The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1866-04-14
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DiSnlnnlherinr XirTinia.

VIA Virginia Is 10 be lurller ulS-
memberod. A joint resolution is on
its passage through Congress giving
the consent of Congress to the transfer
of the valley counties of Berkcly, JEFF
ferson, the famous Martinsburg and
Winchester region, from Virginia to
West Virginia. The constitution re-
Quires, at least it has been so con-
structed as to rcquirc--the consent of
Congress, rs well as the Legislature of
the States concerned, for the transfer
Of 4 portion of any State to another
State. The consent of West Virginia,
to receive, was never doubted, the con-
sent of Virginia, to ccdc, was given un-
der circumstances which deprive it of
any force as a free will act Of the State.
having been given by the Legislature
at Alexandria, where onlya very small
portion Of the State was represented,
when the jurisdiction ofthat govern
mcnt was extended over all Virginia.
After the dissolution Of the Conicdc-
rate organization, the Legislature, de-
cded the validity Of the action of the
small body which met at Alexandria,
and, if we mistake not, formally re
voked the assent to the dismcmbcr-
ment. At all events, the opposition to
the measure is universal in Virginia.
and in the counties thus cut off and
transferred. 1t was stated in the
Senate on the debate, that in one of the
counties only thirty, out Of thirteen
hundred votes, were in favor Of the
proposition and Il motion was made
to submit the question anew to the
voters, but it was refused. The body
of Old Virginia isthus mutilated again,
by tearing away another important
limb against her earnest protest.
There is, however, in the transac,
ton rather instructive example ofthc
Inconsistencies of the Congressional
majority which persists III refusing to
receive the Representatives from the
Southern States; and especially Of
that dominant portion of them which
denies that they are States at all, and
pronounce them incapable Of executing
any Of the functions of States until for
mally readmitted by the law-making
power of Congress. This tyranncal
measure for dismcmbering Virginia, Il
second time, plrports to be the com
pleton of Il Joint act to which the con
sent of three parties are required by
the constitution, the consent of the
State Legislature of the State of Vir-
ginia, the consent of the Legislature of
the State of West Virginia, and the
consent Of Congress. If Virginia be
not q State in the Union, the consent
of the Legislature of Virginia is not
the consent of the Legislature of Il
State in the Union. But Congress, by
formal resolution, gives effect to an
act which has no validity at all if Vir-
ginia be not in the Union. BY acting
under that clause of the constitution
and recognizing the validity of the ac-
ton OF Virginia as Il State under the
same clause, Congress is logically pre-
GUIDED from settliiS up any pea lOr ue-
nying to Virginia any Of the rights
which belong to Il recognized member
of the Union.
Another day, however. the same
members who voted to make this com
pact with Virginia as State, and who
insisted on maintaining the obligations
to respect doubtful and contested acts
of II State Legislature, because it had
the form of maintaining State in
dividuality, will he found voting that
Virginia has no rights which Congress
is bound to respect, and can never be
received into membership with the
other States until, by long course of
trials, yet to be prescribed, she has
been qualified and formally accepted
anew.-.N o. Picayune.