Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1866-02-24
Hon. John Minor Bolts on Reconstruction

AAohs SVnh DottS Ou Accommodation
Hon. John Minor Bolts is out in letter de-.
filming at some length his views on reconstruc.
ton. The opinions advanced in his aPolitical
AIioms," published by US a short time since,
are enlarged upon, and new arguments ad-
yanced TO prove the illegally of President
Johnson's rebel pardons, the unconstitution.
ality Of the Virginia Legislature, &c Speak.
ing Of loyalty in his State, he says :-ssIf there
has been the first indication Of loyalty for.
bearance, or generosity manifested either by
the press or by those who have thrust them
selves into high places forbidden by the Con-
stitution. beyond what might we'll be called
Slip SERVICE I have failed to perceive it, On
the contrary, have seen Union men who had
been appointed to offices by Governor Pier.
point, whose power has been reduced as our
friends the Yankees would say, .to the leeAe
end Of nothing, whitfield down TO a point to
serve them-and who Is now treated with
scorn and contempt, not TO use harsher terms,
by those for whom he has made this sacrifice
1 say have seen the men who filled their of.
hces respectfully and responsibility, brought out
one BY one, day after day, for the keen whetted
knife Of the secession gullotine, to be decapita-
ted as fsst as they could be brought to the block
and their places supplied from the secession
ranks In every instance, and generally by men
less quallhed Than those removed, whilst Mr.
Taylor, the Auditor, secessionist and one of
Governor Pierpoint's appointments, was unan.
imously confirmed in place"
OF the Legislature he says:-I have seen that
so-called legislative body, as If in derision and
contempt of the Constitution, and in the alb.
s ssnee OF an proper respect for public opinion
State rs still held, and II to provoke the
resentment Of that power, and to drive ali con.
sentative men in Congress into the ranks of
what is called the radical party, and thus to
retard restorationl and reconstruction, to the
great injury Of the whole State and of the
south, and, as If in derision, contempt, and de.
fance OF the civil and military authorities that
the best interests Of all required should be con.
ciliated and harmonized-l have seen that
body. in the first stage Of their organization,
select gentleman (well qualified in all other
respects, no doubt) their presiding officer
who was, perhaps, more obnoxious to the re.
quirements Of the Constitution than any other
member Of the body, as he held both a military
commission and the ONCE Of member of Con.
gress under the Confederate government
throughout the war, when it was expressly de-
clared by the Constitution, that ssNo person
shall hold any office under this Constitution
who shall not have taken and subscribed to the
oath therein prescribed" have seen a nomi-
efnor Of virginia, which met with the applause
OF the House, as well as the gallery-wheu the
only claim Of General Lee upon the State was
tnat ne fought Tor four years for the overthrow
Here are two points upon which Mr.. John.
son has expressed himself very pointsdly and
emphatically. The first point was, that s.trea-
SON was a crime to be punished, and that trai.
tors must be hung Do gentlemen conceive
this to be part Of his policyi If so, think
last was that ''if there were 5000, or a smaller
number Of loyal men in a State, that they were
Snttied TO govern 1t and fill all the ofHces"
tahc IL, Is u part OF the policy that ne
scsa INSIST upon, and the sooner those who ha We
usurped the powers prohibited by the Com
sututon prepare for 1t, the sooner will the
balance OF Mr.. Johnson's policy be carried
out. i nave seen application after application.
and memorial after memorial coming mn to
Congress from Union men in nearly ali the so.
called reconstructed States, Complaining of the
bad treatment and violence done to them nv
the secession element of their several localities
! myself have been almost daily in receipt OF
letters for the last two months, saying that
they are looking TO me 70 do something to STAY
the hand Of this proscriptive and intolerant
party in this State, and praying that will
come to their relief
i have patiently submitted to the control Of
that democracy for IS years, that at last brought
ruin and desoiation upon the country. and for
the last four years whose civil and military
power has uampled with an iron heel upon
every class OF its citizens, until IL has turned
s'the fair and sunny fields Of the South" into a
general grave yard, or a desolate waste To all
this have submitted because had no RENE.
dy, and could not help myself or others But
Row can-l have remedy-I can help nv.
self and all other good men at the same time
and Ill do it's there Is q God in heaven I'll
do tiff the devotion of all my energies, and
half that am worth, will effect it, and as for q
seat in the Senate of the United States, have
not cared a pin for one. except that thought
as others seemed to think, could serve the best
interests Of the State by being there. But