The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1861-08-28
Important Letter from Attorney Gem
eral Bates--The Division of
Virginia.
AIRY Generals OFFICE,
Aug. IL, 1861.


SIR:-Your letter Of the 9th instant
was received within this hour, and as you
ask an immediate answer, you of course,
will not expect mo TO go deliberately INTO
the subject.
/ have thought great deal upon the
question Of dividing the State of Virgin
ia into two States; and since ! came here,
as a member of the government, have
conyersed with good many and cores
ponded with some Of the good men OF
Western Virginiain regard to the matter.
In all this intercourse, my constant and
earnest effort has been to impress upon
the minds of those gentlemen the vast
importance-not TO say necessity-in this
terrible crisis Of our national affairs, TO
abstain from the introduction of any new
cIoments of revolution, TO avoid, rs TAR as
nossible. all new and original theories Of
government: but on the contrary, IN all
The insurpent commonwealth TO adhere,
ms closely as circumstances Will allow, to
the old constitutional standard of princi-
Mo and TO the conditional habits and
thoughts of the people. And still l
think that course Is dictated by the teach
ings Of prudence.
The formation of new State out of
Western Virginia is an original, independ-
emf act of revolution. | do not deny the
power of revolution { do not call it right
for it is never prescribed, its existence
is in force only, and has and can have no
law but the will of the revoutionists) -
Any attempt to carry it out involves
plain breach of both the constitutions OF the
nation and Virginia. And hence it is
plain YOU cannot take such course with
out weakening, if not Destroying your
claims upon the sympathy and support OF
the General Government, and without
disconcerting the plan already adopted
both by Virginasnd the General Gov
ernment, for the reorganization o. the re-
voltcd States and the restoration Of the
integrity of the Union. That plan | un-
derstand to be this: When State, by
its perverted fnnctionaries has declared
itself out of the Union, We avail ourselves
Of all tho sound and loyal elements OF
the State-all who owe allegiance to and
claim protection of the constitution, to
form State Government as nearly ms
may be upon the former model, and claim
ing to be tho very State which has been,
in part, overthrown by the successful re-
bellion. In this wav We establish con-
stitutional nucleus around which all the
shattered elements of the commonwealth
may meet and combine, and thus restore
the old State in its original integrity.
This, verify thought, was the plan
adopted at Wheeling, and recognized and
acted upon by the General Government
here. Your convention annulled the rev.
dictionary proceedings at Richmond, both
in the convention and general assembly,
and your new Governor formally demand,
ed of the President the fulfillment of the
constitutional guaranty in favor of Vir-
ginia-Virgnia as known TO our fathers
and TO us. The President admitted the
obligation, and promised his best efforts
TO fulfill it. And the Senate admitted
your Senators, not as representing new
and nameless State, now for the first time
heard Of in our history, but as represent
ing the "sood old commonwealth
Must all this be undonc, and new and
hazardous experiment be ventured upon
ut the moment when dangers and Difficult.
ties are thckening around us9 | hope
not-for the sake of the nation and State
| hope not | had rejoiced in the move
mont in Western Virginia, as legal, con
stilutional and safe refuge from revolution
and anarchy--as at once an example and
lit instrument for the restoration of al
the revolted States.
| have not time now TO discuss The
subject in its various bearings. What
have written is written with running
pen, and will need your charitable crit
csm
II | had time 10 think, l could give
persuasive reasons for declining the attemp
to create q new State at this perilou,
tlmc. AT another time, | might be will
ing to go fully into the question, but nov
l can say no more.
Most respectfully your obedient ser
yant, EpwApn R,rpe
COMPROMISES The argus is entire
" mistaken i'm snvino fboI v,o 80, -. = !