The West Virginia journal. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1864-1877, 1866-07-18
Speech of John Minor Bolts, on
the State Of the Country.

Of July oration delivered by this able
statesman, in the city Of Baltimore, o.
the request Of the citizens Of that place
After somc Introductory remarks, ht
says:
Six years ugo, and the Fourth Of July
the birthday Of q nations freedom, wa.
regarded as day on which all politics
were to be cschcwcd, because wc all in
common vcncrated and worshiped no,
only tho day, but all the consequences
growing out Of it. Since that timc O
large portion Of our fellow. .countrymcn
have seen fit, in their folly, to ignore the
dny-to ignore its great results, and to
tramplc upon or attempt to destroy the
Union to which it gave birth. And now
| claim it is our sole property. It is the
property Of loyal men, and none others
have the right or disposition to join us
in the celebration. doubt very much
if the flag Of the United States is to be
seen this day floating south Of the po.
tomac. except by the armies or those
portions Of the armies left in the South.
ern country for our protection. And it
has even been recommended, as | under.
stand, by one Of the principal and lead,
ing papers Of the city Of Richmond, the
cnpi,al Of Virginiu, that this day should
bc consccratcd to mourning.
1t is n little strange, gentlemen, per.
hap< you may think, at this late day,
after the rebellion has been crushed
IN nrma, Int MT IN spirif-thnt it would
be necessary to talk about the right Of
secession. Thni II mnS "r~sh"d m tr as
mcrr phyirnt torrc is ro~crr"nI is m.
do~Lirdiy r~c, but 50 far as hhe spirit *
concerned, It is far .jr"m b"iMy at an end.
IF any one supposes that take pleas.
urc in making this communication to the
people Of Maryland, and through them
to the country, they arc not only greatly
mistaken, but they do me great injustice.
1t gives ME far more pain than pleasure
to offer my testimony on this question
wish | could announce to you that
there was n disposition on the part Of the
South for the restoration Of peace, Of
unity, Of brotherhood, and Of good
feeling; and that we had no longer
these old distinctions Of North and
South. But if | were to offer any
such testimony, | should tell you
what wns not the truth. | am satisfied
that | say no more than the facts Of
history will Justify, when | say that the
feeling in the Southern country. among
the leaders, among the politicians, among
tic controlling classes Of the South, that
their feeling is more intensely bitter
againSt the government Of tho United
States this day than it was at any period
during the war. Not that they contcm-
plate resistance, not that they contem.
plute taking up arms against the United
States for it would be very difficult for
men to take up arms who have no arms
to take up; it would be very difficult
for men TO resist who have no power Of
resistance. Bm Imy M'y hnrr III" mh
To resist, nnd Mm / h"Irrr IN my r"n.
Sriirnrr Mm II these mr." h'm hc r""iTOH.
ing p"msr of N" Gor"rmm"m IN their ""''
hm'h, M'y ~""!d m' permit " Imam
man 10 r'Si'ic IN III" %tnh. / Pcah par
tirntnrH oi my o~n STATE. This is
not the case with hll. There arc n
great many good, quiet, pcaceablc citI'
zcns who accept their condition and its
consequences IN good faith. But speak
Of the leaders, the politicians, the cdi'
tors, who control public opinion. For
II rru there wnS " nc~papcr.rHhtrn
rountyy on hr face IF he earth, II is o"rs
Why, it was but the other day that [
met in the city Of Washington an old
friend who had been, up to the time oi
the rebellion, life long whig and Union
man. but who took part in the war
After the usual situations among
friends | said to him: We'll, how is
every thing going on in Richmond? :?
Well he said, very fat and very dull.
Now this gentleman was lawyer. lie
was member Of the Legislature. and a
pious man who took the amnesty oath
and as | tell you, nn original Union
man. | would not mention the circum
stance, because it is nothing OF itself,
except that it serves to show the nnim"'
Of the people there. | regard him as Il
fair type of the people by whom he is
surrounded. 'Well'. | say, 4 suppose
you have plenty Of loyalty there. too.
,'Well. yes, We are ali loyal well,
said |, i am very glad to hear it.
should not have inferred it from every
thing | have seen in your newspapers OF
from what have heard from persons in
that>viciuity.' We'll, s'id he, i don t
know wha, you call loyalty. lfyou ex'
pect US to love the Yankees, as const'tu
ting loyalty, why then, we are not loyal
I'Wby, no, said +, I don't consider iha
as at all necessary to establish a mans
Iloyalty; for do not care whom you
like or dislike. What want you to do
lis to love your country and its institu'
tons, and be prepared at oil tunes to
defend it. What country do you mean :?
SAYS he. i have but one country, and
! it is Virginia. Vy"" mean the Govern
mrat of the CnitI States, / Il" not hcsi'
tate to trN you that ! hare ten times more
rsprci for the Government Of R"ssia thaN
| ! hare for the United States. And thai
| !, ,i., :, ;,2' tYec That !.