The Portland daily press., 1866-01-23
An Interesting Document.
JOHN M. BorT's "REAsoNs."5

The Richmond Republic says: "The docu-
ment below in the hand writing Of John N.
Bolts, was sent to US sometime since by a
gentleman in the country, to whom Mr. Bolts
had given it: .4s. .es. ..fcaa. ..,,.
"Reaeo,as, as they passed throughDay mind on
ths rs5hs of tke27th april, 1852, as I layaf
ter igeecs solitary cJfyinenaeat S'a The ne
grojdiL, as the causes of nay conJfnement:Wi
a1st, Because would not aid in breaking
uotae Union formed by Washington and his
compeers, which, from infancy, had been
TAUGHT to yeneIate and adore as the only
snee5 anchor OF national greatness, prosperity
and freedom. sl elW 5La1sf lial1l-al 7
SO. Because would not aid in the destruc-
tion OF the best government The world has
ever looked upon.
3Sl. Because would not aid in bringing
civil war; aesolation and famine upon my own
sectionof the country. sige III !.ss. lt sg,-
"4tn. Because would not aid in the dis
me,nSerment, impoverishment and ruin of
Z nv native State, and desolation Of the whole
South. , OH ..d1lB s.lI 3fgn8dt 5W DE
sl5th. Because would not aid in the slaugh-
ter. OF the hundreds OF thousands that have
been and will be sacrificed. =. r--i'l'
f"6th, Because Iwould not aid in breaking
no the social ties, and lifelong personal and
family intimacies that Tor generations have
existed. s.f,-,-, te,l, ;t..e..-c.,-,.. So.
a7tlI, Because would not aid IN making
widows and orphans unnumbered and un-
18th. Because would not aid in turning
the instincts Of humanity into that OF wolves
and other brutes ---------
"9th. Because would not practice a low de-
cepSion and an unworthy trick, as thousands
have done, from motives of seifishness, ambi-
ton oriear. ,sss.k tf-la .lfe.f. 8,
@1Oth. Because would not adopt for my
self, or recommend for others, policy by
which the fruits OF a country's labor must be
thrown away. 9.iisi1 3n8nfnasS q ya sirjs
.s@1Ith. because l had the firmness to adhere
with fidelity to the principles had cherished
and labored for thirty years to establish, and
which my State had just adopted at the polls,
but which she renowned and repudiated
at the dictation Of q daring and corrupt de-
lSiath. Because I preferred living under a
ney1nanent and enduring government, to one
that was constructed on the principles OF a
bomb-shell, containing the elements of de-
struca Ion within Itself, that sooner or later
must explode and leave wreck behind.
6l3th.' Because preferred government
that would protect its citizens, and their
property, to one that would Cypress and rob
them. II -..-.-- s.a.--.o..54.. s,vss..gL :,
'.24th. Because preferred raCional CIVIL
liberty, under constitutional form Of govern
ment, to o hateful military despotis1n.
s'12th. Because 1 would not sacrifice the
best interests of the people to perpetuate the
power Of democracy under Southern Conted,
eracy, when they had lost it under the nationl
government. -... -.,i. ~.
"16th. Because cared more for the inter-
ests and freedom of the people than did for
their earesses, and tried to take better care OF
them than they did themselves.
y "17th. Because would not become a rebel
and a 1ator to my country, when it had done
no harm to me or my STATE.
"1Sth. Because l was honest, in earnest, and
patriotic when I voted for the Union, the
Constitution, and the enforcement of the laws
and will not now stultify myself by repudiat-
ing all. .Y0 .0t :, No.
"19th, and lastly. Because / was not born
either fool or a knave." euf,