The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1893-11-04
WEST VIRGINIA.
Brief History of Our Little Mountain
State.

Tuesday, June Goth, 1893 was the
30th anniversary of the birth of the
State Of West Virginia The State
was born of a hard struggle lasting
over two years and from causes which
grew out of the exigences ofthe civil
war. The first constitution of West
Virginia was submitted to the peo-
Pile of the counties embraced within
the limits of the supposed new
state, on the 3rd of April, 1862. and
was adopted by vote of 1855, for
and 5l4 against it.
The Legislature of the new State
government assembled on the 9th of
May following, and gave its formal
assent to the formation of the new
State. The act was ordered to be
transmitted to the Senators and Rep
resentatives in Congress, of Virginia,
together with copy of the constitu-
ton, with requests that they use
their endeayors to get the consent of
Congress to the admission of the
State of West Virginia into the I'm
ion. The memorial of the Legisla-
ture was presented to Congress ON
the 20 Of May, 1862, and on the 31st
of December following the constitu-
tion was approved, upon condition
that the instrument was to have
force and effect only when certain
conditions are complied with
On the 18th of February, 1868, an
other constitutional convention met
to make certain amendments to the
constitution. Several changes in
the organic law being made it was
necessary to submit it again to the
people for adoption.
The vote on the constitution as
amended was taken the Goth Of
March, 1868, as provided by the con-
vention at its session in February.
1t resulted in its adoption by ma
jority of about seventeen thousand.
The result having been certified to
the President, be, on the 10th of
April, issued his proclamation, adj
hitting West Virginia as one of the
states of the federal union after the
expiration of 60 days.
The convention in February pro.
vided that if a majority of the votes
cast at the election in March should
be in favor of the adoption Of the
amended constitution then an cleo.
tion should be held on the fourth
Thursday in May following to choose
members of the Legislature. a Gov
ernor and other State officers, Judges
Of the Supreme Court of Appeals,
Judges Of the Circuit Courts and
County Officers Hon. A. p Bore
man, of Wood county, was chosen
Governor; Samuel Crane, of Ran
dolph. Auditor; Campbell Tarr, of
Brooke, Treasurer; j. Edgar Boyers,
of Tyler. Secretary of State and A.
Bolten Caldwell, of Ohio, Attorney
General; Ralph L. Berkshire, of
Monongalia, VIM. A Harrison, of
Harrison, and James II. Brown, of
Kanawha, where chosen judges of
the Supreme Court of Appeals.
County officers were elected in near
ly all the counties.
When the period Of 60 days had
expired the date of President Lin
coins proclamation had elapsed June
20, 1863, the new State of West Vir-
ginia had a government consisting
of all departments, legislative, exc
cutive and judicial, provided for by
the constitution. Justices of the
peace and other local officers elected
under the laws of Virginia, held over
by authority of an ordinance of the
convention, till their successors were
elected or appointed.
Wheeling was designated as the
seat of government to remain such
until the capitol could be permanent
ly located by a legislative enactment.
The Inauguration of Governor Bore
man took place in Wheeling on the
Goth of June, 1868. Both Houses of
the Legislature assebled on the same
day for the enactment of code of
laws.
West Virginia has had nine COVER
nors, as follows: June 20, 1868,
Arthur /. Boreman was installed first
Governor of West Virginia, LIST term
from Goth of June, 1868, to March
4th, 1865; second term from March
4th, 1865, to March 4th, 1867. On
Eah 0etb 1897 GOvarpor poro
man having been chosen U. S. Sena-
tor, resigned the office of Governor
and DID. r. Farnsworth, then Pres
ident of the Senate of West Virginia
became by virtue of the constitution
Governor of the State until the 4th
of March 1867.
VIM. K. Stevenson who had been
elected Governor in the fall of 1866,
took the office on the 4th of March,
1867, and was re elected and served
two terms of 2 years each, the last
term ending on the 4th of March
1871.
John j. Jacob was governor for
two terms, one of two years ending
on 4th of March, 1878, and the other
for A years ending on 4th of March,
lS77-the latter term Of years under
a previous amendment to the consti-
tuition of the State. Henry M. Math-
ews, from March 2, 1877, to March A,
1881; Jacob B. jackson, from: March
A, 1881, to March 4, 1885; E. Willis
Wilson, from March A, 1885, TO
March A, 1890; A. B. Fleming, from
March d, 1890, to March a, 1898;
VIM. A. MacCorkle, whose term be-
gan March A, 1898, and will expire
March A, 1897