The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-02-07

AN ACT for the admission Of The State Of
West Virginia" into TO the Union
and for other purposes.
WHEREAS the people inhabiiing that
portion Of Virginia known as West Vir-
einia did, by a convention assembled In
the city Of Wheeling on the twenty sixth
Of November, eighteen hundred and
sixiy-one, frame for themselves Con-
stitution with the view Of becoming a
separate and indepcnent State; and
whereas at a 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; aud whereas the Leg
islature Of Virginia, by an act passed
on the thirteenth day of May, eighteen
hundred aud sixty 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, Monongalia, Preston, Taylor,
Tyler, Pleasants, 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
gam and whereas both the Convention
and the Legislature aforesaid have re-
quested that the new State should be adj
miLted 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 separate and independent State
| Therefore
BE it enacted By the Senate and House Of
Representatives of1e United States Of Anlei,icd
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 neat
general census shall be entitled to three
members in the House of Representatives
of the United States: Provided alvays
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 thai
since the Convention Of the twenty sixth
of November, eighteen hundred and six.
ty-one, that framed and proposed th,
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 sale
Constitution by striking out the sam,
and inserting the following in its place
viz: 4 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 al
slaves within the said State who shall
at the time aforesaid, be under the az,
of ten years, shall be free when they ar
rive at the age OF twenty one years; anC
all slaves over ten and under twenty
one years shall be free when they arriv
at the age of twenty five years; and n,
slave shall be permitted 10 come into tn
State for permanent residence therein :
Therefore
Sec. 2. BE IL further enacted, Tha
whenever the people Of West Virgins
shall, through their said Convention, an,
by vote TO be taken at an election {,
be held within the limits Of the salt
State, at such time as the Convention
may provide, make and ratify the chang
aforesaid, and properly certify the sam
under the hand of the President Of tn
Convention, it shall be lawful for tn
President Of the United States to issu
his proclamation stating the fact, an,
thereupon this act shall take efl'e;t anC
be in force from aud after sixty day
from the date of said proclamation.
Approved, December 81, 1862.