The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1874-05-21
RESTITUTION.
The West Virginia War Claims.
SD. eeh Delivered by Hon. Henry q.
Davis I'm the United states Senate
ON Wednesday, May Is.

chairman OF the Senate Committee on
Claims gave notice that he would to-
dsy ask the Senate to consider bills
reported from that committee. |, also,
gave notice that l would ask the Sen
ate to allow me to submit some re-
marks to-day after the regular morning
business was concluded. shall be as
brief as the subject will admit. in-
vite the attention of the Senate to the
bill introduced early in this session
providing for the payment to the State
OF West Virginia Of the sum OF $780,
900 to reimburse them in part for losses
sustained by them during the late war.
The bill has been read a second time,
is now pending in the Committee on
Claims, and 10 as follows:
A BILL to reimburse the State OF West
Virginia for losses incurred by reason
of the destruction of its bridges,
court~houses, school houses, churches
turnpike roads and other public
property by Federal troops during the
late war.
WHEREAS the State of West Virgin
ia suffered heavy losses during the late
civil war in the destruction of bridges,
court, houses, school-houses, churches,
turnpike roads, and other public prop
erty; and whereas said State was loyal
to the Government ofthe United States
and contributed it's full share toward
putting down the late rebellion; and
whereas the greater portion OF said
property was destroyed by Federal
troops acting under the order OF their
superiors; aud whereas said State by
reason of its heavy losses as aforesaid
and Of its being yet young in years and
having to endure heavy expense in
the erection OF its public buildings, is
unable to contribute toward the
rebuilding OF said works; There
fore,
Be II enacted By the Senate and House
Of Representatives of The United States
of america in CONGRESS assembled:
That the Secretary OF the Treass
ury is authorized, and hereby
directed, to pay to the State OF
West Virginia, upon the order
Of the Governor OF said State, out OF
any money in the Treasury not other
wise appropriated, the sum Of $500, 900,
to be applied to the rebuilding OF
bridges, court-bouses, school.houees,
churches, turnpike roads, and other
public property in said State destroyed
by Federal troops by military orders
during the late civil war.
NY remarks, however, will apply to
similar bills now upon the Calendar
ready to be acted upon by the Sen
ate.
SKETCH or THE ORGANIZATION OF WEST
VIRGINIA.
A large majority OF the citizens oil
West Virginia were opposed TO the
ordinance OF secession, and in favor OF
maintaining the supremacy Of the
Union and the Constitution, and sigma,
Lied their devotion to the government
by setting up a reorganized governmeni
a. soon az possible after the passage OIL
the secession ordinance in Richmond
on the 10Th day OF April, 1851. a
thrill of excitement shook the country
from the Alleghsnies to the Ohio river
when the western delegates returned
and announced the passage OF the ordi'
nance. Three days afterward, on the
ODD, a mass meeting was called anc
held at Clarksburg, where resolutions
were adopted calling upon the people o
Western Virginia to send delegates to
convention to be held at Wheeling or
the 18th OF May following, to determine
upon such action as might be though
| best. -,
The people responded to the cal
and assembled in convention IN Wheel
ing on the day appointed, and ps9seC
resolutions denouncing the ordinance o
secession as an act OF treason, and pro-
vidipr for convention Of all the coun'
ties OF Virginia adhering to the nation
al Government. This convention as
sembled in Wheeling on the llth O
June, following, and proceeded 10 organ
ize the lawful government OF the State
This reorganized government was re-
cognized by the people as the tru
Government OF the State, and hon
| + H Plerpont WAS elected governor
This convention also issued q call for
new State constitutional convention
which BODY was elected on the 24th o
October, 1861 and met in Wheeling on
the 18th OF November following.
The consent Of the Legislature OF re
organized Virginia was given to To
formation of a new State on the l5t'
OF Nav, 1862, and, on the 3lst OF De
cember following, President Lincoln aP
proved the act OF Congress admlItin
West Virginia into the Union. In
new State constitution, as amendel
was adopted by the people on the got
of March, 1868. A general electro
for the new State government was mel
on the 2Sth OF May, and on the 2OtI
: OF June, 1868, the State Of West Vlr
GINA was insugurated at Wheeling D
Hon. Arthur |. Foreman, my presen
colleague on this floor. first Govern
OF the new State, and the assemble
Legislature. The validity OF the me-
, State was fully recognized by CoOgres
admitting Senators and Representa-
tives, and by the Supreme Court OF tn
United States in the case OF Nlrglni
F. Us. West Virginia, for the possession
Jefferson and Berkeley counties, VINO
case was decided in favor of West VII
ginis.
SITUATION OF WEST VIRGINIA DURING Til
WAR.
The people whose cause l advoc "a
suffered much for the sake OF the ne
public. They are the men OF the Dol
der, those men who during the rebel