Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-08-02

sious as long as the rules of the COMMITTEES
would allow it-until they had determined
to deliberate on the arguments we had
henrd-aud then, of course, would retire
Butt supposed there would be no difficulty
in regard to territory or boundary in the
Committee of the Senate did not dream
of any portion of the Valley being includ-
ed; and when it was reported, went to
the Cbairman Mr.. Wade1 and with some
feeling asked him, sin the name of God, y
why be ever reported such bill?
"Well," said he, 81 don't care what kind
of a bill you have got, we have concluded
that we will give you new State. The
member from your own Stite fixed the bill
up, said the people wanted it that way, and
we didn't care how much you took"
Well, 1 began TO "smell micen imme-
diately. [Laughter.1 The fact is smelt
it before. [Laughter.l Delay was dam
gerOus to us. l called meeting of my
colleagues in both Houses at my room, aud
in connection with Governor Peirpoint,
Mr.. Porter, of Hancock, and perhaps some
Others who happened to be in the city at
that time, we agreed upon in substance
the bill to which my friend Mr.. Crane I
has alluded, striking out the Valley coun-
ties and having ascertained beyond all
doubt that it would be impossible to put
through the Senate and the House the Con.
stitution without some conditions affixed,
presented to that meeting of my col
leagues and friends, the proposition, in
substance, which / wrote out and expand
ed afterwards, embracing in point of fact
the principle of the celebrated Missouri
resolution, adopted on tue admission OF
Missouri intothe Union, and applying it to
the State of West Virginia. II was agreed
upon, no Uoice dissenting. Not one! M
colleague Mr.. Garlilel tCaS present. He
suggested the JiisSouri resolution IN tie first
place, and Theard no objection until [ heard
IL announced In argument on The floor of the
Senate. H
The ground taken in the argument there
was aplausible ground, a ground that struck
me with force, and that was this: that au
alteration of the constitution in funda.
mental principle of such Importance as that
contemplated in the amendment had Of
fered, ought in point of fact to be referred
back to the people. Now had acted, in
drafting the original substitute, upon the
presumption that there was no difference
of opinion, in point of fact, amongst the
loyal people of West Virginia in regard to
desire for the admission of the State, and
that they had been harrassel beyond meas-
ure by an unnecessary multiplication of
elections and that the Convention, the mem
bers of the Convention, still IN eSSe and liza .
BILE to be reconvened, would as convenient
ly and satisfactorily reflect the will of the
people as if the question were submitted to
the people themselves and that it would
have this advantage, that we could have
greater dispatchin getting the thing through
and the eadmission of the State finally con-
summated. But my colleague Mr.. CarliIe)
made very able, ingenious, labored, long,
prepared argument, from his notes, against
nv proposition; and one of his strong OBJ
jections was that here in a matter of fun
damental principle the people were to have
no voice. had anticipated, knowing that
this would come up at the heels of the ses-
sion when there would be no time for de-
lay, every possible objection | could con-
ceive of, and had no less than six bills pre-
pared TO meet every contingency, and one
prepared to meet this among others; and
when my colleague had taken his seat 1
asked him if it would be acceptable 10 him
that should offer an amendment. he as
seuted and did so. then said at is
with inexpressible pain that have taken
the position 10 regard to my colleague that
l have. / have determined, however, not
to discuss the ematter"-because, my friends,
it was dangerous to discuss it there and
then. We had hut few moments to dis
cuss it in. forbore and said '.But have
the bill here offered by my colleague IN the
other HoHse (Mr. Brown), modified SO as
to cover this state of things here, which,
If It will suit the chairman of the Com
rnittee, and the members of the Committee
and my colleague here, will be acceptable
to me as another compromise under the
circumstances, and without augmentation
l. mi II oil
Guiding simply the original counties as
named in the Constitution which you voted
upon, with preamble preixed:
BeIt enacted by the Senate and House of Represen.
atives Of the United States of America in Congress-
assembled, That the State OF West Virginia be- and
Is hereby declared one OF the United States of Amer-
ca and admitted into the Union on equal footing
with the original States in all respects whatever and
until the next general census shall be entitled to
three members in the House OF Represe taIEes; Pro
vided always, That this act shall not take effect un
til after the prOclamat Of the President of the Uni
ted States hereinafter provided for.
With a view of meeting the objections of
my colleague, and in view of the fact that
the people had at the late election volunta-
rily signified their desire that there should
be incorporated some principle of gradual
emancipation, drew up the section in this
form:
Sec. 9. 1t being represented Congress that since
the convention OF the 26th Of November, 1851, THAT
framed and proposed the Constitution of the State Of
West Virginia, the people thereof have expressed
wish to change the seventh section OF the eeventhar
tele OF said Constitution, by striking out the same
and inserting the following in its pase, namely sThe
children Of slaves born within the limits of this State
after the 4th of July, 1865 shall be free and no slave
shall be permitted to come into the State for permA
uept residence theren" Therefore, be It further
acted, That whenever the people Of West Virginia
shall, through their said convention and by to
be taken at election to be held within the limits
OF said State at such time as the convention may pro-
vide, make and raty the change Aforesaid and prop
erly certify the same under the hand Of the President
of it shall be lawful for the President
Of the United States Issue his pl defamation stating
the fact and thereup0n this act shall take effect aud
be in force from and after sixty days from the date
Of said proclamation
Upon that amendment Mr.. Lane, of Kan
sas, Incorporated by q vote of the Senate
an amendment as follows: i a
And that all slaves within the said State who shall
at the time Aforesaid be under the age OF ten years.
shall be freed when they arrive At this age Of twenty
all laIa rfan anil