Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1863-04-06
- m. MeII,bnrg HeraId.
The Recent Election.


The result of the recent vote on the rat
ifeation of the Wiley amendment TO the
new State Constitution surprised hefriends
of the project probably as much as 1t did
its opponents; for the most saoguine hard
IL expected SO decisive a vote. and Ee are
satisfied that the opposition did not expect
that the recommendation to abstain from
voting would be so generally regarded. Ii
is rare, indeed, that recommendation IN
political affairs is so generally observed,
and the secret by which il was effected
would be most valuable acquisition to
future managers of such affairs, Ten days
before tie election the opponents of the
new State, at least in some quarters, seem
ed TO be all back bone, were elate and
spUnky, talked largely and were willing
even to take reasonably large bets on the re-
suit; such a thing as declining to vote
never once seemed to have entered into
their calculations. but 10 ! what change
In the county of Brooke, where II was rea-
sonabIy assumed that in no event would
the new State have over mesgre majority,
some 500 votes were polled (inciudiug the
soldiers,) and but one solitary man record
ed his name against it, and he probably
more from constitutional contrariness of
mind, than for any other reason. Even
assuming that all those who failed to vote,
would hare voted IN the negative, and this
would have been by no means the case, a
clear aud indisputable msjority of the vot-
ing population voted In It's favor. The ex-
IRENE vote of Brooke county little, if any,
exceeds 900; SO that there is, in any event
clear majority of about 300. This effect.
ually spOiIs the game sought to be played
by the managers of the opposition, so far
as Brooke county is concerned; and the
same may be said in regard 10 Hancock,
Ohio, Marshall and many more, if not all
of the 4s counties. We have no iata
whence to estimate, but there is little doubt
but that clear majority of the legal voters
of the State of West Virginia, soon to be,
pronounced on the 26th of March, in favor
not only OF division, bat of the new Con-
stitutiOn as amended, with the distinct I'M
Outstanding that it provided for the Ger.
tam extinction of slavery within the lin its
of the said new State. 1t is true, that
even had there been less than clear ma
jority OF the legal voters, the affair would
have been just as legally settled, provided
that majority of those who did vote, voted
in the affirmative; nevertheless, it is better
| as it is, iusomuch as it will stop the mouths
of all demagouges in the future. who might
endeaTor to make trouble by false repre-
sensations of military coercion, iutimida-
ton aud other similar pretences. West
Virginia comes in, as free State, with g
clear record.
1t is now the duty of the President Of
the Convention to certify the fact of the
ratification 10 the President of the United
States, whose duty it then becomes to de.
clare by proclamation the State of Wesi
Virginia a member of the American Union
Sixty days after the issue of this procla-
nation, it takes effect, and the new State
becomes in fact, and in every respect g
sovereign State. During the pendeucy Of
this sixty days, at day to be named BY
the Governor, as provided in the schedule
| to the recent convention proceedings, an
election for State officers under the new
constitution will be held, at which all legal
voters, civil and military, may vote; and
the officers, State and county, then elected
will be the parties upon whom will devolvt
the duty OF putting into motion the ma
chiuery of the new constitution, SO far as
yet provided by legislation.