Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-01-07
proved, December %, 1862.
GPUBLIC-No. Al

GUBLIC-NO. 4.
AN ACT for the admission OF the state of
"West Virginia" into the Union and for
other purposes.
Whereas the people inhabiting that portion
of Virginia known as West Virginia did, by
convention assembled in the city of Wheel
ing on the twenty-sixth of November, eigh-
teen hundred and sixty-one, frame for them
selves constitution with view Of becoming
a separate and independent state; and where
as at a general election held in the counties
composing the territory aforesaid the third
day OF May last, the said constitution was ap
proved and adopted by the qualified voters OF
the proposed state; and whereas the legiSla
ture OF Virginia, by an act passed on the thir
teenth day OF May, 1862, did give its consent
to the formation of new state within the
jurisdiction of the said state of Vir-
ginia, to be known by the name of
West Virginia, and to embrace the follow
ing named counties, to wit: Hancock, Brook,
Ohio, Marshall, Wetzel, Marion, Monongalia,
Preston, Taylor, Tyler, Peasants, Richie,
Doddridge, Harrison, Wood, jackson, Writ,
Roane, Calhoun, Gilmer, Barbour, Tucker,
Lewis, Braxton, Upshur, Randolph, Mason,
Putnam, Kanawha, Clay, Nicholas, Cabell,
Wayne, Boone, Logan, Wyoming, Mercer,
Mcdowell, Webster, PocahontaS Fayette,
Raleigh Greenbrier, Monroe, Pendleton,
Hardy, Hampshire, and Morgan; and where
as both the convention and the legislature
aforesaid have requested that the new state
should be admitted into the Union, and the
constitution aforesaid being republican in
form, congress doth hereby consent that the
said forty-eight counties may be formed into
a separate and independent state. Therefore,
Be it enacted by the senate and house OF
representatives Of the United States of Amer
lea in congress assembled, that the state of
W est Virginia be and is hereby declared to
be one OF the United States of America, and
admitted into the Union on an equal footing
with the original states in all respects what
ever, and until the next general census shall
be entitled to three members in the house of
representatives of the United States; provid-
ed, always, that this act shall not take effect
until after the proclamation of the president
of the United States hereinafter provided for.
1t being represented to congress that since
the convention of the twenty of Novem-
Der, eighteen hundred and sixty-one, that
framed and proposed the constitution for the
said state of West Virginia, the people there
of have expressed wish to change the sew
enth section Of the eleventh article Of said
constitution, by striking out the same and in.
sorting the following in its place, viz 1.-The
this state after the fourth day Of July, eighteen
hundred and siXty-three, shall be free; and
all slaves within the said state who shall, al
the time aforesaid, be under the age of ter
years, shall be free when they arrive at the
age Of twentyone years; and all slaves over
ten and under twenty-one years shall be fret
when they arrive at the age of twenty-fiv,
years; and no slave shall be permitted tt
come into the state for permanent residence
therein" Therefore
Sect. 2. Be it further enacted, that when
ever the people Of Western Virginia shall
through their said convention, and by vot'
to be taken at an election to be held within
the limits of the said state, at such time as tn,
convention may provide, make and rat1fy tn,
change aforesaid, and properly certify tn,
same under the hand of the president of tn,
convention, it shall be lawful for the presiden
of the United States to issue his proclamation
stating the fact, and thereupon this act shall
take effect and be in force from and after six.
ty days from the date of said proclamation.
ADnrOved Deppmhar 81 1850