April 18, 1863
Meeting in Pleasants County.
Editors IntelligencerL,/i>
At a meeting of the citizens of Pleasants county held at the Court House on Tuesday the 14h day of April, 1863, Col. R. T. Parker was called to the Choir, and R Hickman appointed Secretary.
The object of the meeting being explained by John A Hutchinson, Jr., the meeting proceeded to appoint delegates to attend the Convention to be held at Parkersburg to nominate State officers.
On motion the following names gentlemen were appointed delegates to said Convention from the several magisterial districts of this county, viz:
Upper District - James W. Williamson, Thomas Gorrell, Asa P. Allen, Friend Taylor, Selman Wells, and Thomas Johnson.
Middle District - Joseph Hubbs, Thomas D. Gorrell, Robert Patterson, Jr., Josiah Powell and J. F. Bolton.
Lower District - Friend Cochran, Hiram Shapuack, Col. R. T. Parker, Hamilton Williamson, David McKinney and Maulshey Rogers.
On motion of Joseph Hubbs, Esq.
Resolved, That any loyal new State citizen of this county, who may be in Parkersburg during he sitting of said Convention, be requested to act as alternates.
On motion of John A. Hutchinson, Jr., the following resolutions were adopted:
Resolved, That men of integrity, high moral character and ability should be selected by the people of West Virginia for the purpose of successfully launching the new ship of State "steady and true, with an upright keel," and that as one of them, our delegates be instructed to inform the Convention that Judge A. J. Boreman of Wood county, if nominated, will be heartily supported by the voters of this county for Governor.
Resolved, That in our opinion, it would be unreasonable, unwise and flagrantly inconsistent with the great and novel duties devolved upon us, that the advent of West Virginia among the sister States of the Federal Union should be marked by the reconstruction of party platforms and the unfurling of partisan banners, that the erection of a new State and differences concerning the modes of its organization, should not absorb our minds to the exclusion of national concerns, sensible of the importance of overthrowing the rebellion and preserving our unity of government; without which all our efforts to prepare for ourselves and coming generations a State of equal laws, peace and prosperity, will be fruitless.
On motion of F. C. Taylor,
Resolved. That the proceedings of this meeting be published in the Wheeling Intelligencer, Parkersburg Gazette, Ritchie Press, and other papers favorable to the new State.
On motion the meeting adjourned.
R. C. Parker, Ch'n.
R. Hickman, Sec'y.
Timeline of West Virginia: Civil War and Statehood: April 1863