University of Virginia Library

THIRD WHEELING CONVENTION,

Which convened on the 6th of August, 1861, that there was but one
duty to perform, and that was to perfect the organization of a new
State.

At this meeting a number of delegates from the Kanawha Valley
counties, who had not attended the second convention, were present,
and took an active part in the labor now to be performed, which was
none other than the partition of the old State and the formation of a
new one.

On the 20th an ordinance was passed, with the following preamble:

"Whereas, it is represented to be the desire of the people inhabiting
the counties hereinafter mentioned, to be separated from this commonwealth,
and to be erected into a separate State, and admitted into the
Union of States, and become a member of the government of the United
States."

The new State was to be called "Kanawha," the boundaries of which
were to include the following counties, viz: Logan, Wyoming, Raleigh,
Fayette, Nicholas, Webster, Randolph, Tucker, Preston, Monongalia,
Marion, Taylor, Barbour, Upshur, Harrison, Lewis, Braxton, Clay,
Kanawha, Boone, Wayne, Cabell, Putnam, Mason, Jackson, Roane,

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It was also provided that the boundaries might be so changed as to
include within the boundaries of the proposed State the counties of
Greenbrier, Pocahontas, Hampshire, Hardy, Morgan, Berkeley, and
Jefferson, or either of them, or any other contiguous counties, in case
a majority of the votes cast at an election to be held for the purpose,
should declare their wish to become a part of the new State; and at
the same time elect delegates to the proposed constitutional convention,
which was to meet at Wheeling on the 26th of November, should a
majority of the votes cast at an election to be held on the fourth Thursday
in October be in favor of the formation of the new State. The convention,
after submitting the question of the organization of the State
to the people, adjourned on the 21st of August.