Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1883-12-30
INNER HISTORY.
Ex.Govern or Pierpopt Tells How
West Virginia
Became a Separate and Distinct
State.
A Chance Reading Of the Federal
Constitution
Brings Great Commonwealth Into
Being.
SycciL Ia the REGISTER.

WASHINGTON, ID. c., December ~
Meeting Francis II. Pierpoiut, ex-Gov-
ernor OF Virginia, here this week, asked
him concerning report that Junk dealers
in Philadelphia had recently offered -
sell to the State authorities OF West Vir-
ginia the archives OF the restored govern.
'Mensofs vtfgtnfx=uudcr the fserpoiats sd.
ministration.
at is probably a lie said the ex-Gov.
ernor. That is 10 say. il is probably not
true that anybody has the records Of the
reorganized government OF Virginia for
sale. Some thief may have stolen some Of
them and may have tried to find q pur-
chaser for them, but all the papers OF my
administration were properly filed in the
office OF the Secretary Of the State OF Nlr-
ginia, at Richmond, and believe they are
there still"
"Tell Inc something" said, of the
Inside History
OF the movement, which led 10 the re-
organization of the old and the formation
of the new State. There seems still 10 be
a good many diverse opinions concern.
ing it,"
That is very true, sir. The trouble
is, it was never generally under
stood. Events crowded upon each
other 20 rapidly then that people
had no opportunity to examine into thea
carefully, and accounts Of them since have
been good deal married Ivy partisan feel
ing and prejudice. | Vas living in the
town q Eairmonl, Just beyond Grafton on
The i. \ O. y. X, when the Virginia C)n
ytniion passed the ordinance OF secession
in liDI. | had been | mon man from the
y'nrt; nj D; ade sp,crl,s against the secs
&c.. move. rnt, and als The ordinance
ngs Ias,Cd went on oOUns cling my friends
nd ne gNhors that their allegiance was
due 10 the general government instead OF
he tat" and that il Was their duty II re
sit the EFFORT which was being ma lie To
'pso the latter ont OF the | mon, even to
tie lat extremity. There were Others
Here who thought as | did, but the
situation was full of perpley.ty. Those
WHO favored the ordinance were already
arminc and organizing at Wheeling Fair
mont, Grafton, CIarksburg and other points
along the rullrosd. Friends OF mine
among them came TO me and represented
what they termed the folly Of our resisting
the decision Of the people of Virginia rs
declared by her chosen representatives AT
Richmond, which could only end in our
being driven ont or punished for treason
20 the state. Union men came 10 me in
utter despair as to what their course OF
action should be, and, indeed, the
prospect looked gloomy in the
extreme. \ movement TO form
government Of COIntes in Western
Nirginis where the | MON sentiment pre-
dominated, had been talked about, but
there we're no authorities or presidents Tor
SuCh action, the plan was denounced ~
double treason by those opposed to it
treason 10 the State OF Virginia and TO the
United States--and the only recourse
seemed 10 be 20 submit 10 the authority OF
the Ieirher government OF State or go oui
urd wait for It's overthrow by the federal
am.
Constitutional Inspiration.
In tins extremity aad feeling, almost
discouraged over The situation, went into
my office one day and picked u? copy OF
the Constitution oil the United States
which was lying on the table. had not
looked at II except in the way OF reference
for dozen years. but on this occasion |
0Icned at the beginning and began To read
Il mechanically. | read through the 1911
uf Fights and went Oh, section by section,
Until came to the cause which guaran-
iced TO the ~isres a Republican form Of
government and gave 10 the nited States
The power 10 suppress armed lnsurreciiDn
and rebellion. As by sudden inspiration
lirht which would guide us ont Of cur
tiniculiies flashed upon me, and the who!e
plan Of a eCTcanized government Of the
State. Sg subsequently presented, stDol oui
before me almost az perfectly "a thJusr IT
hsd been written out on paper down -
lis minutest detail John Lat"her and
his coadiutCrs had. II seemed 70 n.
practically aOdcsted their Offices by ewing
IN their allegiance - foreign and hpsuI"
power. Wha' was 70 hipier She prrpe OF
The Sts.e who remsinPl luyal t 'ne Mon
irOrl rC0rvauIlirg tie safe q rYerr ment IN
urisLn With the FrG"ril authority. InH
r'cY grew upon me "Vul r1i NJ 1ni
UsikuG the l'nOr N 'Vu'"Nca', and ir"n
'ha: dsy until the project was 'nilT CON
,uu ua'sd / never doubted its si'm or
iaIlrTel in is support.
RaorgaDizing state.
'Dn the 18th of May following there was
4 sTon'sneoU4 gathering of rDnis's at
Wheeling which asked the Peep " 10 send
d,.aga,cr t. convention at the same place
i, June I'll. went % these conventions
rnd sim ar ones which followed trem. !
found leaders there like Hon. John =
'
West Virgins. firmly welded 10 the idea
Of erecting q separate State Government st
once. and unwilling to consider my
other proposition. In such case time
WIS OF the essence. ] remember speaking
negriy the whole Of one day 10 staye OH
vote on Carlile's proposition and. when
my voice failed me, getting the t0H iof
one Of my supporters, ex-ConCrsssman
Brown. Of the kinsvOod district, on the
ground that be held the same views as my
SET. and could finish my speech for me.
Finally. as a sort Of compronisr. had my
resolutions engrafted upon others winch
represented the sense Of the convention,
and the plan / advocated was carried out.
The subsequent history OF the movement
is tolerably familiar. ] was elected Cover
nor Of the Reorganized State Of Virginia
for SIX months, or until nay successor was
appointed, in June, 81. At the next
Spring election was re elected by pop1
a. vote, and TWO years afterward was again
chosen in the same way to the
sane Office fOr the term OF four
wears which carried my administration
through 10 1854 Meanwhile, by the aid OF
the Federal troops, we had no trouble IN
protecting TIE loyal people OF the forty odd
counties VIZ :ch were Included in the reor'
ganizeG government OF the State. The new
State movement was again taken Up. The
legislature OF the recognized govern ment
of Virginia gave its consent to the lorna.
ton O! he State OF Yves: Virginia from the
territory included in the boundaries OF the
old Stste, snd after conforming u the con-
ditions imposed by Congress the prsssss
State O. West Virginia @as declared TO be
fully admitted IS q separate STATE In Toe
Cpies in the spring Of ls.i, and ! trans
f.-,sd The seat Of government Of Virginia
to Alexandria and subsequently to Rich
usend.
RiebDaAd Experiences.
My experiences at the two latter points
were. to say the least. interesting. ! fouAd
the State affairs, especially after ] got TO
Richmond, in terrible stste OF disorga1i-
zs;ion. There was no money TO pay the
expenses Of the courts. the penitsntiarss
the asylums and other State institutio1s-
remember the good Dr.. stribling, s1psr.
in tppdsnt OF the State Asylum for the 10
save 1T Stanton, coming 70 rae With tsce
IS long az q mules countsnance, and tell.
in2 me about the destitute condition OF
that institution where the lunstics were
Il - 80