Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1913-06-05
STATE SO YEARS
OLD June 20, 1878
JUNE 20 WILL NOT ONLY MARK
WEST MRoINIA's FIFTIETH
BIRTHDAY BUT ALSO
STATEWIDE cELE-
HRATIoN.
WEST VIRGINIA AROUSED

Official ceIebratlonSIn Wheeling VIII
Be Supplemented BY Observance
Throughout the State Of Golden
Jubilee.
scene: Any free school in West
Virginia.
Time: Present.
Characters: Teacher, pupils, par
ents and other visitors including
school officials.
Teacher: Willie Tell, please arise.
What date are all West virginians go
ing to celebrate this year?
Willie: Friday, June 20.
Teacher: What anniversary falls on
that date?
Willie: The semi-C Centennial of the
State.
Teacher: Give us in few words
some facts about the birth of West
Virginia.
Willie: The first steps that led mp
to the formation of West Virginia as
an Independent state were taken In
1861. On January Z, of that year. the
virginia General Assembly met in ex-
traordinary session, and a week later
ordered an election held February 4,
for delegates to a state convention at
the Capitol February 10. This con.
vention passed an Ordinance Of Sc.
cession April IT. The vote which was
taken in secret was SO In favor; 55
opposed. Meetings Of protest fol.
lowed, but on the 18th of June the
Virginia Declaration of Independence
was adopted in convention. Ordinance
reorganizing and restoring the Vir.
ginfa state government passed June
10, with Francis H. Pierpont as gov
ernor.
Teacher. Very good, Willie. Now
shall ask lima Speaker to take up the
story from this point. lima, what
happened next?
lima Speaker: At a meeting Of the
convention August 20 an ordinance
was passed ordering an election with
in the boundaries Of the new state. !.
Teacher: What was the date Of this
meeting?
Ina Speaker: October "a, 1851. II
was at this meeting that the ques
tons OF division and of delegates
came up. The vote for a new state
was largely in its favor, the vote be
ing 1889 for and 481 against. A new
constitution was framed and ratified
by the people April 8, 1862, by vote
of 1882 to 514.
The loyal assembly of restored gov
eminent of Virginia met In Wheeling
May 18th, and gave consent Of Vir
ginia to formation of West Virginia
May 18th certified copy Of the Con
stitution was presented by Senator
Wiley in the U. s. Senate.
Bill for the admission Of West Vir
ginia passed Senate July 14th. In the
House, of Representatives., the bill was
made the order Of the day for Decem
Der 9th. Passed the House, Decem
Der 10th, and was approved. as New
Years gift, by President Lincoln, the
night OF December 81, 1862.
The Convention which had framed
the Constitution, without emancipa
ton, was recalled and reassembled
February u, 1868. The emancipation
patch was put on, and the amended
instrument ratified March 26, 1853.
April Goth President Lincoln, hav
ing received the certificate of ratifi
cation, issued proclamation declar
ing West Virginia State in the Unio1
sixty days from that date.
June 20, 1863, West Virginia was in
augurated and first administrative of
fcers assumed their duties, at thu
temporary capitol, the Linsly Insti
tute, in the city of Wheeling.
School Official: wish to compli
ment the teacher who has SO success
fully impressed upon the memories o
these pupils this particular bit Of his
tory that we ali, young and old, shoult
be familiar with. I also wish to ex
| press to these two pupils my pleasur,
at the intelligent manner in wbicl
they have related the incidents lead
ing up to the birth of West Virginia al
a state.
You all know that there is to be
great celebration in West Virginia il
honor of the states flftieth anniYer
sary The official place where thes,
exercises are to be held is the cit,
| of Wheeling. An elaborate program
is being prepared. In addition, how
ever, to this official recognition Of tn,
Golden Jubilee, there will be ce1eDra
lions everywhere throughout the state
want the children of our great fire,
school system. to take lively interes
in this great event, and assist in ey
cry way they can to make the da,
one long to. be remembered. Tn
Seni-C Centennial Commission has beef
very much interested in the school
i and school children of-o state an,
are going to present two flags to ey
cry school-on one U. s. flag and on
state hag-the latter made and de
signed especially for the celebration
June 20. You young people shout,
i play a prominent part In the exel
4 cises in commemoration of the state
natal day and the Semi-C entennia
Commission will undoubtedly see to
that a place is reserved for you i
the program. In addition to any fol
NAL part that you may take, however
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