The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1866-07-13
The Speech OF John Minor Bolts

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The vipdictve, prosecuting, revolution
airy and jacobin address delivered by that
Virginia renegade aud apostle of Radical
ism, John Minor Bolts, at Patterson S
Park, on the evening OF the Fourth, may
be accepted as a type of the sentiments Of
the whole tribe of the Southern place
hunters who arrogate to themselves all
the "loyalty' of their section and as
such it possesses an importance which
would not attach to the mere individual
utterances of the man. Throughout, it
was narrow, bigoted, blood,thirsty, and
illogical. Mr.. Bolts, in opening, claimed
the Fourth of July as belonging exclu-
sively to himself, and 'oyal'' men like
him, and libelled the South by asserting
that public sentiment there, was more
bitter against the Government now than
at any time during tue war-a statement
utterly at variance with every act of
Southern Legislative bodies, and the in
dividual expression OF the people and
only likel y to be realized should the
schemes of the fanatics who Bolts supports
prove successful.
After assailing the doctrine of State
Rights, Mr.. Bolts next proceeded to con-
slider what should be done with traitors,
and he mildly suggested hanging as the
only true remedy--all leading rebels
should have been arrested, tried by Court
Martial convicted of treason and con-
demned to death under the Constitution
and laws Of the country. Where under
the Constitution, the power to try cases
Of treason before Courts. Martial can be
found, MIR. b. will probably inform US in
his next effort. This tender hearted pa
triot disclaimed all malevvlence, and was
prepared to shed tears over the fate of
such of lis personal friends, as might fall
heirs to the halter, but stern duty to his
country would on no account permit him
to decline the Office of Jack Ketch, should it
be rendered to him. The exercise of the
pardoniLg power by the President, was
vigorously rebuked, the pardons declared
worthless, and all rebels placed in the
category of aliens, who ought to be sub
jected 10 q naturalization process, more
stringent and exactlng than that applied
to foreigners,
He pronounced the pardous worthless,
because he said that it never was designed
by the trainers Of the Constitution that
cases of treason or any other crimes should
be pardoned before conviction, but sin.
gularly enough, as if to contradict his
own statement, he cites from the proceed
ings Of the Convention which framed the
Constitution, to show that amendments
prohibiting tie President from granting
pardons or reprieves before conviction, and
denying him the privilege at all, in cases
of treason, were both voted down. A
truly damaging citation for Mr.. Bolts ar
gument.
A lengthy dissertation upon the causes
of the war, State Rights, &c, followed,
when the speaker reached the negro stuff
rage question This he opposed, not be,
cause Of any objection to the merits of the
proposition, bnt forsooth, for fear the
darkies South would vote the Democratic
ticket and thus add Immensely to the
disloyal strength"
He had the unblushing effrontery also
to say that he would give the negro the
right to vote, so long as he voted the
''loyal ticket; when he voted otherwise
he would strike it out-a conception of
justice, liberty and freedom of the ballot
so emit. ely in consonance with the views
of some of his hearers as to the course OF
be pursued toward three foulths of the
white people Of this State, that we are not
surprised to learn from the american,
that the sentiment was greeted with shouts
of applause by the "Blood Tubs, ""Rack.
ers," &c who were on the ground. Mr..
Bolts, of course, denounced the proposed
National Convention at Philadelphia as a