The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-03-13
The new STATE.
Some New Facts About the Birth
Of West Virginia,
The Difficulties that We're En-.
cOuntered in Congress
And the Opposition Met with in
LinCOln's Cabinet.
A Claudestlne Entrance into the
White House One Night.
The New Years Gift Of Lincoln to
Loyal West YirginianS.
Interesting "reminiscences Of u
Famous Fight.
A Clandestine Entrance into tn,
White House One Night.

Nolg Interesting plL VI lne uuWftten ms
tory OF "the war.born" State OF West Vir.
Sipia was recently detailed to your repre-.
sentative by Judge Jacob Beeson Blair,
who has been the United States Judge in
Wyoming Territory since March, 1870,
when he received his appointment at the
hands OF President Grant. Judge Blair
stopped in Parkersburg few days to visit
his son-in-laW, Mr.. II, II. Moss, Cashier OF
the Parkersburg National Bank, while on
his way home from Washington, whittier
ne had gone to defend himself against
iOme Democratic ottiCe.seekerJ, who were
trying to unseat him for personal reasons.
10 was Ro-atranger here. In 1881 he was
citizen OF this city and in the stirring
'Csnes aud important events OF the dark
lays of Rebellion, he played an impor.
,ant part. At that time the Judge was a
oractlCing attorney at the Wood county
bar and man noted for his intense Union
SIN.
On the Esd OF May, 1861, the vote was
,aken In the State Of Virginia on the
ordinance OF secession. The result In the
counties west ofthe mountains, and which
lOw comprise West Virginia, was over.
yhelmingly opposed to tho ordinance.
subsequent events are common history.
The three Wheeling conventions and the
organization Of what is known In history
s "the restored government OF Virginia" ["
he election OF State officials, etc., followed
quick succession. AT that time the late
Hon. John s. Carlisle, a prominent and
alented citizen Of Olarksburg, represent
d tho Parkersburg Congressional district,
q 1t was then constituted, In Congress
Under the restored government he and
Hon. Waitmsn 4, Wiley were chosen
United States Senators,
JUDGE BLAER's PLATFORM.
Judge Blair became candidate for the
vacancy caused by the promotion Of Mr..
)arllsle, and was elected in 1851. lie had
wo planks in his platform and stood bold
upon them during his campaign, The
irst was The suppression OF the Rebellion
IS speedily as possible, andat whatever
iOst and the other was the formation Of q
lew State out OF the counties west oil the
fountains, which had shown their loyalty
" polling but 4 900 Yotes for secession out
II a total OF nearly $1,000 The Judge was
IeCtOI by q gratifying mai Jrity.
Knowing tlAt he was thoroughly con.
,ersant with the history ot the events
Shich led to the birth OF our State, and
Wishing 10 place on record his version oil
hat part OF our State history, the reporter
,ersuRded the reluctant Judge to give the
letails As he remembers them. II has
0een a question open to controversy at va
tous times, AZ to who played the greatest
art in getting the bill through Congress
nd in persuading President Lincoln Ia
ign II. This interview clearly shows that
| was q COMMON work in which many
Vere interested and arc entitled to credit
The story Is told in the exact words OF the
Judge, who informed me that the incidents
eCorded are as fresh In his memory al
hough they had happened but yesterday
Said the Judge;
mo one man, in my opinion, can claim
Individually the credit Of the proud result
| Il the formation Of this State. There were
Wiling hands and hearts on All sides, and
numerous prominent citizens deserve the
| highest commendation for their devotion
| the Cause, and their assistance In the
accomplishment OF the fnalrtsult. Among
,hege | would mention ex-senator Wait
nan I. Wiley, Of Morgsntown; Governor
arthur l. BorGwan, OF Parkersburg; A
W. Campbell, at that time editor ot the
Wheeling INTELLldENCRR, the late WI lam
| !, Brown, OF Kingwood, at that time Con
FRESHMAN from this State, Ex-Governor
I. H. Pierpont, Of Rairmont, and many
thers, whose names ] do not nov recall
Il will make but little difference 70 any o!
hose fortunate 10 have been identified
| gith the movement which resulted In the
,irth OF this rising Commonwealth, where
be credit belongs, 80 long as the State oI
Vest Virginia, for which they labored, Ia
grand accomplished fact.
rnE FIRST BILL LOST.
"when went to Congress from this
district in 1851, l loft my constituents
,Iedged to two thingS The suppression oil
he Rebellion, aud the formation OF new
,tste, II possible. These vital questions
ode us hobbies. AT the first session oi
congress in which served the new State
ill was presented and lost on the first
toto. Nothing further vas done during
ny first term, and soon the session was
ver and the eLIorts put forth were barren
results. Twas again successful candt'
late at the next election and my platform
RaB the same Is before. .
"When won't to Congress the second
ime, / took with me petitions GIgnsd by
thousands Of names asking for the totma:.
ion Of the new State. When the bill
!ane up for passage the second time the
natter had been thoroughly Oanvaseed.
SCHUYLER Collax, Thad. Stevens aud many
llhefs made short speeches In favor Of IT.
tndit was passed by amaiority otfofty votes
IuBt before Congress took its holiday re-
,ess, and was sent 10 President Lincoln
% be approved and signed. Mr.. Lincoln
nad until midnight On the Slst oil Dscsm'
Ger 10 sign the bill. . =,
az said to Senator Wiley that l would
aot leave Washington until knew the
iste OF our bill, % | remained. Senator
Wiley and Congressman Brown wen,l
home for q short time and then retltned
During the days that interviewed between
the passage Of the bill aud the 2lst ot De'
cember, talked several times 70 Mt. LIN
coin about The bill, but he failed 70 BaJ
noslUSely whether OF not he would ap
pfoye Of IL, We had several pFominen
Republicans 10 visit him each day ant
Ialk to him about tie matter, In order Y
ascertain what would be the an1i result
but In vain. We oould get no lntlmattor
Of the pfesident's views on the subject
In the meantime Senator Wiley and Wis
tied every member Of the Cabinet person
ally, as VIC had an ideA that the Pfesiden
would have q Cabinet gonsultauuu belolI
llinal action. Senator Wiley objected Y
the course somewhat as he feared II woult
appear indellCate. But ilnally oyercotnI
his ACfuples aud we went 10 see tbs gen
tlemen Of the Cabinet
WThe flrst one we called Upon was MI
Stanton, Secretary Of WAf, We lntfoduc
ed ourselves and told him our efrand. III
WAS outspoksn In bis opinion that "
, should have new State, aud lie adyiset
us by ali means 10 see each member ol th
Cabinet and ascertain his views.
tS4ERytHw WITH aGwARp.
nNext No called upon Secretary Of STAT
Seward, AZ we entered The room Whet