Timeline of West Virginia: Civil War and Statehood
September 30, 1863

The long talked of Convention assembled in the ?city of magnificent distances? yesterday. The train bearing the delegations from Ohio, Hancock and Brooke counties arrived in the town at about half-past 11 o?clock, when the crown proceeded to the Court House.

After the wire-pullers had ?sounded? the ?green? members sufficient to get them to define their positions,? the meeting was called to order by the election of Edwin Maxwell (member of Legislature from Doddridge,) as temporary President, and John E. Wilson, of Wheeling, as Secretary.

On motion, a Committee on Credentials was appointed.

On motion, a Committee on Organization was also appointed, when the august body took a recess, in order to obtain ?grub? and see ?who was the man!?

In the appointment of committees one bad feature of the body was disclosed. ? Some counties had but two delegates, others but one, and one none at all! But by calling on members of Legislature persons who had ?just dropped in? ? without regard to location, -- a sufficient number was raised for the two committees. A third committee ? that on the basis of representation -- was about being appointed, when the work ceased for lack of men.

About half-past one, the committees retired to rooms in the second story of the Court House, and after a short absence returned, with their reports.

The Convention came to order at three o?clock.

Mr. Campbell moved the Ohio delegation e seated together. The other delegations were also seated together.

Dr. Hupp of Ohio, moved that all loyal newspaper reporters be invited to occupy seats on this floor. Agreed to.

Mr. Daniel Peck, of Ohio, from committee on organization, reported in favor of the present President and Secretary, and that the basis of 1863 shall govern this Convention. It give Hancock 418, Brooke 678, Ohio 2905, Marshal 2067, Wetzel 870, Tyler 720, Pleasants 239, Ritchie 667, Harrison 2037, Wood 1603, Gilmer 289, Wirt 375, Lewis 1184, Doddridge 742.

Mr. Moore, from Harrison, from committee on Credentials, submitted a report, which was adopted, stating that some counties had twenty delegates, some ten, some six, some three and some one, and some none at all.

Mr. Peck, from Ohio, presented the resignation of Mr. Daniel Lamb, and stated that Mr. Lacob would not be a candidate for Congress either before the convention or the people.

Mr. Hervey, from Brooke, presented a letter from Mr. E. M. Norton, stating that Mr. N. would not be a candidate before the Convention.

Mr. Campbell nominated Chester D. Hubbard and pledged Mr. H. to abide the decision of the Convention.

Mr. Stevenson, of Wood, nominated the Hon. Jacob B. Blair. Mr. S said Mr. B. would abide by the decision of the Convention, and if he was not nominated he would support the nominee.

Mr. Wolf, of Wirt, said Mr. Blair had always been a Union man; and, as Mr. Willey had said, Mr. B. was the father of the New State movement. He had been in Congress but a portion of a session, and it was but due to him that he should be returned.

It was moved that a two-third vote be required to nominate a candidate. It was then moved that a two-third vote be required to carry the first motion.

It was then decided that a majority of voters be required to nominate. Agreed to.

The committee on resolutions then reported the following:

Resolved, That our attachment to the Union was founded by the fathers of the Republic is unabated; that the integrity of the nation must be preserved; that we are in favor of and will support the vigorous prosecution of the war to the final overthrow of all rebels in arms against the Constitutional government of the country.

Resolved, That our devotion to the Union is paramount to all party attachments, and that we accord to the policy of the Administration, in the conduct of the war with treason and traitors and their property, our hearty, honest and cordial endorsement.

Resolved, That we will nominate no one who will not pledge himself to abide the action of this Convention.

The vote was taken, when Blair received the nomination, having received the whole vote of Harrison, Wood, Tyler, Pleasants, Ritchie, Gilmer, Lewis and Doddridge counties, two-thirds of Hancock, half of Brooke and five sixths of Wetzel counties. Hubbard received the whole of Ohio and Marshall counties , half of Brooke, one third of Hancock and one-sixth of Wetzel.

When the vote was counted, the President stated that there had been 14,793 votes cast, and that Blair had received 9,059 1/3 and Hubbard 5,734 2/3.

Mr. Blair was accordingly declared the nominee.

Mr. Campbell, of Ohio, moved to make the nomination unanimous. Agreed to, and Convention adjourned sine die.

During the recess of caucus No. 1, a young caucus gathered in the second story of the Court House. Hearing a ?rumpus? we repaired to the scene of action. We asked one man what was up. He said they were trying to come to the ?Jim Johnson? on him, by compelling him to pledge himself; he was for Norton first and then Blair; but these fellows wanted him to take Paxton or Hubbard; he would not do it; he would go home first. We anticipated an exciting time when the Convention assembled, but it appears the difficulty was settled in caucus No. 2.

The delegates from this and the upper counties did not return from Moundsville until eleven o'clock last night, owing to a delay of the trains, consequently we are unable to publish our report of the proceedings this morning. We will state, however, that the Convention was a most harmonious one, and its session throughout was marked by universal good feeling. Mr. Blair was nominated on the first ballot in opposition to C. D. Hubbard of this county, who was his only opponent, Messrs. Lamb and Norton not being before the Convention. The Ohio county delegation and the delegation from Marshall, cast their entire vote for Mr. Hubbard, the former giving him 2905 votes and the latter 2067 votes. Brooke county gave him one half her delegation or 339 votes; Hancock 287 votes, and Wetzel 145. In all Mr. Hubbard received 5734 2/3 votes and Mr. Blair 9059 1/3. The counties voting for the latter were Doddridge, Gilmer, one half of Hancock, Harrison, Lewis, Pleasants, Ritchie, Tyler, Wetzel, Wood and Wirt. - The county of Calhoun was not represented in the Convention.

On the announcement of the vote and on behalf of the Ohio county delegation, A. W. Campbell moved that the nomination of Mr. Blair be made the unanimous vote of the Convention, which motion was carried by acclamation. After the adjournment and while the delegates were waiting for the cars, Mr. John Hubbard being called out made a very neat little speech in which he paid a very high compliment to the character of Mr. Blair, pledging him the cordial and active support of his brother.

Mr. Blair's nomination is, of course, equivalent to his election. The Union cause has now been secured beyond a peradventure in this direct by concentration on one candidate.

We should have stated that Edwin Maxwell, Esq., of Doddridge county, was made President of the Convention, and John E. Wilson, of Ohio and Mr. Leonard, of Wood, Secretaries.

The delegates from the various counties of this Congressional District, appointed to nominate an unconditional Union candidate for Congress, met according to agreement at Moundsville, in the Court House, on Wednesday September 30th, at half past eleven o?clock, A.M.

On motion of Mr. Moore, from Harrison, Edwin Maxwell, Esq., of Doddridge, was appointed temporary Chairman and John E. Wilson, of Ohio, temporary Secretary, of the Convention.

On motion of Mr. Moore a Committee of one from each county were appointed on credentials. The Chair announced the following gentlemen as said committee: -- Messr. J. H. Cochran, of Hancock; Robt Wells, of Brooke; James Wilson, of Ohio; Jas. R. Bell, of Marshall; John R. Brown, of Wetzel; Reuben Martin, of Tyler; Jas. Williamson, of Pleasants; D. F. Shriner, or Ritchie; Thomas L. Moore, of Harrison; A. G. Leonard, of Wood; W. T. Wiant, of Gilmer; Benj. F. Stewart, of Wirt; Wm. L. Dunnington, of Lewis; Floyd Neeley of Doddridge.

On motion of A. W. Campbell, of Ohio a committee of one from each county was appointed on Permanent Organization and on a basis of representation. The following gentlemen were designated by the Chair as said committee: Daniel Donehoo, of Hancock; C. L. Scott, of Brooke; Daniel Peck, of Ohio; R. C. Holliday, of Marshall; John Murphy, of Wetzel; Samuel Billingsby, of Tyler; Robert Harvey, of Pleasants; W. T. Shriner, of Ritchie; W.C. Fitzhugh, of Harrison; W. E. Stevenson, of Wood; G. K. Cox, of Gilmer; Daniel N. Wolf, of Wirt; W. L. Dunnington of Lewis; B. H. Maulsby, of Doddridge.

The delegates from the various counties of this Congressional District, appointed to nominate an unconditional Union candidate for Congress, met according to agreement at Moundsville, in the Court House, on Wednesday September 30th, at half past eleven o'clock, A.M.

On motion of Mr. Moore, from Harrison, Edwin Maxwell, Esq., of Doddridge, was appointed temporary Chairman and John F. Wilson, of Ohio, temporary Secretary of the Convention.

On motion of Mr. Moore a Committee of one from each county were appointed on credentials. The Chair announced the following gentleman as said committee: -- Messrs. J. H. Cochran, of Hancock; Robt Wells, of Brooke; James Wilson, of Ohio; Jas. R. Bell, of Marshall; John R. Brown, of Wetzel; Reuben Martin, of Tyler; Jas. Williamson, of Pleasants; D. F. Shriner, of Ritchie; Thomas L. Moore, of Harrison; A. G. Leonard, of Wood; W. T. Wiant, of Gilmer; Benj. F. Stewart, of Wirt; Wm . L. Dunnington, of Lewis; Floyd Neeley of Doddridge.

On motion A. W. Campbell, of Ohio county, a committee of one from each was appointed on Permanent Organization and on a basis of representation. The following gentlemen were designated by the Chair as said committee: Daniel Donehoo, of Hancock; C. L. Scott, of Brooke; Daniel Peck, of Ohio; R. C. Holliday, of Marshall; John Murphy, of Wetzel; Samuel Billingsby, of Tyler; Robert Harvey, of Pleasants; W. T. Shriner, of Ritchie; W. C. Fitzhugh, of Harrison; W. E. Stevenson, of Wood; G. K. Cox, of Gilmer; Daniel N. Wolf, of Wirt; W. L. Dunnington, of Lewis; B. H. Maulsby, of Doddridge.

On motion of Mr. Stephenson, of Wood, the Convention took a recess until a quarter past two o'clock.

The Convention assembled pursuant to the motion of Mr. Stephenson, at a quarter past two o'clock.

Mr. Peck, from the Committee on Permanent Organizations, reported the names of Edwin Maxwell of Doddridge, for President, and the names of John E. Wilson of Ohio, and A. G. Leonard of Wood, for Secretaries.

He also reported the following as the scale of vote for each county in balloting for a nominee the basis adopted being the Governor's vote last May:

Hancock 418, Brooke 678, Ohio 2905, Marshall 2067, Wetzel 870, Tyler 720, Pleasants 239, Ritchie 667, Harrison 2037, Wood 1603, Gilmer 289, Wirt 375, Lewis 1184, Doddridge 742.

Mr. Moore, of Harrison, from the Committee on Credentials, submitted the following report:

The committee appointed by the Convention to examine and report upon the credentials of the members to the said Convention from the counties composing the said Congressional district, beg leave to report that they have performed the duty assigned them, and that the following named delegates are in attendance from the several counties herein named:

Hancock County. - J. H. Cochran, John C. Crawford, B.J. Smith, Daniel Donohoo, David Pugh, Jonathan Allison.

Brooke County. - J. Akinson, Nathaniel Wells, George Hooker, Thomas Mahon, James Harvey, C. F. Scott, Robert M Wells, Montgomery Walker.

Ohio County. - John B Maxwell, A McCann, Joseph Wade, Levi Mills, M. L. Hill, William North, Joseph Vance, S. J. Boyd, S. Laughlin, W. Berryhill, L. Bayha, W. Jordon, J. E. Wilson, Daniel Peck, R. S. Erwin, James Bodley, A B Caldwell, E. W. Paxton, J C Hupp, AW Campbell, A H Britt, Geo Robinson, Jacob E Bier, John C Clator, Edward E Reid (alternate), James Wilson, Theodore Gorrel, Dr. E. H. McCoy, M B Reed, R Pratt, Augustus Handlin, B. Spidel, W Montgomery, I H Williams (alternate for Andrew Glass).

Marshall County. - R C Holliday, J Wallace, Samuel Riggs, John W. Boner, Alexander Kemple, J. M. Brown, William Campbell, Dr. S. F. Marshman, James Campbell, George Edwards, T. J. Armstrong, N K Shattuck, M. Connor, S. Dorsey, Jr., J H Sheets (alternate for W. Alexander), J S. Hager, J M Phelps, James R. Bell, G. Hubs, W. H. Haset, J P Wayman, Joseph Parrot, P M Burley, J W Bonor, John Reynolds, E. Swann, R F M Fariand, K Henry.

Wetzel County. - G.W. Bier, John Murphy, John Moore, R H Sayre, Robert Reed, Jr., John R. Brown.

Tyler County. - Samel Billingsly, Reuben Martin.

Pleasants County. - James W. Williamson, Robert Harry.

Ritchie County. - Daniel F. Shriner (alternate).

Doddridge County. - Edwin Maxwell, Esq., B. H. Maulsby, Floyd Neely.

Harrison County. - A. F. Barnes, Elisha Owens, Isaac D. Ross, William C. Fitzhugh, James W. Janes, Thomas L. Moore.

Lewis County - Wm S Dunington.

Gilmer County. - Wm T Wiant, George K Cox.

Wood County. - H N Crooks, Williams Cooper, A G Leonard, Jefferson Gibbons, W E Stephenson, Sardis Cole, T Devoughn.

Wirt County. - Daniel N Wolf, Richard Thomas, B F Stewart.

On motion of Mr. Holliday, of Marshall, a Committee of three were appointed on Resolutions. The Chair appointed Messrs. R C Holliday, Daniel Peck and Thomas L. Moore, as said committee.

Mr. Peck presented to the Convention a letter from Mr. Lamb, declining to be a candidate for its nomination. In presenting the letter, Mr. Peck said that Mr. Lamb would not be a candidate at all - either before the Convention or against its nominee. A dispatch from Mr. E. M. Norton of J. S. Porter was read, also declining to be a candidate before the Convention.

The Chair announced that nominations were now in order. Mr. Campbell, as chairman of the Ohio county delegation, presented the name of Chester D. Hubbard, W. E. Stevenson, of Wood, presented the name of Hon. Jacob B. Blair. No other nominations being made, the Convention was about to proceed to ballot when the Committee on Resolutions came in and submitted the following as their report.

Resolved, That our attachment to the Union as founded by the fathers of the Republic is unabated; that the integrity of the nation must be preserved; that we are in favor of and will support the vigorous prosecution of the war to the final overthrow of all rebels in arms against the Constitutional government of the country.

Resolved, That our devotion of the Union is paramount to all part attachments, and that we accord to the policy of the Administration, in the conduct of the war with treason and traitors and their property, our hearty, honest and cordial endorsement.

Resolved, That we will nominate no one who will not pledge himself to abide the action of this Convention.

The report of the committee was read and adopted.

The Chair then announced that the counties would be called alphabetically and the chairman of each delegation would respond giving the vote of his county either as a unit or by portions.

One of the delegates from Marshall moved that a two thirds vote be required for a nomination. Mr. Wells of Brooke, moved a two-thirds vote be required to adopt such a motion. The motion was withdrawn.

On a call of the counties the following was the vote in detail.

[omitted]

The Chair announced that Mr. Blair, having received a majority of the votes cast, was the nominee of the Convention for Congress.

On behalf of the Ohio county delegation,

Mr. Campbell moved that the nomination of Mr. Blair be made the unanimous vote of the Convention. The motion was carried by acclamation.

On motion of Mr. Harvey, of Brooke, the proceedings of this Convention was ordered to be furnished to the Wheeling Daily Intelligencer, with a request to the loyal papers of the District to copy.

On motion of Mr. Moore, of Harrison, the Convention adjourned sine die.

Before breaking up the delegates gave three hearty cheers for Blair and the Union.

Timeline of West Virginia: Civil War and Statehood: September 1863