Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1865-08-24
State of West Virginia.
an Act for the admission Of the State Of
Hest Virqinia into the Union.

Whereas the people inhabiting that portion
of Virginia known as West Virginia did, by
Convention assembled in the city of Wheeling
on the 26th of November, 1861, frame for
themselves a Constitution with view of be-
coming a separate and independent State; and
whereas at general election held in the coun-
ties composing the territory aforesaid, on the
Sd day of May last, the said Constitution was
approved and adopted by the qualified voters
of the proposed State; and whereas the Legis-
ature of Virginia, by an act passed on the 18th
day of May, 1862, did give its consent to the
formation of new State within the said State
of Virginia, TO be known by the name of West
Virginia. and to embrace the following named
counties. to wit: Hancock, Brooke, Ohio, Mar
shall. Wctzell, Marion, Monongala, Preston,
TAYLOR, Tyler, Peasants, Richie, Doddridge,
Harrison, Wood, jackson, Writ, Roane, Call
houn. Gilmer, Barbour, Tucker, Lewis, Braxton,
Uphsur, Randolph, Mason, Putnam, kanawha,
Clay, Nicholas, Cabell Wayne, Boone, Logan,
Wyoming, Mercer, Mcdowell, Webster, Poca-
hontas, Fayette, Raleigh, Grcepbrier, Monroe,
Pendleton, Hardy, Hampshire, and Morgan
and whereas both the Convention and the Lee
gislature aforesaid have requested the new State
should be admitted into the Union, and the Con-
vention aforesaid being republican in form, Con-
gress doth hereby consent that the said forty
eight counties may be formed into a separate
and independent State: Therefore
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of
Representatives of the United States Of Ameri-
ca in Congress assembled, that the State of West
Virginia be, and is hereby, declared to be one OF
the United States of America, unidentified 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: Pro-
ridef, Gllrdys, 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 twenty-Sixth of Novem-
Der, eighteen hundred and sixty-one, that franz
ed and proposed the Constitution of the said
State of w. Virga., the people thereof have eX-
pressed a wish to change the seventh Section OF
the eleventh Article of said Constitution by
striking ont the same and inserting the follow
ing in its place, viz: The Children of Slaves
born within the limits of this State after the 4th
day of July, eighteen hundred and sixty-thrce,
shallbe 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 twcnty-one years
shall be free when they arrive at the age OF
twenty-five years; and no Slave shall be per-
mitted to come into the State for permanent
residence therein" Therefore
Sec 3 BE it further enacted, That when
ever 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
issue his proclamation stating the fact, and
thereupon this act shall take effect, and be in
force from and after sixty days from the date of
said proclamation. Appd Dec 81, 1862.