
persons of advanced age and others who have had
no participation in the rebellion either voluntarily
or inyoluntarily, all seem to think that because
dollars that it is necessarily liable to confscation
unless pardon is obtained from the President;
and by their numerous applications are not only
unnecessarily increasing the labors Of the Presi-
dent, Attorney General, and other officials in Wash
ington, but are throwing away their own means
and time, and making harvest for the lawyers
who are engaged in that branch OF business. It
is manifest that this thirteenth clause is suscept
BILE Of no such construction. To those who have
not voluntarily participated in the rebellion
this clause has no application whatever, no matter
what amount of taxable property they may own;
and whether they have voluntarily participated
or not, is matter that must be best known to
themselves, for there may be other modes OF vol
urtary participation than that of actually bearing
arms against the United States; in other words,
there were other means to be employed for the
overthrow of the government than by bearing arms,
for the worst of the scccssionists were generally
those who were the last and the least willing
to take mp These contributed all their
stocks for the purpose of aiding the rebellion, 9TH
crs by running tho blockade, and other "bomb-
proof" occupations ns they were calledall for the
overthrow OF the Government Of the United States.
All this should call voluntary participation in the
rebellion. But you ask particularly whether de-
tailed farmers, in my opinion, would come under
necessarily. know myself of number Of cases
in which the most loyal men Of the State became
detailed farmers, only for the purpose of avoiding
military duty in the field, and Of obviating the
cesaity for taking up arms against the United
States authorities; and yet detailed farmer might
have done many things that would subject him to
Inc exception, InerelOre, i tnlnR Bucn partlcular
case would have to stand upon its own merits, as
no general or universal rule could be applied.
Every man hest knows his own motives, and knows
whether he did what he could, whether in one ca
pacity or another, to aid the rebellion, and upon
his own conscience must rest tho necessity for an
application for pardon II he is conscious Of hay
then Should say it would be quite @ I time enough to
ask for a pardon when steps were taken against
him for a confscation Of his property; and in the
meantime to save his time and money for better
purposes than that Of enriching lawyers and paid
agents. I am, respectfully and very truly, yours,
JOHN M. Bolts.