Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1871-08-08
WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENCE.
West T1yiaia-Its Inception and present
Status The Hope Of the Future.
WASHINGTON. D. c., I
August 4th, 1871. (

the Berkeley Mass meeting, and published in
your last issue, seem sufficient tocOnvince any
citizen, if the conviction were not already
wrought by bitter experience, Of the necessity
for a State Convention, and of his strong per-
sOnal interest in seeking au immediate re-
modelling of the State Constitution. Having
recently had the leisure aud tho curiosity to
examine, among tho Official records Of the
National Libraries, into tho history of the
formation of the State. of West Virginia,
have thought that some facts, as to the origin
of the present State Constitution, might not
be lacking in general interest or in relevancy
to the question now before our people. A few
preliminary facts may be summarily stated
The ordinance Of secession was adopted by tho
Virginia Convention April II, 1861, and rati.
fed by the people at the regular election on
the 4th Thursday in May following. The
opposition to this measure in N. w. Virginia
found itsf first general expression IN an informal
Convention, composed of individuals from 20
counties, Gucluding Frederick, } which met in
Wheeling on the 18th of May. After stormy
session, in which a party, headed by Jno. S.
Garlic, clamourcd for the immediate aud rev.
olutiOnary proclamation of new State, reso-
buttons were adopted, declaring void the action
of the Virginia Convention, and urging citi-
zcDs to vote against the Ordnance of Seces-
sion, 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 Ordnance, tho counties we're TO appoint
on the 4th of June, delegates to meet on the
llth of June, to devise such measures as the
safety of the people should demand aud in
this Convention members of the Legislature
were to have seats. This Convention COM
posed of delegates from 81 and afterwards
from 50 counties, met in Wheeling aud pro-
Ceeded TO re-OrgauiZe the Government of the
State, vacated the offices of all who adhered to
the RIchmOnd authorities, and on the Goth of
June elected PierpOnt, Governor, aud DanI
PoIsley, Lieut.. Governor The Legislature
was summoned to meet July LIST, aud an oath
was prescribed binding all officers in the State
to uphold the Constitution Of the o. S. and
the government of Virginia as vindicated and
restored by this Wheeling Convcutiou. The
declared object of Tie leaders in this move,
Enent was to have this government of Vir>
ginia recognized 10y the Federal G overnmest.
that IT might give its consent to the formation
OF new State as provided by me CO0Stjiu.
hon. Wis Convention a6jONrDea Jnne IS.
and the Legislature met in Wheeling July
LIST, elected Garlic and Wiley u. S, Sem
ators in the place of Hunter aud Mason, and
proceeded TO IegisIate for the State. The
Convention re assembled August LIST. and on
the 10Th OF August passed an Ordnance pro.
VIdIng for the creation of new State. the
question of its formation to be submitted to
the people on the 4th Thursday in October.
1861, who, at the same time, were to elect
members to Convention to form a Coustitu-
ton Tor the new Stale, in case this question
were afirmatively decided. The vote stood
Is, IOS III favor, Isl against the new State,
The new Convention accordingly met in
Wheeling November &c, 1861, aud adjourned
February Is, 1862, having framed a Cousti.
tuition, to be submitted to the people. This
absolutely included Al counties, provided for
conditional admission of more, viz PendIe.
ton, Hardy, Hampshire, Morgan; and upon
their admission, for the conditional admission
OF berkeley, Jefferson and Frederick AT
the election held on April Bird, this Constitu.
ton was ratified by the people by G vote Of
/ lS,S62 to 5l4,
| The Legislature of the re organized govern.
ment assembled May 6, 1862, aud May IS,
! gave It's formal assent to the erection of the
] new State, and instructed the Senators and
representatives IN Congress to use their eff
forts to secure the admission of West Virginia
into the Union. The Act of Congress adj
uniting West Virgiuia-which passed the
/ Senate in July and the House in December,
was approved December 81, 1862. But this
! Act was provisional. 1t included As counties.
and required that the Convention, and then
the people, should ratiiy an article, to be in
! corpOratcd in the constitution forbiddng the
/ Introduction Of slaves, aud providing for grad
uaI emancipation in the State, which being
| certified to the President he should issue a
| proclamation, and the Act would be in force
after the lapse of GO days The Convention
reassembled in February accepted the article.
and the people ratified it III March. The
Presidents proclamation bore date April 10,
1868, and an election being held in Nav, the
new State Government went into operation
June 10Th, 1868, at which time Pierpont re-
moved his government to Alexandria. Such.
IN brief outline, were the successive steps in
the erection of the New State 1t ONLY re.
mains, for my present purpose, to consider
! how far Its constitution is the creation of the
/ people, and to what extent it rests unou the
/ only basis Of free gOvcrument-thc consent of
| the governed. 1t embraced counties whose
/ vote at previous elections amounted to a 900.
/ yet We have seen that in both elections-For
| delegates to the Convention that framed it.
and on Its ratification, the entire vote cast was
! 10000. 1t originally included As counties,
! yet delegates from only 80 appeared in this
| Convention. Ten counties with u population
/ OF 10000 never voted upon it at any stage
J or IN any way; three others only indirectly
/ through Senator in the Legislature, and to
these thirteen must be added Jefferson and