The daily Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1862-1863, 1862-12-29
THE ARGUMENT FOR WESTERN
VIRGINIA.
Speech of the Hon. Schuyler CoIfax,


new State of Western Virginia, has so
tersely summed up the case in favor of
that State, that we transfer and adopt
his argument, as more fully reported in
the Globe. He says:
Two things are required by the Con-
stitution of the United States for the adl-
mission of this new State: First, tbe as
sent of the Legislature of the State out
of which it is to be formed; and secondly
the assent of Congress. The decision,
then turns to great extent upon the
question whether the Governor, now act
ing as the Governor OF Virginia, and re-
siding at Wheeling, and the Legislature
to which he communicates his messages,
are reilly the Governor and Legislature
of the loyal people of Virginia. think
they are, and that the history Of events
in Virginia will prove the fact
When, in February, 1861, the traitor
Gus authorities of Virginia attempted to
take that State out of the Union, the peo-
pie of Western Virginia nobly resisted
that conspiracy; and instead of joining
with their fellow-citizens in other parts
of the State, they called together a con-
vention elected by the loyalists of that
region, and some other counties not in
cluded within the boundaries of the new
State, and determined to stand, at every
hazard and through every persecution,
by the Union as it was. The conven-
ton, speaking the voice of all loyal Vir-
ginians called all the members elect of the
egislature-chosen, as they were, on
the day prescribed by the State Consti-
tution-who would take the oath of feal.
ty to the Union, to meet at Wheeling
and thus loyal Legislature, chosen in
accordance with the Constitution and
law of Virginia, assembled and was or
ganized. This machinery of the State
Government had been abandoned by
Gov. Leteher and by the Legislature
which participated with him in his trea
son. 1t having thus lapsed, the loyal
people of Western Virginia took posses
sion of this machinery, in order that the
State might not be driven into this wick
ed rebellion.
The next question is, has this loya
legislature been recognized? There are
facts enough in the action of the various
branches of this government to prove tC
us that they have, one and all, fully, anC
in various ways, recognized this as the
only true and rightful government o
Virginia. Allow me to present few o
them:
|. The Senate of the United States
has recognized this legislature as thC
legislature of the State of Virginia, ant
admitted two Senators elected by tha
body to fill vacancies caused by treason
as the rightfully chosen Senators of Vir
ginia. That was done almost unani
mously by that body.
2. The Executive department of th,
government, and the highest portion o
the Executive department, the Presiden
himself, has repeatedly recognized tn
Governor and the Legislature of Viz
ginia as the rightful authorities of tha
State.
3. The Secretary of the Treasury ha
recognized that government as the right
full government of Virginia, for he ha
paid to them out of the Treasury of tn
Union, without complaint and withou
protest, from any one of all the twent
odd millions of loyal people of the Uni
ted States, the $4,000 remaining in tn
Treasury as the share of the State G
| Virginia of the proceeds of the sales c
public lands, and which the State of Vii
ginia had hitherto refused to take fror
the Treasury
A. The Secretary of War has recog
nized this government as the lawful gov
| ernment of Virginia, and Governor PleI
pont as the rightful Governor of Vii
ginia by accepting his commission to th
officers of the noble and loyal voluntee
regiments of Virginia, as commission
emanating from rightful and legal au
thority
s. The Secretary of tie Interior ais
has recognized the same thing in hi
communication to Governor Pierpont, a
the Governor of Virginia, the officia
notice of the Congressional apportior
ment under the census of 1860, as rC
quired by law.
6. This House of Representatives
and am glad to say that gentlemen o
the other side of the House largely pal
ticipated in that act at the last session
recognized Governor Pierpont as tn
rightful Governor of Virginia when the
admitted the gentleman who represent
the district around Fortress Monroe
(Mr Segar,) who came here and elaine
admission under an election ordered
Gov. Pierpont, although that is porto
of Virginia distant from that which
now proposed to be admitted as State
The loyal people there, however, recol
nize the Wheeling Government as th
only legal State Government in exis
ence in Virginia; and this House affirm
ed their conclusion as correct After
thorough argument, which of course il
volved the question as to whether tn
Governor had authority 10 order th
election, Mr. Segar was admitted to hi
seat and now holds it here; and man
gentlemen upon the other side of tn
House joined with the majority on tha
occasion in recognizing Gov. Pierpont a
the rightful Governor, as | hope the