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Lincoln holiday on its way out (West Virginia)
West Virginia Gazette Mail ^ | 9-8-2005 | Phil Kabler

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.


TOPICS: Government; US: West Virginia
KEYWORDS: abelincoln; lincoln; sorrydemocrats; westvirginia
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To: Grand Old Partisan
......the legitimate government of Virginia, headed by Governor Francis H. Pierpont, who remained as Governor of Virginia until 1868.

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.

61 posted on 09/10/2005 8:33:29 AM PDT by lentulusgracchus ("Whatever." -- sinkspur)
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To: Roccus

Don't waste your time. Neo-Confederates are cultists, impervious to logic or facts.


62 posted on 09/10/2005 8:33:51 AM PDT by Grand Old Partisan
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To: Roccus

< 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.


63 posted on 09/10/2005 8:34:22 AM PDT by GOP_Proud (Those who preach tolerance most, have the least for my views.)
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To: GOP_Proud

My best bud has told me that "...though you my never be a hillbilly, you may be a Mountain William." }:^)


64 posted on 09/10/2005 8:35:29 AM PDT by Roccus (Able Danger? What's an Able Danger?)
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To: Verginius Rufus

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.


65 posted on 09/10/2005 8:35:35 AM PDT by Grand Old Partisan
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To: Roccus
You contradict yourself, in post 51 you say that Virginia was part of the Union .....

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.

66 posted on 09/10/2005 8:35:54 AM PDT by lentulusgracchus ("Whatever." -- sinkspur)
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To: Grand Old Partisan
Neo-Confederates are cultists, impervious to logic or facts.

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.

67 posted on 09/10/2005 8:37:30 AM PDT by lentulusgracchus ("Whatever." -- sinkspur)
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To: GOP_Proud

You never know, Manchin may try to sell it!


68 posted on 09/10/2005 8:38:00 AM PDT by Roccus (Able Danger? What's an Able Danger?)
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To: Non-Sequitur
The Supreme Court recognized the constitutionality of the existence of West Virginia when it agreed to hear the case of Virginia v West Virginia in 1871.

With the infamous Salmon P. Chase, party of the first part to the original felony, presiding.

Crooked court, crooked case, crooked result.

69 posted on 09/10/2005 8:38:49 AM PDT by lentulusgracchus ("Whatever." -- sinkspur)
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To: Grand Old Partisan
....the loyalist government of Virginia....

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.

70 posted on 09/10/2005 8:40:50 AM PDT by lentulusgracchus ("Whatever." -- sinkspur)
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To: Non-Sequitur

The Supreme Court in 1871 had nine Yankees on it, 5 selected by Lincoln himself.


71 posted on 09/10/2005 8:41:31 AM PDT by Verginius Rufus
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To: stand watie
Aha, reinforcements!

They're a-tryin' to git around me on my left, general!

72 posted on 09/10/2005 8:42:05 AM PDT by lentulusgracchus ("Whatever." -- sinkspur)
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To: Grand Old Partisan

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).


73 posted on 09/10/2005 8:48:40 AM PDT by Verginius Rufus
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To: Colonel Kangaroo

The irony here is that West Virginia is still officially listed as a southern state.


74 posted on 09/10/2005 8:51:16 AM PDT by Old Professer (Some infinitives deserve to be split.)
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To: Verginius Rufus

Yes, they were U.S. Senators Waitman Willey and John Carlile. See http://politicalgraveyard.com/geo/VA/ofc/ussen.html for more information.


75 posted on 09/10/2005 9:00:31 AM PDT by Grand Old Partisan
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To: All

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.


76 posted on 09/10/2005 9:01:42 AM PDT by kali...Kaali.....KAAA..LI (thugee is a peaceful religion)
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To: lentulusgracchus
This is why I didn't want to move to the South after I retired. As a 100% American who happens to be of Italian descent, born a Roman Catholic (though today I consider myself a lapsed agnostic) and also coming from NYC, I did not see happiness in my future if I moved there. If the people of Virginia want to take back the "conquered provinces," let them try. From what I've learned of Mountaineers in the last three years, there would be no success in such an endeavor.
77 posted on 09/10/2005 9:11:25 AM PDT by Roccus (Able Danger? What's an Able Danger?)
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To: lentulusgracchus
With the infamous Salmon P. Chase, party of the first part to the original felony, presiding.

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.

78 posted on 09/10/2005 9:25:29 AM PDT by Non-Sequitur
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To: Verginius Rufus
The Supreme Court in 1871 had nine Yankees on it, 5 selected by Lincoln himself.

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.

79 posted on 09/10/2005 9:27:38 AM PDT by Non-Sequitur
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To: Colonel Kangaroo

If there had not been a Lincoln there would not be a West Virginia. That is like Texas forgetting about Sam Houston.


80 posted on 09/10/2005 9:30:29 AM PDT by No Truce With Kings (The opinions expressed are mine! Mine! MINE! All Mine!)
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