The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-01-04
Nnmior I'M state-A Ll,tle History

IN~NFNNN~
naming tho State, the INTELLIdENcER
prints to-day in full the debate in the
convention that fixed upon the new
State its present name.
The ordinance providing for adivislon
OF Virginia was tho act OF the now his
torlcal convention that assembled in
Wheeling June II, 1851, and held an
adjourned session in August following.
Like tho states General Of France, that
convention was u body armed with all
tho original rights and powers Of thu
people. The Suite government OF Vir-
einia, by the act OF secession and by acts
OF alliance with the Confederate States,
had abdlcated. The people Of Virginia
who adhered to the United States were
without government, and proceeded
through this convention 10 get up new
State government for Virginia by a
series OF measures so happily conceived
in right and in law that one OF the Lead
ing actors in it said years after the work
had been consummated, il 1t were to be
done then with all the light Of subse-
quent events, perhaps no single step
could have been more wisely taken.
That Convention, recognizing tho JUS
tice Of the demand made by trans
Allegheny Virginia for aseparation from
tho Ibody Of death" las Gov. Peirpont
used to style Old Virginia. ordained by
act Of August 20, 1851, that a separate
State should DO setup within q prescrlG-
ed territory If the people therein voted
that they wanted it. The Language Of
the ordinance is:
"The people of Virginia, by their dele
gates assembled ut Wheeling, do ordain
that new State, 10 be called me State Of
RdndWhd, to be formed and erected out
ofthe territory included within tue iol-
lowing described boundary" &c.
At the same time delegates were to be
chosen to frame q constitution "for the
government OF the proposed State" 10
act II the vote on tho question OF sepa-
ration should DO Gas it was in the Affirm
alive. That convention, under tho ordi'
nance, met in Wheeling November 20,
1851. On the Sd OF December, 1t took
Up for consideration what was to be the
first article in the constitution Of the
new State, being the first section OF tho
first report Of the Committee on General
and Fundamental Provisions. Mr., Van
Wrinkle was chairman, and the report
was from his own hand. 1t provided
that
NThe State OF Kanawha shall be and
remain ono OF tho United states oil
America"
Promptly motion was entered by
Harmon sinsel, Of Taylor county, to
strike out "Kanawha." The debate
that followed will be found pertinent
and interesting. Some Of the speeches
arc quite crisp, and none more so than
those made by tho three delegates trom
Ohio county, MIR. Lamb, Mr.. Paxton and
Mr.. Bat.elle, all Of whom emphasizes
the paint that We wish especially to CON
slider in this connection, that the con.
yontlon had no authority to change the
name.
Mr.. sinsel's claim that the constltu.
tional convention had unlimited powers
in every directlon-"all the powers OF
tho people, as he Said-is SO clearly ial,
locious Tint It seclns stranger man Of
his good Judgment andintelligonce could
hnvo fallen into such an error True
they had all tho powers Of the people
whom they represented for the specific,
limited purpose for which they were
called tosotleri but they did not repre-.
rant all the people Of Virginia as did
die convention under whose ordinance
they were acting.
That ordinance, whllO leaving the
FREQ 10 mako such a constitution as they
nleused In ali other particulars, had lin
itod them as TO two things! First, II had
chosen the name fol tho State, as WIS
regular and proper; and second, II hid
speciflud tic territory that might DO on
braced in II, aud 1t Is good sense, as well
"A GOOD legal construction that what Is
spoeiaed by tho superior body Is OK.
ciudod from the discretion Of tho In.
iorlor
when a Territory 1.-THE United States
a 10 DO entered into State, Congress-,
acting for tho United States Govern.
mont, passes an enabling act, prcscrib.
inc A name for the state, and authorizing
Mo Territory 10 frame d constitution
and amply for admission Under II, In
tbo division Of Virginia the convention
ihal authorised II by the ordinance Of
August 20, stood in precisely herOlntlon
n tito proposed now Stats that Congress
~ ..tta..s ut.att0 IA aV,t,Iv fOeI