Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1865-06-30
John Minor Bolts
ms yIFWI ON THE RESTRICTION OF TfIE suF
FRAGE, sc.
WASHINGTON. June II.

W ANt4iAdIUN, June 4.
bad a pleasure Of meeting John Mi
nor Bolts p-day He has CHANGED but lit
tle duringhe past four years, though he
shows maks of increased age But his
manner Is 5 prompt and peremtory as ever.
and his Wigs OF public affairs are marked
by the sani clearness and boldness which
always chaacterized his political opinions.
He is nosatis6ed with the policy adopted
by the GolSnment in regard TO s,syfraoe
He thinkslsunwise to restrict the right of
voting byf9tuiring toe etrinesAr1t aa sIs.
He would hive the right Of holding office
restricted a neat deal more than it is, SO
that ntmanshould ever hold Office, South
or Noih wio has not always been a thor
ough tnconpromising Union man. He
thinkslhat congress should make law by
which very nan should be required, as a
eonditbn Of holding any Office in the Uni
ted Sites, gorth or South, to swear that
he ha{ neve.el done. ufitte1l, or sad anything
to presIdice or iniure the authority Of the
Governmental the United States, nor in
any WY, by act or word, given aid, comfort
or ertouragemeHt to its enemies. This
Wouldkeep al the powers OF the Govern
ment b the hands OF loyal men, and Mr..
Bolts links it quite as much needed IN the
Northhs in the South, for he says that the
Coppeheads in the North have given more
aid to he rebellion than thousands in the
Rebel states, and are far more dangerous
to the hture peace and welfare OF the coun-
try Ie would have every Copperhead,
who cold not take the oath above recIted,
excluld from Office and the same oath,
coverm the same ground and couched in
the sane terms, should be required of every
man every section of the country, as a
eondion of holding office.
In his way no man could vote for dis
loval andidate anywhere. But Mr. Bolts
think that the effect Of requiring so strin-
gent a oath as a condition Of cotatg, will
havel tendency to perpetuate the influence
of Rbel leaders over the masses OF the peo-
pie ifSouthern neighborhoods. They find
thenelves In the same boat-excluded alike
fromlil participation in public affairs be-
causeOf their past relations to each other
and ttey win naturally, he thinks, under
theseeircumstances, still cling together, and
the Idders will thus perpetuate their inhu-
ence nd control But If the masses OF the
peopk are allowed to vote, while their lea
ders fe prevented, by the stringency OF the
oath hauired, from being candidates for OF
fice. tie voters will have to look elsewhere
for thiir leaders, and thus the connection
between them viii be broken up.
Mr.Botts is very anxious that President
Johnsn should shape his policy so as TO de
prive hose who have hitherto controlled
the p5litical sentiment and action OF the
South Of all future influence and authority,
an he thinks it must be done by some such
course as he suggests in regard to suffrage.
In regard to negro suffrage, Mr.. Bolts
saws that. aside from all other reasons against
it, it would do more than all other measures
combined to perpetuate the authority OF the
old stakeholder. Whatever may be then
present temper, it is certain that sooner OF
later these men must employ their former
slaves as free laborers. he thinks they Wi
as a general thing, do so thsoughout the en-
tire South. 1t will be for their interes
land that must in the end control their ac
tionJ to make friends of the freed s. YES
and this they viii do As necessary con.
sequence, the negroes, dependent npoT
them for employment, wages and everything
they have viii be guided py their advice II
voting as, in everything else, and thus th'
effect of giving thenl the suffrage would /,
to multiply largely the political power o
their former masters. This, Mr.. Bott
thinks, would necessarily be the case 10
many years, until the negroes become sum
ciently educated and indep ldent to -ttliRl
they ought not TO have the suffrage unit
that time arrives.
Mr. Bolts has never voted or taken an,
political action whatever under the Confed
crate { Jveqament. When it was formed
he denounced it as a crime and predicted it
utter and iglominious failure, and he ther
retired to private life to await the fulfill
ment of his spredictions. He has been sub
iect to invasons and raids from both sides
but has invariably Jared the worst at tn,
hands of the Rebels. He will remain il
Washington few days, and visit New YorE
next monh. = Wastmgton Correspondent
N. I. Tines