Delaware State journal and statesman., 1863-01-06

stituiion with view OF becoming separate aud
independent State; and whereas ut a general
lection held iu the counties composing the terri
iory aforesaid on the third day Of May last, the
sald Constitution was approved and adopted by
'he quahhed voters Of the proposed State and
whereas the Legislature of Virginia, BY an ACT
passed on the thirteenth day Of May eighteen
hundred and sixty two did give its consent to
he formation Of u new State within the jurisdc
Ton OF the said State OF Virginia. to he known
by the name Of West Virginia, aud to embrace
he following named counties, to wit: Hancock,
brooke, Ohio, Marshall, Wetzel, Marion Monon.
gaia, Preston. Taylor, Tyler, Peasants, Ritchle,
poddridge Harrison, Wood, jackson, Writ,
hoane, Calhoun, Gilmer, Barbour, Tucker, Lewis,
braxlon, Upshur, Randolph, Mason, Putnam,
kanAwha, Clay, Nicholas, Cabell, Wayne. Boone,
Logan, Wyoming, Mercer, Mcdowell, Webster,
focahontas, Fayetie, Rllegh, Greenbrier, Mon
roe, PendletOn, Hardy, Hampshire, aud Morgan;
ana whereas both the Convention and the Legs
laiure Aforesaid have requested that the new
state should lie admitted iuto the UnOn and the
Constitution aforesaid being republican iu form,
Congress doth hereby consent that the said
idIty eight counties may be formed into sepa-
rn'e aud independent State. Therefore
be a enacted By tie Sendie and House of Repre-
ssntdttpes Of the United States Of Amsrtcq in Com
gftss assembled. That the State OF West Virginia
be and is hereby declared to be one of the United
states of America, admitted into the Union OH
an equal footing with the original States in all
Respects Whatever, aud until the next general
census shnl he entitled to three members in the
House OF Representatives of the United States :
Fyorded, ailrays, That this act shall not t,ke
eteet until after the proclamation of tie Presi.
doht of the United States hereinafter provided
| for.
1t being reptes,hted TO Congress TINT since
| The Convention OF the twenty--ixth of November
eighteen hundred and sixty one, that framed and
ptOpased the Constitution for the sni1 State o.
West Niteinin, the people thereof have exnresset
wish TO change the seventh section Of th,
eleventh article Of said Constitution by s,rikin.
cut inc same aud Inserting the following in it
place, viz: " The children Of slaves horn within
the limits of this State after the fourth day q
July, eighteen huudrel and sixty.three. sbnll b
itee mud that. all slaves within the said Stat
who shall, ut the time aforesaid, be under til
age OF ten years, shall be free when they arliy
@' tue age oil twenty one years nud all slave
Uver ten aud uuder twenty-one years shall b
Tree when they arrive at the age OF twenty fl
years. and no slave shall be permitted 10 com
nto the State for permanent residence therein
Therefore
sec :. BE further enacted, That wheneye
the people Of West Virginia shall through thei
said Convention. and by vote to be taken At II
election to be held within the limits of the sai
State. at such time as the Convention may pr,
vide, make and ratify the change aforesaid, nm
properly certify the same under the hand OF Ii
President Of the Convention, it shall be lowt,
for the President OF the United States to s.u
his proclamation stating the fact aud thereupo
this act shall teke effect AMI be iu fuice from au
after sixly days from the date of said proclanlt
lion.
Approved, December II. 1862.