The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1916-04-09

ernor, judicial and county officers for
the first time were now to be elected
by the people. While the basis OF
representation was not entirely salts
factory to the west yet they had gained
so many privileges that 1t was ac-
quiesced in as a change was provided
to take place in 1865.
The first governor elected under
this constitution was, Joseph Johnson,
Of Harrison county, and the only one
ever elected west of the mountains.
The chain Of remarkable events
unequalled in history, leading up to
the secession Of Virginia, the forma-
ton of the new state OF West Virginia,
and the adoption Of its first constitu-
ton will be treated elsewhere in this
volume, ,t9.
Tho second Wheeling convention
which met June IL, 1861, and reor-
ganized the government Of Virginia,
met In August and passed an ordi-
nance that an election should DO held
in the western counties Of Virginia
on the fourth Thursday in October,
to take the sense Of the voters on the
question OF dividing the state, and at
the same time to elect delegates to a
the convention met in Wheeling No
vember 26. 1851, and having complet-
cd Its labors by adopting constitu-
ton, adjourned February IS. 1862.
The constitution was ratified by the
vote Of the people at an election held
April 8, 1862.
The act Of Congress admitting West
Virginia into the union, was condi-
toned upon the section Of the consti-
tuition being amended, in regard to
slavery, was approved December 81,
1862.
The constitutional convention re-
assembled February ~. 1868. and
made the changes proposed by the act
Of Congress. This amendment was
approved by the people at an election
held March 20. 1868.
President lincoln issued procla-
nation, which admitted the new state
into the union June 20. 1853.
The new constitution made radical
innovations, among them the abolish
ment Of slavery, freedom of speech and
the press, free schools and voting by
ballot.
The first legislature under this con-
sutution met at Wheeling June 20.
1858. q
The legislature on February 90, 1871.
passed an act to take the sense of the
voters Of the state upon the call Of a
convention to enact new constitu-
ton at an election to be held on the
fourth Thursday in August, 1871,
which resulted in approving a conven-
ton.
The election for delegates was held
on the fourth Thursday and the con-
yention met at Charleston on the third
Tuesday In January. 1872.
The election on the adoption Of the
constitution was held on the fourth
Thursday In August, 1872, and result
ed in Its being ratified and is the con-
stitution under which we are now gov
erned, 1909.
At the same time an election was
held for state, judicial, legislative.
county and district officials, who were
to be seated In case the constitution
was adopted, which resulted in a
wholesale turning out Of all officials
without regard to the fact that they
had not served out the terms for
which they had been. elected.
The governor and other state Of
ficers were to be ushered into office
on March 4. 1873, and the county Of.
ficers on the first Of January, 1873.
The first legislature under this cone
shtution met on the third Tuesday in
November, 1872. = s'..- :!
A common needle passes. through