Second Congressional District - Recommendation of Its Delegates for a Convention.
September 12, 1863
Wheeling, W. V., Sept. 11, 1863.
At a meeting of the members of the Legislature from the 2d Congressional district, held in the Capitol to-night, Senator Farnsworth, of Upshur, was appointed Chairman, and J. S. Barns, of Marion, Secretary.
On motion of Senator Carskadon, the following address was unanimously adopted:
To the Citizens of the Second Congressional District:
Realizing the grave importance of selecting for our representative in the next Congress of the United States, a man unconditional in his devotion to the preservation of the Federal Union, we recommend that there be held a Convention at Grafton on the first day of the approaching October, to nominate such a man as our candidate. The reasons for such a course may briefly be stated: There are already three candidates for this position, and probably will be others. If three or four candidates persist in running through under the Union banner, the loyal vote will be so divided that there will be no difficulty in electing an opposing candidate if that class of voters see fit to bring out one and vote for him. That they will do so in such a case we need not permit ourselves to doubt. We cannot conceive any greater calamity than the election of a rebel and traitor as our first representative in Congress and it is to guard against this inevitable result of a contrary cause that we earnestly ask our fellow citizens to meet in Convention at the time, place and for the purpose named. We are in the midst of implacable foes who only seek to divide and destroy us. When such consequences are in the scale individual aspirations and local and personal preferences should give way for the general good. Les us present a united front to what we may be sure is a united foe and we shall be spared the everlasting shame and injury that would be visited upon us and the State, and it might be to the whole nation, if we should send a disloyal representative from our Second District.
On motion,
Resolved, That the loyal papers of the State be requested to publish the address and proceedings of this meeting.
D. D. T. Farnsworth, President.
J. S. Barns, Sec'y.
Timeline of West Virginia: Civil War and Statehood: September 1863