The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1866-05-26
Remarks Of Messrs. Maynard and Bolts in the
Virginia Union Convention.

Hon. Horace Maynard, of Tennessee, was
here called upon for a speech. Mr. Maynard
complied, md in the course of his remarks
said he was anxious to know what this gath
ering would do, what it would portend, and
he made up his mind to be present. The
Union 1nen of the Southern States, he always
believed, were far more numerous than is
generally known. or than was generally sup
posed by themselves. He believed the Union
element was strong as ever In the South,
when it referred to the masses of the people.
He was exceedingly anxious to see an at
tempt to reorganlze and gather together the
scattered Union men, and thus once more
strengthen the Union cause 1t was a very
great mistake to think that treason and re-
bellion had triumphed would hereafter
succeed The leaders Of those who had such
views wouII go down to their graves union
ored and forgotten. Treason would be made
o6lious. and crime would surely he punished,
and the Government would be sustained
Men who had stood faithfully by the Union,
and were staunch friends of the federal gov
ernment, would be respected and honorcd--
They could not tell him that treason would
ever be made respectable; it never could be
made respectable. He did not propose to
suggest any line of action for the convention
to pursue The members had wise heads,
and would attend properly, lac felt, to the
matters which would be brought before the
convention.
Hon John Minor Bolts, of Virginia, here
arose and announced that he did not know
whether he was a delegate not ; if he was,
he was self-constituted one There had
been effort to select delegates made IN
Culpeper County, and he did not believe any
man in the County but himself would be
seen in Union meeting. He determined TO
come to the convention if only to add one
to the number of persons present.
A number of persons here said they cheer
fully welcomed Mr.. Bolts as delegate, and
could vouch for his loyalty
One of them said that the fact that Mr..
Bolts was confined for some time by the
rebel government in McDaniels Jail i'll Rich
mond, was the best evidence of his loyalty.
Mr. Bolts, having been chosen President Of
the Convention, was conducted to the chair,
when he said he had made a strenuous effort
to reach Alexandria, from New York, in time
to be with the convention. But, at the same
time, the honor conferred on him he fully APP
preciated, not because OF the number pres
ent, but on account of the attempt of the
Union men to assert their rights He be-
lieved it was through him that the conven-
ton was called. Immediately after the ter
mutation of the rebellion, having a desire to
see harmony restored in the country, he lent
his feeble aid to President johnson in restor-
ing the government. He believed he had
used his influence i'll procuring more par
dons than any other man In the United
States and at his own expense He was
willing to forgive the rebels for what they
had done; but finding that Ibis step did not
tend toward reconstruction, and finding that
Mr. johnson had granted pardons indiscrlm-
inately to his old political associates, he
abandoned that as mode of reconstruction.
Those very men who received partlons i'm
mediately afterward used every effort to
override their benefactors, and endcavored to
make loyalty crime in Richmond. COnse-
quently, the speaker said, he would not
shrink from any duty the Union men of Vir-
ginia might impose ON him. He thought
that if only twenty-five men could be brought
together, they could form a nucleus on which
to form party, and 1T would be well to seek
the aid of the authorities at Washington to
that end. They were few in numbers, but he
trusted in God they were all stout in heart.
and would not rest until they had regained
their proper place in the Union Of States
There were certain great truths and prinei-
pies upon which they could all agree, and
there were other topics upon which many of
them differed. He would counsel unity of
action, that they might not lose strength
which would naturally benefit the enemy
He had not come to the convention to make
war upon Mr.. johnson, upon Congress
He only made war upon rebels. Ii MIR.
johnson performed his duty faithfully to
the Union, he would support him: and IT
Congress did likewise, he would support
Congress. If not he would have to go
against them. He was in favor of Union
men asserting their rights. [Applause.l