April 20, 1863
Parkersburg Convention - Appointment of Delegates from Lewis County.
Weston, Lewis County, Va.,
April 13, 1863.
Editors Intelligencer:
This being Court day, a meeting of the loyal citizens was held at the Court House to appoint delegates to the Parkersburg Convention, and also to appoint delegates to a Judicial and Senatorial Convention. Henry Daugherty, Esq., was called to the chair, and Dr. N. B. Barns, appointed Secretary. The object of the meeting was fully explained by Dr. N. B. Barns.
On motion, the President was authorized to appoint a Committee of five to draft Preamble and Resolutions for the meeting.
Dr. N. B. Barns, Benjamin Owens, W. L. Dunnington, Thomas S. Morris, Esais Fetty, were the committee, who retired a short time and returned with the following which was adopted:
The amended Constitution of the State of West Virginia having been adopted by the votes of a large majority of those enjoying the right of suffrage within her border - it now devolves on them to select fit and proper persons to fill the various offices, created by the said Constitution, for the purpose of making such selections, so far as relates to the State at large. It has been proposed to hold at Parkersburg a Convention of Delegates chosen by the people of the several counties within the limits of West Virginia. This meeting heartily approves the proposed Convention, and while endorsing the contemplated action as regards State officers, would advise like conventions to be held at Buckhannon, Upshur county, for the judicial and senatorial districts, of which the county of Lewis is a constituent part with a view to the accomplishment of these several objects. It is hereby
Resolved. That the Chairman of this meeting appoint nine delegates to attend the convention to be held at Parkersburg for the purpose of nominating candidates for the offices of Governor, Secretary of State, Treasurer, Auditor, Attorney General and Judges of the Court of Appeals.
Resolved. That there be in like manner appointed nine delegates to attend at Buckhannon or at such other place as the delegates from the various counties may determine, for the purpose of recommending to the voters of this Judicial district, a fit and proper person to be Judge of the Circuit, composed of the counties of Randolph, Upshur, Lewis, Braxton, Webster and Nicholas.
Resolved further. That the Chairman of this meeting do also appoint nine delegates to attend a Senatorial convention to be held as is in the foregoing resolution set forth, for the purpose of selecting two candidates for this Senatorial district. And while this meeting utterly repudiates the idea that their delegates to the several conventions above recommended to be held, will ever think of presenting for their support any individual suspected of affiliation with treason, yet they cannot suffer the present occasion to pass without expressing their firm determination never to support for any office any person who is not known to be and to have been unconditionally loyal to the Government of the United States, to the restored Government of Virginia at Wheeling, and to the State of West Virginia:
The chair appointed the following to attend the Parkersburg Convention:
Robert Irvine, Minter Bailey, Allen Simpson, E. M. Tunstill, Esais Fetty, A. D. Peterson, M. C. Hall, Samuel Clothier, Thos. Hingman.
The following were appointed to attend Judicial and Senatorial Conventions.
P.M. Hale, W. L. Dunnington, R. H. Clark, Dr. S. W. Hall, A. F. Moffitt, John S. Anderson, Geo. C. Dancer, Henry Steinbeck, Stephen Hughes.
It was moved and seconded that the Chairman and Secretary of this meeting be added to the list of delegates to each Convention.
Resolved, That any portion of the delegates appointed respectively to the said Conventions may cast the vote of Lewis county.
Resolved,, That the proceedings of this meeting be forwarded to the Wheeling Intelligencer for publication, with a request that all loyal papers in West Virginia copy the same.
Henry Daugherty, Pres't
N. B. Barns, Sec'y.
Timeline of West Virginia: Civil War and Statehood: April 1863