Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-05-12
The Pierpont Government.

AS the validity of this organization has been
recognized by President Johnson, aud il has been
selected by him as the proper agency for the res
toration of law and order in Virginia, a brief
history of it il will be of interest. In a letter
addressed to The National Intelligencer, March
4. 1865, Joseph Segar, a we'll known citizen of
Virginia, traced the PierpOnt government from
its inception to that date, and "a the facts recited
by him are hardly a subject of dispute, we con
dense them here.
Soon after Virginia seeded, the people of the
northwest portion Of the state called a cOnven.
ton and organized a government of their own.
as against the seeded and rebel portion of the
state, claiming that the loyal people OF Virginia
are the people OF Virginia and possessors of her
political power. Under the order OF this con-
yentiOn a new legislature and governor were
elected. Francis " Pierpont having been chosen
governor, and in a short time the new legislature
assembled and put the recognized government
in operation Governor PIerpont applied. i'm
mediately after his Inauguration, TO the president
for military aid to suppress domestic violence"
and the president. under the provisions of the
constitution and the act Of congress of February
%. 1875. responded to the governors call by
sending United States troops TO give the desired
protection.
By tbs act of recognition, Mr. Segar asserts
the president determined the legalit, OF the new
government as in the DOrr rebellion" and cites
Luther VS.. Borden, 7th Towards Rep. D. /.
Congress also admitted to seats both senator's
and representatives from the new government.
consequently the recognition by the United
States of the Wheeling government was com
plete. and in June. 1863. West Virginia. under
act of congress aud the legislation of the Wheel
ing government, became a separate state, forty
two named counties constituting It. OF course
none other than the counties named could form
the new state.
But there were other counties that had adopted
the Wheeling government. and that BY the cree
ton of West Virginia were left withou. civil
government. These counties were located in
eastern and Piedmont Virginia Geographically
and commercially. as well as by the action OF
Congress, they were disconnected from north
western Virginia. They had either to submit
to military government. attach themselves B. the
rebel government. or. following their fellow
citizens OF the northwest, organize a loyal gov
eminent for themselves.
Nav 4, ls63-some thirty three DAYS before
West Virginia became fully 4 state-which day,
by the laws of Virginia. was general election
day-the voters of these counties of reorganized
Virginia went TO the polls at the places appointed
bv law. and elected a governor. lieutenant gov
ernor, attorney general, sheriffs and other civil
officers. and members of congress. On the eth
of December. 1863, the new legislature met in
pursuance of the laws Of the state, and on the lst
Of January following. Gov. Pierpont was inau
gurated a. governor. The inferior officers we're
also duly installed At the times and places desig
mated by law.
On the 2lst of December. 1863, the legislature
passed a law calling a convention TO amend the
old constitution; and on the 18th of February,
1864. the convention assembled. and many
changes were made in the constitution, one of
them providing for the abolition Of slavery
The larTz1,Fr-a zso,,kf1 a. a---L- - |
pursuant To law, and continued in session Up 10
ana after the date of Mr.. Segar's letter-MarcK
! isoo-and shortly previous to that date elect
ed Onlted States senators, be being one. The
counties actually represented in the legislature
have a population Of $50 .OOO.
IL VIII be noticed from Mr. SegAr's history of
the FierPour government. that IL is lot at all af-
iecied BY the West Virginia organization. 10
deed. had not the counties which participated in