The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-07-26
Hon. Mr.. Van Trump Finds n Masked
Battery i'm the woods OF the DIS
patch Office.

Battery i'm the 6 Woods Of the Dis.
patch Office.
NEW YORK, July 20, 1867.
Editors of Richmond Dispatch
Sir.-Just as was leaving Washington
city on the adjournment Of Congress a
friend handed me copy of the Dispatch,
under date of goth instant, in which find
the following paragraph:
"RAYTHER STRoNG.-In speech pub
lished in the Congressional Globe, Mr.. Van
Trump speaks Of West Virginia as q mean
political founding, without drop of con-
stitutional blood in her veins; an illegiti-
mate star in our political constitution /;
conceived in the sin and born in the in
iquity of modern (RadicaD republican
ISM etc. Language which even Thad.
Stevens could not improve upon, and
which contains much more truth than ele-
gance."
This allusion to West Virginia was con-
tanned in what said upon the motion Of
Mr.. Ingersoll Republican member from
lllinois) to reject the petition of the Legis-
lature of the State Of Arkansas upon the
ground that she was not State within
the Union. Among other instances Of
solemn recognition Of the southern States
as States in the Union by the Republican
party during the war spoke of West Ylr-
ginia as follows:
"Sir, will notice one other significant
but false recognition by the Republican
marty of the fact that the southern States
are still legitimate sovereignties within the
Union. In looking over the certificate Of
States ratifying the late amendments to
the Constitution of the United States by
the Secretary of State, with the broad
seaI of the Union attached, and to which
the honorable gentleman from Pennsylva-
mia IMr. Kelley so much objects, l find
the name of o so-called State Of the Union
voting upon said amendment, to which,
suppose, the honorable gentleman will not
object. l mean, sir, the so-called State
of West Virginia. West Virginia, by act
of Congress, was attempted to be erected
into State in July, lS62-one of the most
doubtful and Responding periods OF the
war. In order to impart to it the sem
hlance of constitutional existence the
hinge legislative mcndacity was reSorted
to of recitDg that it was done with
the consent of the sovereign leglsla-
Tive authority of the State Of Virginia.
West Virginia, indeed What wither-
ing, jrrepressible scorn must any honest
mind feel for the miserable, inconslst-
ent, and ridiculous assumption which
claims West Virginia to be State
constitutionally within the Union, and that
Arkansas is q mere waif upon the sea OF
national life, an unorganized colonial de-
nendency outside of the Union. West
Virginia. sir she has no constitutional
home, no rightful, legal abiding place IN
the great family of States; she IS bas,
tard commonwealth, mere politlcai
founding, without drop Of constitutional
blood in her veins; she is an lllegitimate
altar in our political constellation she was
conceived in the sin and born in the
iniouity of modern radical republicanism
and the whole rightful constitutional
theory of our confederate system, the
whole original framework of our Govern
mont as designed by our fathers, is dis
tnrbed and dislocated by this horrid bur-
lesoue Of State. And yet, sir, its erec-
tion. however revolutionary and unconsti-
tutional, when you look to the anin,S and
mode Of its accomplishment, as against
those who perpetrated the outrage, is
clear and unequivocal recognition of the
fact that Old Virginia was and is State
within the Union, unshorn of any Of its
original sovereignty"
Now, had you quoted my language cor
rectly, it would have been quite indifferent
to me what your opinion Of its style might
be, whether "elegant" or inelegant.
Your own style may be the superlatiye of
all literary elegance, and you may there
fore be entitled to sit in Judgment upon
the style of others; bnt I must be allowed
to protest against the accuracy of your
quotation. You only make three mistakes
in quoting five lines. As, for instance,
did not say ga mean political founding"
That word, as applied to State, or an or
gsnization claiming to be State, would
not only BIO altogether without "ele-
gance,'' but it would be absolutely puerile
and meaningless. / said ga mere political
foundling," etc. Then you are quite as
unfortunate in another quotation. You
make me say Gan illegitimate star in our
political constitution" If you will turn to
your copy you will find the word to be
constellation" more apprcp pirate, if not
more elegant" form Of expression, for
stars have more affinity with q con-
stellation than with constitution, even if
such constitution has a starry banner for its
emblem. In another line you leave out the
word "radical -; but if its omission is at.
tributable to your honest repugnance to the
principles of those who wear it as a party
designation, certainly make no objection
to the emasculation. Whether, with your
quotation thus corrected, you shall still
feel shocked at it's want of elegance, L
again repeat, without intending the slight
est disrespect, is wholly Indifferent to me.
Ny only desire is that your readers, since
they have been troubled with it at all,
seonld have the language just as used it.
a your objection Is to the parturitiopal
stss 1880 USED, have only to say that your
snnsi sos,s wan apply to the pulpit with
not, pssa.Ps, single Sabbath passes over r
#E s. VI ~ !