Comments on: The Seceded State of Kanawha http://www.brettschulte.net/CWBlog/2009/01/18/the-seceded-state-of-kanawha/ Informed Amateurs Blog the American Civil War Sat, 11 Feb 2012 11:41:50 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Kentuckian http://www.brettschulte.net/CWBlog/2009/01/18/the-seceded-state-of-kanawha/comment-page-1/#comment-5351 Kentuckian Fri, 31 Jul 2009 13:17:23 +0000 http://www.brettschulte.net/CWBlog/?p=2381#comment-5351 They should change the name back to Kanawha and make "Charleston" "Kanawha City" (I guess the neighborhood of that name could be renamed "Charleston" LOL.) After all, there's already a more famous Charleston in S.C., and Virginia actually extends west of *West* Virginia. They should change the name back to Kanawha and make “Charleston” “Kanawha City” (I guess the neighborhood of that name could be renamed “Charleston” LOL.) After all, there’s already a more famous Charleston in S.C., and Virginia actually extends west of *West* Virginia.

]]> By: Bob http://www.brettschulte.net/CWBlog/2009/01/18/the-seceded-state-of-kanawha/comment-page-1/#comment-4206 Bob Thu, 07 May 2009 00:02:23 +0000 http://www.brettschulte.net/CWBlog/?p=2381#comment-4206 Aside from Constitutionality, the real question is did West Virginians want a state of their own? I have read the records of the Wheeling Conventions and there is actually no evidence that a significant number wanted to split from Virginia. This very question was asked by the Lt. Gov. Daniel Polsley at the 2nd Convention in August 1861. He wanted proof of the "clamor" and all he was told was that there were 3 or 4 petitions of some 700 names. One delegate said his constituents wanted nothing short of separation. The only trouble is that he represented a Secessionist county, so I don't think he was speaking for the majority. A few weeks after that they decided to offer a referendum, at which only 34% of the voters participated, and if you include all 50 counties it drops to 28%. There is also the issue of Ohio soldiers accounting for almost the entire vote of Hampshire county. Historians have done a very poor job in writing about this. Aside from Constitutionality, the real question is did West Virginians want a state of their own? I have read the records of the Wheeling Conventions and there is actually no evidence that a significant number wanted to split from Virginia. This very question was asked by the Lt. Gov. Daniel Polsley at the 2nd Convention in August 1861. He wanted proof of the “clamor” and all he was told was that there were 3 or 4 petitions of some 700 names. One delegate said his constituents wanted nothing short of separation. The only trouble is that he represented a Secessionist county, so I don’t think he was speaking for the majority. A few weeks after that they decided to offer a referendum, at which only 34% of the voters participated, and if you include all 50 counties it drops to 28%. There is also the issue of Ohio soldiers accounting for almost the entire vote of Hampshire county. Historians have done a very poor job in writing about this.

]]> By: elektratig http://www.brettschulte.net/CWBlog/2009/01/18/the-seceded-state-of-kanawha/comment-page-1/#comment-2220 elektratig Mon, 19 Jan 2009 13:10:53 +0000 http://www.brettschulte.net/CWBlog/?p=2381#comment-2220 Fred, There's actually a strong case to be made that the formation of West Virginia was constitutional. It gets technical, but you can find the article <a href="http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=371340" rel="nofollow">here</a>. Fred,

There’s actually a strong case to be made that the formation of West Virginia was constitutional. It gets technical, but you can find the article here.

]]>