This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1866 edition. Excerpt: ... man family. I think the Cotton States would have been dearly paid for at half the amount of money that has been expended, throwing every other consideration out of the question. Here, however, is my lctter to Mr. Bates: THE BATES LETTEES. Eichmond, April 19,1861. My Dear Sir, --Your lctter of yesterday has been received. Before this you will have learned through the press all that has occurred at Norfolk and at this place; but I can not begin to give you a just conception of the excitement created, not only here but throughout the whole Southern country, by the proelamation of the 15th, which in many respects may be regarded as the most unfortunate document that ever issued from tho government. In the absence of that paper, this state could not have been carried out of the Union; with it, the Union party and the Union feeling has been almost entirely swept out of existence. You can not mect with one man in a thousand who is not influenced with a passion for war; and every one seems to regard the proelamation as a deelaration of war for the subjugation of the entire South, and for tho extermination of slavery. Reason (with them on this point) would as soon arrest the motion of the Atlantic as it would check the current of their passions. When I saw you in Washington some ten days since, I had the honor to lay before you and other members of the Cabinct, as well as before Mr. Lincoln himself, a plan for the scttlement of our troubles through the medium of a national convention, to give to tho seceded states leave to withdraw. I thought then, as I do now, that the plan then suggested was the only solution to the dreadful crisis which was upon us. Since that time matters have assumed a far more frightful aspect, and I now venture to make one..