Clarksburg Citizen Sows Seeds of Statehood
FROM THE ARCHIVES
This article, originally published in 1980, thoroughly recounts often missed details when presented with the history of how West Virginia was formed. You can download the original article in PDF format below.
From the Clarksburg Telegram
Clarksburg, West Virginia
June 20, 1980 |. Author Unknown
Conceived of frustration, blood and tears, West Virginia had its birth in the midst of the nation's most tragic War - the Civil War, or the War Between the States, depending upon one's heritage. As Clarksburg marks the 117th birthday of the mountain state with West Virginia celebration days, chances are that few of today's celebrants ( are aware of the fact that it was a Harrison County resident who was among the early “sowers of the seed” from which the 35th state of the union eventually grew. He was John S. Carlile, a leading pro-union advocate at the time. He organized a large mass meeting which was held in Clarksburg on April 26th, 1861. According to history, the meeting “soundly condemned the decision of Virginia to leave the Union and called upon the people of Northwestern Virginia to send their wisest, best and discreetist men to Wheeling on May 13th to consider a course of action.”
Subsequently, as is commonly known, Wheeling was the birthplace of West Virginia (our state was nearly named Kanawha during that convention). Although it has been the belief of many that slavery was a thorn in the side of Western Virginia an that is what led to their subsequent separation from Virginia and unique statehood, a study of history indicates that it was a general absence of educational facilities and a common voice denied the Western counties by the slave-holding aristocracy to the east - the age-old “taxation without representation” was really to blame.
As those early pioneers of appalachia viewed the disparity between their natural resources and their economic development and the inadequacy of their educational opportunities, they became increasingly convinced that the solutions to their problems lay in the political arena. But they were unsuccessful there, too. A constitutional convention in the Virginia statehouse in 1829-1830 failed to meet any of the goals the westerners sought. They rankled for 20 years under a system which left control of the state in the hands of the planter aristocracy (Virginia). A constitution reform convention in 1850-1851, according to some historians, succeeded only in developing a constitutional tax structure highly favorable to the slave holders. (Interestingly enough, it was late in this decade that Richmond decided to build a hospital for the insane in the western part of the state. It was started under the confederacy, but completed after West Virginia had gained statehood. it is the largest cut stone building in the world and still serves them mentally ill it is the Trans Allegheny Lunatic Asylum formerly known as the Weston State Hospital)*
Slavery Blamed
Although not preoccupied with slavery, Western Virginians were not unaware of the question which was tearing the fabric of the nation. A Kanawha Valley native, Henry Ruffner, was author of a pamphlet which blamed Virginia's ills on slavery and called for emancipation of slaves west of the mountains. Some historians believe that what may have been the most incendiary of all events connected with the slavery issue took place on what later became West Virginia soil. It was the seizure of the federal Arsenal at Harpers Ferry in 1859 by the fiery abolitionist John brown. As the nation sped toward resolution of the north-south differences, western Virginians were said to have been appalled when South Carolina declared herself out of the union. But they were heartened when Richmond called a convention to deliberate the course of the old dominion. Moderates seem to be in the majority. But in the wake of the firing on Fort Sumter and President Lincoln's call for volunteers, sentiment shifted drastically. Finally, the convention voted 88 to 55 to join the newly formed confederacy. Of the 47 delegates present from West Virginia 32 voted against leaving the union.
Disillusioned, the westerners returned home and a short time later, the Clarksburg mass meeting called by Carlile set the stage for the first Wheeling convention. Carlile, incidentally, favored establishment of a small state made up of the counties west of the Allegheny mountains. That proposition died early on.
(Left) Carlile, who resided in Clarksburg, served as a state senator, a delegate to the Virginia Constitutional Convention of 1850-51, and congressman. He voted against secession in 1861, and headed the movement to break away from Virginia. He was elected to the United States Senate, where he drafted the statehood bill for West Virginia. By this time, Carlile had changed his mind regarding statehood. He sought to sabotage statehood efforts and voted against the bill. Source: WV Culture
(Right) Living history presenter, The Uniformed Historian , poses with the marker placed on the lawn of the Clarksburg City Building in downtown Clarksburg, West Virginia.
The First Convention
On May 13th 1861 the first convention got underway with 426 delegates representing 27 counties. Many were elected irregularly and some were self-appointed. A decision was made to hold a second Wheeling convention on June 11th. A total of 34 counties were represented.
This assembly charged that the Virginia secession convention had acted illegally. The Wheeling group declared all state offices in Virginia vacant and promptly formed the “restored or reorganized government of Virginia.” Francis H. Pierpont was chosen as governor. Thus, Virginia had two governments according to the westerners - one under Governor John Letcher at Richmond which favored the Confederacy and the other under Pierpont at Wheeling which was loyal to the union.
At adjourned sessions through August, the new state solved some boundary problems and then the convention on August 20th 1861 passed an ordinance to create a new state to be named Kanawha. Meanwhile, Civil War battles were raging in the mountain state, sometimes pitting brother against brother, depending on their north-south sentiments. The Battle of Philippi and Rich Mountain were victories for the Union forces.
Stonewall's Role
In the campaigns in the Shenandoah Valley a distinguished General whose name lives on today Thomas Jonathan “Stonewall” Jackson [a native Clarksburg citizen] played a vital role in Confederate victories. In 1862, Jackson defeated Union forces under John C. Fremont who had launched an attack from his new headquarters in wheeling. It was at Chancellorsville in a later battle that Jackson suffered fatal wounds. Before this time, General Robert E. Lee had concluded that the Lost portions of Western Virginia could not be regained. Most of the decisive fighting in West Virginia took place before the end of 1861. Few important battles took place here after 1862.
Recalled sessions of the second Wheeling convention met through February 1862 to work out problems of the new state. Finally a constitution for the new state was adopted and it was named “West Virginia” rather than “Kanawha”. Interestingly enough, as historians put it, slavery was not abolished. This failure to outlaw “the peculiar institution’ [slavery] refutes the contention that the slavery issue precipitated the separation of West Virginia from Virginia. [Slavery would later be completely abolished in the United States but not until December 6, 1865 with the passing of the 13th amendment. West Virginia was admitted to the Union as a state where slavery was legal with provision that enslaved people would only be emancipated over gradual time period.**]
Stonewall Jackson depicted in his Valley Campaign
Two Hurdles
The new state movement still had to clear two hurdles. it required the approval of both the federal government and the Government of Virginia. The latter proved easier than the first. It addressed its request to the restored or reorganized government of Virginia, headed by Governor Pierpont who was close by in Wheeling. A one-day session of the general assembly of Virginia resulted in its approval to form West Virginia. It was then on to Washington to clear the second hurdle. The West Virginia statehood bill passed both the house and the senate in which West Virginia residents ratified the measure 27,740 to 572.
Although he had some misgivings about it, President Lincoln issued a proclamation under which West Virginia entered the Union on June 20,1863 as the 35th state. On that day in ceremonies held at Wheeling, the capital of the new state, Arthur I. Boreman, a republican, was inaugurated as the first governor of the mountain state. He had been active in the creation of the restored government of Virginia Which then moved to Alexandria near the Federal capital.
With the Civil War still in progress, Governor Boreman and the legislature devoted considerable attention to destroying Confederate influence and to adapting the state to its place in the Union. A law was passed requiring voters to affirm that they had never willingly borne arms against the government of the United states, the restored government of Virginia or the new state of West Virginia.
Years Beyond Statehood: Control of State
Obviously these oaths disqualified former confederates, most of whom were democrats, from voting or holding office. At best, republicans were assured control of the state for some time. Contributing to the retention of power by the Republicans was the “enfranchisement in 1870 of the negroes.” Wartime passion cooled and Confederates as well as the one-time slaves were given the vote. Aided by liberal republicans, the democrats captured control of the state in the 1870 election. They retained control until 1897. The chief executives become known as the Bourbon Governors like the bourbon democrats of deep south. Although the bourbon governors did much to promote investment capital, provide adequate labor supplies and improve transportation, historians say that one of the most dramatic facets of their years was related to efforts to obtain a permanent site for the state capitol. Wheeling had served well when the government needed to be safely behind Union lines. After the war the legislature decided to move Charleston nearer the center of the state and on the line of the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad which was then being built. The capital remained at Charleston from 1870 until 1875 when it was returned to wheeling.
The site of the seat of West Virginia’s government became so controversial that in 1877 the legislature submitted the matter to a vote of the people. Ultimately, Charleston won out over its two leading rivals: Clarksburg and Martinsburg. In 1885, the capital was moved back to Charleston where it remained.
The second Charleston capitol building, in use from 1885 to 1921; it burned to the ground in 1921
Source Wikipedia and WV State Archives
Coalfields and Oil Beginnings
Development of the coal, oil, gas and Timber Industries was of Paramount importance in the late 19th century. Bituminous coal lies beneath lie beneath the surface of about 17,000 square miles of West Virginia in 117 seams, 16 of which are workable. Although Cole was mine before the Civil war, the real growth of the industry did not begin until the last quarter of the century. From production of about 600,000 tons in 1870 the output had risen to 21,500,000 tons by 1900. There was no elaborate machinery was used in those days. Leaders in the rapidly expanding industry often exerted a profound influence upon state matters.
The oil industry in West Virginia had its beginnings in the months immediately prior to the Civil war when Samuel D. Karnes drilled a successful well at Burning Springs in Wirt County. Within a year, thousands of people were living and working in the vicinity. After the war, wells by the dozens were being drilled there and in adjoining counties. Output continued to rise until 1900 when more than 16 million barrels were produced.
Natural gas, like oil, was for many years regarded as a nuisance. The impetus of the gas industry came with its use for purposes of illumination and heating. In 1906, West Virginia took first place among the states in gas production. It held that position until 1897, its peak year, with 308 million cubic feet produced.
West Virginia Coal Miners Source Legends of America
Lumber at Peak in West Virginia
Lumber also came into its own after the Civil War. The pioneers had regarded the forests as a mixed blessing. With the recognition of its worth and the introduction of the bandsaw, the real onslaught upon the forests was made. Railroads were built right from the forests and logging areas and timber was often transported downstream to continue construction.The lumber (hardwood) reached its peak in 1909 when nearly a billion and a half feet of lumber were sold. Today, many recount that the forests never recovered. The virgin timber was a sight to behold. With the growth of these industries, transportation facilities improved, namely railroads. Eventually, they reached every nook and cranny in the state where haulage was possible.
The growth of all these industries produced boom towns and, eventually, busts in coal mining and lumber communities the company was “big boss” providing most of the needs of the workers even o a company doctor. It was once fashionable to criticize this system but there are those who say that because of the isolation of the towns, it was almost essential that the company provide these services.
West Virginia “went Republican” in 1896 when the nation chose William McKinley over William Jennings Bryan. GOP governors proved as friendly to business interests as had the Bourbon chief executives.
At the turn of the century, the dominant figure in the Democratic party was Henry Gassaway Davis, coal and railroad magnate. The republican party, after the death of Nathan Goff Jr., was dominated by the son-in-law and business partner of Davis, Stephen B. Elkins. So great was Elkins’ power that the first four governors after 1897 were referred to as the “Elkins Governors.”
Labor trouble entered the picture in 1890 after the organization of the United Mine Workers Union. Names like “Mother” Mary Jones, an elderly organizer, and the battle of Paint Creek between UMW members and strike-breakers dominated the picture.
A West Virginia Timber Crew Source
Decades Come and Go
West Virginia history has shown considerable continuity. Many natives left the state and large corporations, which brought in many skilled and professional people, wrought subtle changes in the character of many communities.
Yet, despite these demographic and cultural changes, West Virginians have retained many of the older traditions of friendliness and interest in human concerns which have characterized them since the days of the pioneer fathers.
One New Yorker put it this way: “In an age when ideals are changing rapidly, West Virginians reflect something that has been worthwhile in American culture”
1960’s West Virginia Post Card
*
This hospital currently is known as the Sharpe Hospital
** Source, Wikipedia:
President Lincoln had issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, which exempted from emancipation the border states (four slave states loyal to the Union) as well as some territories occupied by Union forces within Confederate states. Two additional counties were added to West Virginia in late 1863, Berkeley and Jefferson. The slaves in Berkeley County were also under exemption but not those in Jefferson County. As of the census of 1860, the 49 exempted counties held some 6000 slaves over 21 years of age who would not have been emancipated, about 40% of the total slave population.[11] The terms of the Willey Amendment only freed children, at birth or as they came of age, and prohibited the importation of slaves