The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1870-02-04

only all through the war, but for two
years after the war had closed.
In his message of July, 1861, Cove
nor Peirpoint announced TO the people
of Virginia that President Lincoln had
assured him Of Federal protection to
the State authorities Of the State Of
Virginia
After the ordinance Of secession was
passed, the President recognized Vir-
ginia as being state in another and a
very significant manner. In ls4l an
act of Congress was passed distributing
amoung the States Of the Union their
proportionate shares resulting from
certain sales Of public lands, and the
State of Virginia, no having received
her proportion, II was given by the
President and Congress to the restor-
ed State government, Of which Peir-
point was Governor, long after the or
dinance Of secession had passed.
But a more solumn and formal re-
cognition Of Virginia as State was
made by the proclamation Of the Pres
ident under the date of April 10, 1868,
in which he announced, that by and
with the consent Of the Legislature of
the State Of Virginia and Of Congress,
West Virginia had been made a State
Of the United States.
But, sir, Virginia was not only re-
cognized as State within the Union
by the President, but also by each Of
the chiefs Of Department.
1t is not for me to tell the members
Of this honorable body that the Con-
stitution of the United States con only
be amended by the concurrent action
Of three fourths of all the States of the
| Union.
Well sir, Congress 10y a two.thirds
vote recommended what are'known as
the thirteenth and fourtee nth amend.
ments to the Constitution Of the Uni.
ted States, and the Secretary Of State
of the United tates transmitted those
amendments to Francis u. Peirpoint,
Governor of of the State of Virginia, for
ratifaation by the Legislature of the
State, and when they were ratified the
Secretary of State certified that the
State of Virginia had ritifed those
amendments and all this, sir, was du.
ring the war
Now, sir, as to the Secretary OF
War. On the 25th day Of June, 1861,
Secretary Cameron requested Francis
II. Peirpaint, as Governor of the State
OF Virginia, TO commission the field
and company officers in the regiments
furnished by the state Of Virginia tc
the Union Army, and they were SC
commissioned
Now for the Interior Department -
On the 26th day of June, 1861 Secreta
ry Caleb Smith informed Francis ll
Peirpoint, Governor of the State Of Vir
ginia, that Virginia was entitled to
eleven Representatives in Congress
And on the 2Sth OF Novom Der, 'Gl
Secretary Chase nollfiod "Fraucis
II PierpOint, Governor of the State
of Virginia" that direct taxes had
been levied on that State, and re
questcd him To and in securing the
collection of her quota.
And this apporuonment of taxes
was made under that clause Of tn,
Constitution which provides that
Representative and direct taxes
shall be appoi toned among the sev
eral States which may lie IN luded
within this Union, according u
thor respective numbers"
And when that assessment was
made Virginia was recognized las
Il State within the Union" by Con
grcss, by the President, mud by the
Secretary Of tho Treasury.
Hence, Mr.. Speaker. we sae thai
the President of the United State,
during all those long years of fire
and blood, during all that period o
storm and tempest, recognized Vir
ginia as a State Of the Union com
municated with it's chief magistrate
as Governor of the State of Virgin
ia and received into the military
service Of the United States regl-
ments organized as Virginia regI-
mcnts and commanded bv officer
holding commissions under thu
hand of Francis ii. PiOrpoinC a.
GovernOr of the State OF Virginia
ami who fought in the common
canse of our common Union.
/ have hoard 1t asserted, SIR, up
on this floor that Congress had no
by any act recognized Virginia as
: State of the Union since the Rich
mond ordinance of secession. An,
) i propose to show that Congress- b.
, frequent SOLEMN acts recognized ant
{ treated Virginia rs o State. an,
held who were in arms within Vlr
/ ginia against the Federal Govern
q ment as insurgents, from the tim
, the first gun was fred on the so
Of that State until Two years afIo
, the close of the war; for IT was nc
until March, 1867, that Congress
;, seized Virginia by the throat an,
! drove her Senators and Represents Ia
t tivcs from tho Halls of the Nation
I al Legislature; and, as she was re,
/, Ognized as II State within the Unio
: during tue war and two years aite
j. the close of the war, will not tn