Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1865-11-25
The Meeting IN CharlestoWn.

lion Of Jurisdiction over Jefferson coun-
~ definitely settled. Messrs. Andrew
Hunter AMI w. II. Travers were ap-
polntcd committee TO present memorials
TO the General Assembly Of Virginia and
to The Congress Of The United States,
with statement of the reasons why the
county Of Jefferson should be still consid,
cred and decided to be part of TIginio.
This statement, after reviewing the man.
ner in which The new State Of WeSt Vir-
ginia was formed. and the several ens-
bling acts by which other counties were
added 10 the original "a counties included
in the State, thus alludes 10 the act and
its provisions by which Jefferson is sought
TO be transferred 10 the new State:
"The Sd section provides that, Gin the
event The state Of The country wiH mt
permit, or from any cause. said election
for annexation cannot be fairly held on
The day aforesaid, ii shall be The duty OF
the Governor of this Commonwealth, as
soon as such can be safely held, and full
and free oppression Of the opinion of the
people had thereon, 10 issue his pIocla-
mallon. ordering such election for the
purpose aforesaid and certify the result.
aforesaid" |, is averred. that no such
election as that contemplated by The &C,
was ever held in Jefferson county. 1t is
True. that at the time specified; there vas
d nominal submission to a vote OF lis peo-
pie OF the question of its transfer TO West
Virginia; but such were the circumstances
uader " hish that election was held, that
"a full and free expression of the opinion
OF the people" on the subject committed
10 them vas impossible.
There were no proper and necessary
mea.n,es provided TO hold the election.
Polls were opened at hut ;wo precincts
-Shrpherds,own and Harper's Ferry
both on The remote Potomac line OF The
county, under the upeiln,sndence of
Commissioners Of Election, disqualified
under the laws Of Virginia, from occu py-
ing said Offices.
No Commissioners were appointed for
the Other precincts, ct If appointed, were
not notified Of their appointment.
No means were adopted To give notice
to the large mass oil the volsrs OF the
county of the proposed election, and that
they were required, at it, 10 determine
the question Of change IN lhelt Stale re-
lalions, and they were, therefore, lgno'
rant Of any action affecting the same un'
Ill many weeks after the SAID action had
taken place.
AT the two precincts above designated
less than one hundred Uotss were polled
in an aggregate legitimate vote OF from
1900 10 1000, heretofore ea's in the
county, and of That small number many
were fraudulent and illegal votes and
should therefore have been Erj ecled.
At the time, 100. The election was held
this county was in,ersected by the strict
est and mos, vigiIsnl military lines that
often confined the citizens, for whole
wse 10 their own premises. from which.
on no preiext, however urgent, they were
permllsd TO pass. Indeed, such was The
disturbed and disquieled condition Of the
county. from the commencement OF the
war 10 It's close, that il is well know
tina, there were bot two attempts 10 hold
an election by the people. under the aus
pieces of any government, IRON the An
Thursday Of May. '6l, until long alter
the surrender Of the Southern armies.
The first was essayed in the mode above
result, Of which was a
commentary upon the impro'
priely Of the effort, and established, be-
yond dispute. failure to comply with
the terms Of the acI under which II was
directed 10 be held. The second election
which reference has been
made-wss held in lhe month o! October,
1864, for members Of the House Of Del
egaies of West Virginia, at which two
candidates were chosen by vote about
equal 10 that cast in May, 1863, and, by
a singular and sgnhcan, coincidence, the
only precincts where polls were opened
on tina, occasion, were The precincts Of
Shrpherdstown and RarPcrs- Ferry.
No "lull and free expression OF the
opinion OF tue people" fer any purpose
could have been obtained in Jefferson
county during the whole continuance Of
the war"
The stalemen, thus concludes -
ITO the General Assembly Of Virginia
they have though, it TO be their duty 10
make an earnes, protest against the con-
,empls,ed scheme 10 annex the county TO
the Stale Of West Virginia; and ,e asS
tina, they will sustain the claim made to
i, by solemn Constitutional provisions,