Vintage West Virginia; On This Day in West Virginia History, July 14th
July 14, 2022
Mountaineer News
Vintage West Virginia
John Carlile - "The Saboteur"
Carlile, who resided in Clarksburg, served as a state senator, a delegate to the Virginia Constitutional Convention of 1850-51, and congressman. He voted against secession in 1861, and headed the movement to break away from Virginia. He was elected to the United States Senate, where he drafted the statehood bill for West Virginia.
By this time, Carlile had changed his mind regarding statehood. He sought to sabotage statehood efforts and voted against the bill.
On July 14, 1862, the United States Senate approved statehood for West Virginia by a vote of 23-17.
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