The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-01-09
Death OF Two Distinguished nen.

Two MEN, both noted, but in different ways,
died yesterday-the Hon. John Minor Bolts and
Gen. Lowell H. Rousseau. Zach ended lives OF
great activity. AS on each page of Virginia his
tory, for the past thirty years, Mr. Bolts name
will be found, it is well to look at the pecu-
liarities of his character. Hewas asingular com
bination Of great decision and rapid alteration.
Throughout life we believe he was guided by
conscientious conviction Of what was his duty
and conscientious obedience to its demands.
He entered public life in 1888, and was never
out of it until 1866. During the continuance
OF his political career for q third of a CEN
tury, he exhibited astonishing powers of adhe-
sion to principles and rapid alteration OF
those principles to which he should adhere. la
1888 he was a Democrat, but at the formation
Of the Wing party in 1884 he became not
only one Of its members, but most earnest
and active leader of that organization. He
was Clay man in Congress, but supported
'Tippecanoe and Tyler too." When John Tyler
changed his political opinions and abandoned
his party, Bolts, with devotion to what he
believed right, attacked Tyler with singular
bitterness, and broke up the personal friend
them. During the whole of that mongrel ad-
ministration he was a very thorn in its side.
He opposed the repeal of the Missouri Com
promise and of the Lecompton Constitution,
and following the true bent Of his inclina-
tions, became an ardent Unionist. During the
war he declined to leave the South, and
suffered great prosecutions and losses.
His property, which was extensive, was con-
tinually ravaged by Federal and Rebel troops,
and we cannot possibly blame him for being
at times indignant at each. With close of
the war came restoration of his lands, and
we believe he died rich man. His last po-
litical act was to attend the loyal Southern
convention which met in Philadelphia in
September, 1866. In his death his native
State has lost a leader who, if not original or
brilliant, was certainly earnest and decisive.
In many respects he was representative man.
General Rousseau was a soldier of great
personal bravery and fair amount of mill
tary skill. During the war he was in COM
mand of numerous detached divisions, and
did good service, although he never had the
opportunity of winning any great victory.
He was at one time talked of for the highest
commands, but that was rather because
Of the dearth of any other general than any
merit of his own. His military career con-
tanned large proportion of romance, but not
an over supply of prudence. Like many brave
military men, he was not as ready with the
pen as with the sword, and in politics was not
as well tried as in war. He sided with John
son in 1865, and did so without a reservation.
His error, to use the mildest term, resulted
in his promotion to posts which he would
not otherwise have attained, although We do
not think there was any intentional connec-
ton on his part between his advancement and
his opinions. lie was a good soldier and a poor
politician, and his loss will be felt the more as
we recall his exploits in the war.