The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-02-10

AN ACT for the admission Of the State OF
West Virginia" into 10 the Union
and for other purposes.
WHEnEAs 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-
stltution with the view Of becoming q
separate and indepsnent State and
whereas at . general election held in the
counties composing the territory afore-
said on the third day Of May last, the
said Constitution was approved and
adopted by the qualified voters Of the
proposed State; and whereas the Leg
islature of Virginia, 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; Han
cock, Brooke, Ohio, Marshal, WetEel
Marion, Monongalis, 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, Greenbrier, Monroe,
Pendlcton, Hardy, Hampshire, and Nor
gan; and whereas both the Convention
and the Legislature aforesaid have re-
quested that the new State should be ad-
mitted into the Union, and the Constitu-
ton 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 IL enacted By The Senate and House of
Representatives of he United States Of america
ia Congress assembled, That the State Of
West Virginia be and is hereby declared
10 be one of the United States of Amer.
lea, and admitted into the Union on an
equal footing with the original States in
al respects whatever, and until the next
general census shall be entitled to three
members in the House of Representatives
of the United States: Provided altgays,
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 TWEEN ty- sixth
of November, eighteen hundred and six
ty-one, that framed aud proposed the
Constitution for the said State of West
Virginia, the people thereof have ex-
pressed 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; 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. Eve years; and no
slave shall be permitted TO come into the
State for permanent residence therein :"
| Therefore
Sec. 2. Be IL further enacted, That
whenever tho 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 issue
his proclamation stating the fact, and
thereupon this act shall take eiFe,t and
be in force from and after sixty days
from the date of said proclamation.
Approved, December 81, 1862.