The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1866-07-09
Speech of John Minor Bolts at
Baltimore on the Fourth
of July.
His Views of the Southern situa-
tion.
The Ehird Parity Movement.

The Fourth of July was celebrated in
Baltimore with great deal of spirit
and patriotism. The Demonstration in
honor of the daylwRs made a municipal
affair, the city authorities taking the
leading part. Hon John Minor Bolts
and Senator Nye, in pursuance of in
VltatiOns extended to them some weeks
ago, delivered addresses on the occa-
sion. Mr.. Bolts made not only an i'm
preSSlVe but very instructive Union
speech. He took the highest, truest
and most devoted grounds in favor of
unconditional Unionism. His argu-
mentS are too long for our columns.
but the gist of his speech can be seen
from few extracts. In commencing
his speech he said that he doubted If
the American flag could be found float
ing anywhere south of the Potomac
thnt day except among those portions
of the armies left in the South for the
protection of Union men. One of the
leading Richmond papers had recon-
mended that the day be devoted to
mourning for the Confederate dead.
MIR. Bolts had made up his mind dur
ing the rebellion that he would not
take part in public afftirs any more
during his life. But such was the con-
dition of the country, especially
his own State at this time, that
he did not feel at liberty to
withhold his influence. He said
that so far as physical force was con-
cerned, the rebellion had been crushed
but not otherwise. As a moral rebel
lion it lived on us malignant as ever. 81
am" said he, Satisfied that say no
more than the facts of history will JUS
tify when L say that the feeling in the
southern country, among the leaders,
among the politicians, among the con-
trolling classes of the South, that their
feeling is more Intensely bitter against
the Government of the United States
THIS day than 1t was at any period
during the war, Not that they contem-
plate resistance, not that they contem-
plate 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 llaughterl; it would
be very difficult for men to resist who
have no power of resistance. Butt say
they have the will to resist, and that 1
believe in my conscience that if these
men had the controlling power of the
Government in their own hands, that
they would not permit Union man to
reside in the State. IspeRk particularly
of my own State. This is not the case
with all. There ore great mnny good,
quiet, peaCeable citizens who accept
their condition and its consequences in
good faith. But 1 speak of the leaders,
the politicians, the editors, who control
public opinion. For if ever there was
II newspaper.riddenc country on the face
of the earth, it is ours.
SENTIMENT OF THE SOUTH.
Why, it was but the other day that 1
met in the city of Washington an old
friend who had been up to the time of
the rebellion Iife-long Whig and I'm
ion man, but who took part in the war.
After the usual salutations among
friends said to him: ''WelI, how is
everything going on in. Richmond ?"
"Well " he said, every flat and very
dull." Now, this gentleman was a
lawyer. He was member of the Leg
islature, and a pious man who took the
amnesty oath, and as 1 tell you, an
original Union man. l would not
mention the circumstances, because it
is nothing of itself, except tina: it serves
to show the GIlimus of the people there.
regard him as fair type of the peo-
pie by whom he is surrounded.
"Well," say. 81 suppose you have
plenty of loyalty there too" "Well,
yes, we are all loyal" Laughter.
WELL" said ], 81 am very glad to
hear it. l should not have inferred it
from everything 1 have seen in your
newspapers or from what have heard
from persons in that vicinity" "Well,"
said he, 81 don't know what you call
loyalty. II you expect us to love the
Yankees, as constituting loyalty, why,
then, we are not loyal" "Why, no,1
said I, "I don't consider that ns at all
necessary to establish a mans low
atty; for do not care whom you like
or dislike. What 1 want you to do is
to love your country and its Sinstitutions
and be prepared at all times to defend
it," "What country do you mean?"
says he. Laughter. 81 have but one
country and it is Virginia, If you
mean this Government of the United
States, do not hesitate to tell you that
I have ten times more respect for the
Government of Russia than have for
the United States." "And that YOU
call loyalty, isit?" eyes! That is what
/ call loyalty; I love my country"
against your country" mo" says he,
~ took up arms TO defend my country.
recognize no other country than the
State of Virginia. took up arms for
my country" And said 1, "Sir, do YOU
consider yourself as under any obliga-
tions to follow your State in doing
what your own judgment and your
own conscience convince you is wrongP
You were an original Union man."
Yes" says he, 'I consider that to be
my duty" "If it was your duty, it is
my duty" said 1. "Do you think,''
said 1, THAT am under any obIiga-
ton to protect and defend ii horse-thief.
or pirate because he comes from my
State, any sooner than would protect
and defend a horse-thief coming from
South Carolina or Massach1setlsP''
NO" says he, II don't think
/ bound to protect the traitor?" EGreat
applause. "How," said he, "do YOU
expect me TO respect a Governmentthat
tramples upon my rights and oppres-
Ses me2" I'm what respect,n sHid L
''have your rights been trampIed upon?
Who has assaulted your rights?" 't,rhis
Government" said he. "In what?"
Because they tax me without repre-
sentation." 1''Why," said 1, you were
represented. How comes it that you
are not represented now2 Is it not YOUR
own faultf Did not your representa-
tives abandon, voluntarily and treach-
erously abandon, their positions In the
public councils as your representa-
tives3" "Well," said he, "that's got
nothing to do with it now.r "Weil,"
said "you are opposed to taxation
without representatiOn?" Yes" he
said he was. "WeIl," said /, "you are
in favor of negro suffrage, then2n "Oh,
mol" says he, mot 1, not l." CGreat
laughter.l "Why," said L, ''donft YOU
mean to tax the property OF the me-
groes?" Why, of course" said he.
Then, don't you mean to allow them
to be represented?" "Oh, that's n dir
fersnt affair ultogetherI" LLaughter.l I
1 would mol alIude TO the subjecL OF this
conversation, except that i heard an
original Union man, and a gentleman,
occupying his position-an Intelligent
gentleman, a lawyer and legislator
express such opinions as these.
Mr.. Bolts said that he had been fight
ing the rebellion for thirty years before
1t broke out, in the shape of the Demo-
cratic party. He had been all that
while endeavoring to stave offthe great
act of secession and war, IUr which they
were preparing the public mind in the
South. He appealed to history TO bear
him out that during all that time the
Democratic party was moving on, step