Volume 14 , Issue 40

How West Virginia Became A Member of the Federal Union

In the Southern Historical Magazine, on page 14, we found "How West Virginia Became a Member of the Federal Union." West Virginia was the only American State ever formed within the limits of another organized State. This state creation was one of the results of the Civil War.

Usually a Territory is admitted, viz: that Congress first passed an Enabling Act, authorizing the people of the territory to frame a constitution the same to be submitted to the people and if by them ratified, then to be considered by Congress and if found by that body not to contain provisions in opposition to the Federal Constitution, a bill may be framed admitting the said territory as a State.

No such course was pursued in the case of West Virginia, and while great uncertainty surrounds the birth of older states and nations, there need be none connected with that of this commonwealth of West Virginia, for the facts that she was "the child of the storm," and was born amid the throes of Civil War, all her history is within the reach of the student who will examine the records.   |  View or Add Comments (0 Comments)   |   Receive updates ( subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

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