, 1900-06-16

ion, should be created the new state OF
West Virginia.
Il went to work upon my scheme as
soon as l entered congress. A bill was
introduced which was in harmony with
a petition from the people and legisla-
ture of the state of Virginia, praying
that the state be divided along a GER
tain line, and that the western portion
be erected into a new state to be called
The State of West Virginia.
at was a long, hard fight to procure
the passage of this bill by the senate
and the house of representatives. Sew
eral very able enators and representa-
tives opposed the measure on the
ground of its constitutionality.
THE friends of the act met the argu-
ment against the constitutionaIity of
the bill by insisting that congress had
a project right to create a new state out
of a portion of the territory Of one of
the states Of the Union, provided the
people of the original state, through the
proper authorities, gave their consent.
That consent we claimed to have. from
the only legally constituted state gov
eminent in the State of Virginia, which
was recognized by the national admin
istration and by congress.
Some Of the friends Of the division
movement insisted that the State of
Virginia, having seeded from the I'm
ion, had ceased to be a state, and was
simply a territory belonging to the I'm
tied States, over which congress had
absolute control, and could divide as it
pleased. This latter c%antention was
not relied on, however.
The bill finally passed both houses
and was sent to the president just be-
fore the adjournment for the Christmas
holidays.
While l was a frequent caller at the
White House and knew President Lin
coin intimately, he had never, in all
the talks | had with him, intimated
what he thought of the West Virginia
proposition. He would joke with me
SSt ONNhoAOAlAls III ouSStSI lhdl L
had a hard row to hoe, but he did not
say what he proposed to do with the
bill when it reached him. | felt conf
dent, however, hat he would approve
it.
After the bill had been sent over to
the White House, l waited a few days
and then called on Mr.. Lincoln. He
was very cordial, told a number of
stories, and while l knew he could see
how anxious l was about the bill, l did
not mention the matter, thinking he
was trying to test me. l left without
saying a word about the bill.
Mr.. Lincoln walked with me to the
door of his office, and as he shook my
hand l noted a smile lurking around
the corners of his mouth as he said:
Blair, | am glad you called; come again
soon; just drop in any time when you
are passing
AS | walked down the steps l
thought to myself: Bless his old
heart, let him have some fun at my
expense; the Lord knows he needs
something to relieve his mind from the
terrible anxiety he must suffer-
The presidents cordial invitation
to call again treasured me. | knew
he would sign our bill in due time.
Il called at the White House two
or three time during the next few days,
but failed to see Mr.. Lincoln; he was
engaged each time.
FINALLY, during the afternoon of the
day before New Years, as | was
walking down Pennsylvania avenue, it
suddenly occurred to me that the West
Virginia bill would have to be signed
before midnight or it would fail to be-
come Il law, as the constitutional lin
it of ten days would expire at that hour.
the ten days limit expired, the bill
would not become a law as would be
the case if congress was in session.
Il FASTENED to the White House and
although it was after hours, | was ad-
mitted. The doorkeepers all knew me.
| rushed up to the presidents office.
There was no one there; that part of
the building seemed to be deserted.
While | was standing in the hall de-
batting what to do, l saw Mr.. Lincoln
come out of a room some distance
down the hall and cross over into an
other room. l did not hesitate a mo-
ment. | followed him | found the
door Of the room ajar. l entered and
discovered Mr.. Lincoln sitting near a
window with his back to me reading
a little book. l said, Mr.. President,
| would like to speak to you Without
looking up he replied, seemingly in an
absent-minded way, L wish you
wouldn't Then, turning around, he
said, oh is that you, Blair? Sit down.
| have just received bad news from the
'front.'
Il begged pardon for disturbing him,
and then l explained how it would be
necessary for him to sign the West
Virginia bill before midnight of that
day, else it would fail. I told him
that l feared he had forgotten it, hence
great concern over the matter.
"Mr. Lincold assured me thai he had
not forgotten the bill, but, on the con-
trary, had given it very serious con-
sidpratiOn. then he caid.. sRIair T