Martinsburg weekly independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1873-1875, 1874-06-27
OUR ELEVENTH ANNIVERSARY,

become a member Of the Ameri-
can Union on the 10th of June,
1863 Turning back to the old files
of this paper we find an editorial
headed 1.-THE Day We Celebrate
commencing thus: "This day ush-
ers into being the new State of
West Virginia, and adds the thirty
fifth star to the constellation ofthe
American Union" Turning back
to the local columns of the same is
sue we find the programme of cer-
emonies that attended the formal
| inauguration of the State therein
announced. The Governor of Vir-
ginia las he then was) Governor
Pierpont, together with the Gov
ernor elect Of West Virginia. Gov
ernor Foreman. and the State off,
| GERS of the two States, and also the
members of the Senate and House
ofthenew State, met at the Mcclure
/ House at nine o'clock i'm the morn
ing, and from there were escorted
| by the 4th and 9TH regiments of
West Virginia militia through sew
eral of the streets to the Linsley
Institute, which was then and for
years afterwards our capital build
ing. Tn front of this building spa
cious platforms had been erected
| for the accommodation of the of
/ ficials named and their invited
guests. From this platform Gov
ernor Pierpont delivered his vale
| dictory and Governor Foreman his
inaugural address. The multitude
of people assembled were called TO
order by the Hon. G. d. Hubbard,
and prayer was offered by the Rev.
JT Mcclure. The concluding speech
was made by the Hon. Waitman
T. Wiley, after which the two
houses of he LEGISLATURE adjourn
ed within the building and organ
lied the Government Of West Vir-
ginia.
There were a great many people
among us Just then who regarded
the whole spectacle in the light of
a farce, and who prophesied that
in a short time those engaged in it
would find themselves in an unen-
viable position before the rightful
government of Virginia at Rich
mond by virtue of the success of
Confederate arms. The days just
then were sufficiently dark to give
| color to their words, and many
| LOYAL men feared at the time that
perchance their prophesies might
come true. 1t was just before the
ever memorable battle of Gettys
| burg that the State was inaugural
| tea, and her fate hung on the re-
suit of that eventfu conflict, as
indeed did that Of the nation itself.
We took occasion to say eleven
years ago to-day that "Our new
State which we inaugurate to-day
will be destroyed, the liberty it
protects overthrow, and the hopes
| 1t inspires blasted, if the Federal
government is not able to sustain
itself. Our fate and the fate Of our
National Union must be the same.
We go on together prosperity or
we go down together to ruins"
| Governor Pierpont remarked in
his valedictory in eloquent and
| pathetic terms upon the dangers
that environed us all at that time,
He took occasion to refer to the fact
that the armed enemies OF the
Union and OF the State were even
then on our Southern border and
threatening this city, the Capital
of the State Just born. But he did
not quail at the thought. True and
tried then, as throughout the con-
fiict, he rose with the respiration
of the occasion and spoke these
memorable words:
Freeman of West Virginia !
take from US that dag which rep
resents our rights. and the rights of
| the American CT tizens throughout
the nation, tear it down, substi-
tute the bars and stripes which
represent slavery as the foundation
OF their goF/ernment-that depri-
walton oil he laboGing man Of his
rights-a ad what has the world
left wor Thy of freeman's ambi-
ton ?"
The Sc US of who remember the
day we speak of, and who know
no q oppressive was the constant
a Axiety that pervaded the hearts
Of all Union men at tnat date can
( appreciate the change that has
taken place in the condition of the
| state Of West Virginia in the
eleven years that nave passed
| away. Not the least remarkable
change that has happened is the
| change OF administration, by
/ which those who were il power
then and for years afterwards are
| now out Of power. And We, 80
change could have been more ua
turaL 1t resulted in part from the
violence Of the party spirit besot
ten by the war ana the abuse o
power THAI attended i;.and ~ par
from thn raF4sral. y III lsatfanG /,