The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-02-06
rPunLro-No. Al

AN ACT for the admission Of the State OF
"West Virginia" into TO The Union
and for other purposes.
WHEREAS the people inhabiting that
portion of Virginia known as West Vir-
ginia did, by convention assembled in
the city Of Wheeling on the twenty sixth
Of November, eighteen hundred and
sixty-one, frame for themselves Con-
siitution with the view Of becoming a
separate and indepeneut State; and
whereas at a general election held in the
counties composing the territory afors-
said on the third day Of May last, the
said Constitution was approved aud
adopted by the qualified voters Of the
proposed State; aud whereas the Leg
islature of Yirginie, by an act passed
on the thirteenth day of May, eighteen
hundred and sixty.two, did give its CON
scent TO the formation OF new State
within the jurisdiction of the said State
of Virginia, 10 be known by the name Of
West Virginia, and 10 embrace the fol-
towing named counties to-wit: Ham
cock, Brooke, Ohio, Marshal Wetzel
Marion, Monongaha, Preston, Taylor
Tyler, Peasants, Richie, Doddridge
Harrison, Wood, jackson, Writ, Roane,
Calhoun, Gilmer, Barbour Tucker
Lewis, Braxton, Upshur, Randolph, Ma.
son, Putnam, Kanawha, Clay, Nicholas,
Cabell, Wayne, Boone, Logan, Wyoming,
Mercer, Mcdowell, Webster, Pocahontas,
Fayette, Raleigh, Greenbrer, Monroe,
Pendleton, Hardy, Hampshire, and Nor
gan; and whereas both the Convention
and the Legislature aforesaid have re-
quested that tho new State should be adj
mitted into the Union, and tho Constitu-
ton aforesaid being republican in form,
Congress doth hereby consent that the
| said forty eight couuties may be formed
into separate and independent State
| Therefore
BE it enacted By tie Senate and House Of
Representatives ofGEe United States Of america
in Congress assembled, That the State Of
West Virginia be and is hereby declared
to be one of the United States of Amer.
| lea, and admitted into the Union on an
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 Representatives
| of tue United States: Provided alloays,
| 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 twent y-sixth
of November, eighteen hundred and six
| ty-one, that framed and proposed the
Constitution for the said State of West
Virginia, the people thereof have ex
pressed a wish TO change the seventh
section Of the eleventh article of said
Constitution by striking out the same
and inserting the following in its place,
viz. 81 he children of slaves born with
in the limits of this State after the fourth
day of July, eighteen hundred and six
ty-three, shall be free; and that all
slaves within the said State who shall
at the time aforesaid, be under the age
of ten years, shall be free when they ar
rive at the age of twenty one years and
all slaves over ten and under twenty
one years shall be free when they arrive
at the age of twenty five years; and no
slave shall be permitted to come into the
State for permanent residence therein -
Therefore
Sec >. BE IL further enacted, That
whenever the people of West Virginia
shall, through their said Convention, and
by vote TO be taken at an election to
be held within the limits of the said
State, at such time as the Convention
may provide, make and ratify the change
aforesaid, and properly certify the same
under the hand of the President of the
Convention, it shall be lawful for the
President of the United States to issu,
his proclamation stating the fact. aad
thereupon this act shall take efIe;t and
be in force from and after sixty days
from the date of said proclamation.
Approved, December 81, 1862,