Posted on 09/10/2005 4:46:12 AM PDT by Colonel Kangaroo
Lincoln holiday on its way out
By Phil Kabler Staff writer
A bill to combine state holidays for Washington and Lincoln’s birthdays into a single Presidents’ Day holiday cleared its first legislative committee Wednesday, over objections from Senate Republicans who said it besmirches Abraham Lincoln’s role in helping establish West Virginia as a state.
Senate Government Organization Committee members rejected several attempts to retain Lincoln’s birthday as a state holiday.
State Sen. Russ Weeks, R-Raleigh, introduced an amendment to instead eliminate Columbus Day as a paid state holiday. “Columbus didn’t have anything to do with making West Virginia a state,” he said. “If we have to cut one, let’s cut Christopher Columbus.”
Jim Pitrolo, legislative director for Gov. Joe Manchin, said the proposed merger of the two holidays would bring West Virginia in line with federal holidays, and would effectively save $4.6 million a year — the cost of one day’s pay to state workers.
Government Organization Chairman Ed Bowman, D-Hancock, said the overall savings would be even greater, since by law, county and municipal governments must give their employees the same paid holidays as state government.
“To the taxpayers, the savings will be even larger,” he said.
The bill technically trades the February holiday for a new holiday on the Friday after Thanksgiving. For years, though, governors have given state employees that day off with pay by proclamation.
Sen. Sarah Minear, R-Tucker, who also objected to eliminating Lincoln’s birthday as a holiday, argued that it was misleading to suggest that eliminating the holiday will save the state money.
“It’s not going to save the state a dime,” said Minear, who said she isn’t giving up on retaining the Lincoln holiday.
Committee members also rejected an amendment by Sen. Steve Harrison, R-Kanawha, to recognize the Friday after Thanksgiving as “Lincoln Day.”
“I do believe President Lincoln has a special place in the history of West Virginia,” he said.
Sen. Randy White, D-Webster, said he believed that would create confusion.
“It’s confusing to me,” he said.
Senate Judiciary Chairman Jeff Kessler, D-Marshall, suggested that the state could recognize Lincoln’s proclamation creating West Virginia as part of the June 20 state holiday observance for the state’s birthday.
Proponents of the measure to eliminate a state holiday contend that the numerous paid holidays - as many as 14 in election years — contribute to inefficiencies in state government.
To contact staff writer Phil Kabler, use e-mail or call 348-1220.
A witting historical lie of the first rank. The governor of Virginia was John Letcher, and his government sat at Richmond undisturbed by the cabal put together by Cornershooter Abe throughout 1861-3, the period during which Lincoln used the military occupation of western Virginia to create a "state" ex nihilo.
Lincoln used the Constitution to shine his shoes.
Don't waste your time. Neo-Confederates are cultists, impervious to logic or facts.
< Besides, with the exception of the Eastern Panhandle, I sincerely doubt that the state of Virginia would want West Virginia back! >
...and we don't want to go back.
...and you can't have the Eastern PH either...so there...nanner....nanner.
My best bud has told me that "...though you my never be a hillbilly, you may be a Mountain William." }:^)
Congress (the real, U.S. one) agreed to seat the two U.S. Senators elected by the loyalist government of Virginia, so yes indeed Congress recognized that state government as legitimate.
No, I don't. I said that, under the Unionist theory, Virginia never left the Union. Of course she did.
West Virginia was a conquered province. Lincoln just didn't want to admit that the States that had left the Union, had become another country.
So he lied a lot.
Look in the mirror, drone. You wear your own intractability like a badge of honor in your screen name, and you accuse other people of your own favorite vice.
You never know, Manchin may try to sell it!
With the infamous Salmon P. Chase, party of the first part to the original felony, presiding.
Crooked court, crooked case, crooked result.
Sat in Richmond, faithful to Virginia's People, while her favorite son covered himself in undying glory afield with her armies.
Your fictions are so wretched, they are a joke.
The Supreme Court in 1871 had nine Yankees on it, 5 selected by Lincoln himself.
They're a-tryin' to git around me on my left, general!
Are you sure that Congress let the Senators selected by the loyalist Virginia legislature take their seats? Virginia wasn't represented later during the Presidency of Andrew Johnson. In the 1868 trial of Andrew Johnson, there were only 54 senators voting. There were then 37 states (the 36 in the Union as of Lincoln's death plus Nebraska, admitted in 1867), so there should have been 74 senators, but 10 Southern states were not represented (the 11 which had belonged to the Confederacy, minus Tennessee, readmitted in 1866).
The irony here is that West Virginia is still officially listed as a southern state.
Yes, they were U.S. Senators Waitman Willey and John Carlile. See http://politicalgraveyard.com/geo/VA/ofc/ussen.html for more information.
Holidays come and holidays go. This country no longer reveres antiquated white men. The next and greatest holiday will celebrate The Prophet or perhaps Mother Kali.
HELLO! Americans let's focus please.
Damn! I keep forgetting that somewhere it says that only Supreme Court decisions that you personally agree with are valid decisions. I'm going to have to write that down for future reference.
That's because all the southern justices had resigned and run off to join the rebellion. I imagine that they had visions of helping establish the confederate supreme court. Boy, weren't they surprised!
Regardless, Virginia v West Virginia was a 7 to 3 decision, and by agreeing to hear it the court recognized West Virginia's status as a state.
If there had not been a Lincoln there would not be a West Virginia. That is like Texas forgetting about Sam Houston.
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