Hamilton James Eckenrode

Name: The Political History of Virginia during the Reconstruction — Chapter 1
Author: Hamilton James Eckenrode

The Political History of Virginia during the Reconstruction… (1904)

Summary

“The Political History of Virginia during the Reconstruction — Chapter 1”, published in 1904, is a work by Hamilton James Eckenrode. It explores elements such as West Virginia, Pierpont and Alexandria.

Quotes from The Political History of Virginia during the Reconstruction… (Hamilton James Eckenrode)

Hamilton James Eckenrode, The Political History of Virginia during the Reconstruction… (1904)

“ This small minority formed the constituency and elected the little legislature.
The Alexandria government was not in itself of great importance. It governed but a few counties and under the shadow of bayonets; it was the rule of a few aliens in the midst of a generally hostile population. Men, at the time and since, have smiled at its legitimist pretenses. Yet it was recognized as the legal government of the State by the President of the United States. It is, however, as the forerunner of the reconstruction that the Pierpont government has its greatest interest. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Hamilton James Eckenrode, The Political History of Virginia during the Reconstruction… (1904)

“ The refusal to accede to the ordinance of secession cut off the northwestern counties from the Confederate east. It was now decided to erect a new government in Virginia, entirely independent of the regular State administration, and a declaration was issued to justify this radical step. It said: "The true purpose of all government is to promote the welfare and provide for the protection and security of the governed, and when any form or organization of government proves inadequate for, or subversive of this purpose, it is the right, it is the duty of the latter to alter or abolish it. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Hamilton James Eckenrode, The Political History of Virginia during the Reconstruction… (1904)

“ Nominations of delegates to the constitutional convention were made in January, 1864. By the terms of the act of the legislature, any voter in the State who had not adhered by word or act to the Confederacy since September 1, 1861, might be chosen a member of the convention ; all loyal citizens, who had not given aid or comfort to the Confederacy since January 1, 1863, possessed the right to vote. On account of the very small number of counties within the limits of the Alexandria government, it was necessary that each county should be largely represented in the convention. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Hamilton James Eckenrode, The Political History of Virginia during the Reconstruction… (1904)

“ The general assembly should make no law establishing slavery or recognizing property in human beings. [37]
Popular education was provided for in the new constitution, for the first time in the constitutional proceedings of Virginia. A poll-tax was levied on all male adults, one-half of which tax should be applied to free schools. The constitution declared that taxation should be equal and uniform throughout the State. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Hamilton James Eckenrode, The Political History of Virginia during the Reconstruction… (1904)

“ The constitution was then submitted to the people for ratification and was approved by about five hundred votes. [39] Apparently it is not known what vote was cast against it. The people seem to have had little affection for a government which derived its authority from military force. Under such circumstances, civil government soon came into conflict with the military supervision and was humiliated. In this way Mr. Pierpont's government came to grief in eastern Virginia in the summer of 1864. Norfolk was at that time under civil administration and paid taxes into the Alexandria treasury. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Hamilton James Eckenrode, The Political History of Virginia during the Reconstruction… (1904)

“ The west, almost ever since the Revolution, had agitated for reform in the unequal system of representation which gave the east many more delegates in proportion to the white population than the west. In the constitutional convention of 1829-30, the question of representation held the chief place, but no satisfactory basis was decided upon, for the westerners wished to limit representation strictly to the white population. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Hamilton James Eckenrode, The Political History of Virginia during the Reconstruction… (1904)

“ Election forms were very elastic, [21] consequently the election was confused and utterly irregular and representative of a mere handful of the population. Jefferson and Berkeley counties, while voting for admission to West Virginia, elected members to the Virginia (Alexandria) legislature. In the Congressional election, B. M. Kitchen received 91 votes, a plurality. The whole district was soon afterwards occupied by Confederate troops, but as soon as they had retired, Lewis McKenzie, the rival candidate for Congress, filed papers for a contest. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Hamilton James Eckenrode, The Political History of Virginia during the Reconstruction… (1904)

“ It was composed of former members of the Virginia legislature from the northwest counties, and of new members elected in the spring. The western section of the State was by this time fully committed to the Union cause. Federal troops had early occupied that region and carried it away from the Confederacy; citizens of Union sentiments were in full control of political affairs, and the assembly took measures to support the Washington government. It voted $175,000 for the equipment of soldiers [8] and authorized the governor to borrow $200,000. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Hamilton James Eckenrode, The Political History of Virginia during the Reconstruction… (1904)

“ McKenzie vs. Kitchen, House Misc. Documents, 38th Congress, 1st session, No. 12.
Alexandria Gazette, January 7, 1864. The State Journal said: "The position of our State is already in a strange condition and nothing should be done to befog the people more than they are now befogged." The members were not admitted, but, nevertheless, no one was certain whether the counties belonged to Virginia or West Virginia.
The Alexandria Government. p.17
son remained uncertain through the war, and together they formed a senatorial district under the Alexandria constitution of 1864. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Hamilton James Eckenrode, The Political History of Virginia during the Reconstruction… (1904)

“ Alexandria and Fairfax by W. L. Penn, S. Ferguson Beach and John Hawxhurst; Norfolk city and county by Dr. L. W. Webb and W. W. Wing; Portsmouth city and county by G. R. Bouch, P. G. Thomas and Le Roy G. Edwards; Loudoun by Dr. J. J. Henshaw, J. Madison Downey and E. R. Giver; York, Warwick, Elizabeth City, Charles City, James City and New Kent by T. S. Tennis and Robert Wood ; Accomac by Dr. A. Watson and W. Dix ; Northampton by W. P. Moore.
[34.] Constitution, p. II.
[35.] Constitution, Article VI, clause 11.
[36.] Article III.
p.22 The Political Reconstruction of Virginia. ”

Hamilton James Eckenrode

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