Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-08-10
West Virginia..
From Charlestown jefferson county, Spi

FROM CnareStOWn (JeIeTsOn COuut1J ppIIll'
Having recently had the leisure and the curl
osity to examine, among the official records
of the National Library, into the history Of
the formation of the State of West Virginia, |
have thought that some facts, as to the origin
of the present State Constitution, mil ht not be
lacking in general interest or in relevancy to
the question now before our people. y few
preliminary facts may be summary stated
The ordinance of secession was adopted by the
Virginia Convention April Ii, 1861, and rati-
| fed by the people at the regular election on
the 18th Thursday in May following The oppo,,
sition to this measure in n. W. Virginia found
its first general expression in an informal Con,
vention, composed of individuals from 70
counties, (including Frederick. which met in
session, in which a party headed by John. 5.
Garlic, calmored for the immediate and rev
dictionary proclamation Of 4 new State. res0-
lutions were adopted declaring void the action
of the Virginia Convention and urging citizens
to vote against the Ordinance of Secession, and
to elect members Of Congress and OF the State
Legislature as usual, at the May election. In
the event of the ratification of the Ordinance,
the counties were toappoint on the 18th OF ) unc,
delegates to meet on the 18th Of June to devise
such measures as the safety of the people should
demand and in this Convention members Of
the Legislature were to have seats.
This Convention composed of delegates from
81 and afterwards from 81 counties, met in
Wheeling and proceeded to re.organize the
Government of the State, vacated the offices OF
all who adhered to the Richmond authorities.
and on the Goth June elected Plcrpoint, Gov
ernor, and Dan'l Polslcy, Lieut.. Governor.
The Legislature was summoned to meet July
lst, and an oath was prescribed binding all Off
GERS in the State to uphold the Constitution OF
the L. S. and the government OF Virginia as
indicated and restored by this " hecllng, Con-
vention. The declared object of the leaders in
this movement was to have this government OF
Virginia recognized by the Federal Govern
ment, that it might give its consent to the tor
nation of new State as provided by the Con-
stitution This Convention adjourned June
%, and the Legislature met in Wheeling, July
lst, elected Garlic and Wiley l. 5. Senators
in the place of Hunter and Mason, and pro-
cceded to legislate for the State. The Conven-
ton re-assembed August, lst, and on the 10th
of August passed an Ordinance providing for
the creation of a new State, the question OF It's
formation to be submitted to the people on the
18th Thursday in October, 1861, who, at the
same time, we're to elect members to 4 Conven-
ton to form Constitution for the new State, in
case this question W as atflrmatvely decided.
The vote stood Is, 40S in favor, ISL against the
new State The new Convention accordingly
met in Wheeling November 26, 1861, ard ad-
iourped February IS, 1862, having framed
Constitution, to be submitted to the people.
This absolutely included Al counties, provided
for conditional admission of + more, VIZ Pen
dlcton, Hardy, Hampshire, Morgan and upon
their admission, for the conditional admission
of Berkeley, Jefferson, Sc. At the election
held on April Bird, this Constitution was ratified
by the people by vote of 1852 to 5l4.
The Legislature of the re-organized govern
ment assembled May G, 1862, and May II, gave
its formal assent to the erection OF the new
State and instructed the Senators and Repre-
sentatives in Congress to use their efforts to
secure the admission Of West Virgin into the
Union. The Act of Congress admitting West
Virginia which passed the Senate in July and
the House in December, was approved Decem-
Der 81, 1862. But this Act was provisional.
1t included IS countess and required that the
Convention, and then the people, should ratlty
an article, to be Incorporated IN the constitution
forbiddug the introduction OF slaves, and pro-
Yiding for gradual emancipation IN the State,
which being certified to the President he should
issue proclamation, and the Act would be IN
force after the lapse of60 days. The Convention
re.assembled 10 February, accepted the article,
and the people ratified it in March. The Pres
ident's proclamation bore date April 10, lsG3,
and an election being held in May, the new
State Government went into operation June
Goth, 1868, at which time Pierpoiot removed
his government to Alexandria. Such, in brlet
outline, we're the successive steps in the cree
ton of the New State 1t only remains, to
consider how far it's constitution is the creation
Of the people, and to what extent it rests upon
the only basis of free government-the consent
of the governed 1t embraced counties whose
vote at previous elections amounted to 1900,
vet We have seen that in both clections-tor
delegates to the Convention that framed 1t,
and on it's ratification, the entire vote cast was
$4,000 1t originally included Is counties yet
delegates from only 81 appeared in this Con-