The National tribune., 1910-07-28
with his Capital and Legislature at

| with his Capital and Legislature at
Alexandria, under the protection of the
Federal army until Richmond fell. when
he removed his Capital to that city. and
held his Office there for the ensuing
| three years. By an act approved Dec.
81, 1862, Congress provided for the ad
| mission of West Virginia into the
Union upon the ratification of an
| amendment to the Constitution. This
amendment was ratified, and on April
| 20 President Lincoln issued proclama
ton declaring that the prescribed con-
dition had been complied with and that
the Constitution should go into force in
60 days. The State then comprised 4S
Counties. Four new ones have since
been added. The admission of the
Counties of Berkeley and Jefferson was
contested by Virginia, but the Supreme
Court of the United States decided in
favor of West Virginia.
June 90, 1863. the State Government
was formally inaugurated, with A. I.
Boreman as Governor of the State and
the seat of Government at Wheeling.
John S. Carlile was elected Senator
from Virginia and w. T. Wiley and
Peter C. Van WinckIe Senators from
West Virginia.
The loyal West Virginians at once
began raising companies and regiments
when the call was made for volunteers,
but these were not permitted to encamp
in the State until after the vote upon
the ordinance of secession. The Con-
federates filed up eastern Virginia with
Confederate troops to influence the vote,
while President Lincoln desired to show
the utmost fairness, and would not al
low any appearance of military interfer-
ence on his side. AS soon as the result
of the election was announced and Vir-
ginia had been made to declare for
secession active operations began. The
West Virginia regiments which had
been organizing across the river in Ohio
and Pennsylvania, entered the State,
and were followed by the militia of
Ohio. and, under the direction of
Cen Mcclellan, they pushed forward,
and soon drove the Confederate troops
out of the State by the decisive little
victories of Phillippi, Rich Mountain
and Carnifex Ferry. The Confederates
tried to regain their foothold, but were
again driven out of every part of the
State except the Shenandoah Valley. 9,
Out of her population of $50, 900 West
Virginia sent 10000 splendid fighting
men into the Union army, and their SER
vices were unsurpassed by those of any
stand made by the loyal people was of
the utmost Importance in preserving
the Union.
1t would be hazardous to say that
their action or the action of any other
body of people was absolutely essential
to the Union triumph, but certainly if
they had not taken at once the bold
determined position that they did and
maintained it with such unhinching
courage the success of the Union arms
would have been greatly jeopardized
and made far more uncertain than il
really was. West Virginia lay constant
ly along the flank of the armies operat-
ing against Washington and the North,
and the presence of this loyal popula-
!
serious if not fatal embarrassment to
the movements of the great Confeder-
ate armies.
Since her separation from Virginia
West Virginia has grown at a most as
tonishing rate, and !n strong contrast
to the st2gnation of Virginia. Accord
ing to the census of 1900 West Virginia
had population of 95S,S00. an increase
of nearly 200 per cent, where the popu-
lation of Virginia has increased only
about so per cent in that time. West
Virginia has been filled up with all
manner of commercial and industrial
establishments, and thrift, activity and
enterprise invade every portion of the
State. The centennial celebration can
therefore be most triumphal event,
signalling growth and enterprise not
surpassed by any portion of the Union