The contest between the people of the eastern and western portions of the State for supremacy had been one of long duration, dating back for many years. Internal improvements appear to have been the cause of this dissension—Western Virginia claiming that the East had enjoyed and been benefitted by them hitherto exclusively. In this jealousy the inhabitants of the Valley sympathized, and the completion of the James River and Kanawha Canal to the Ohio aroused a feeling of such bitter rivalry, that even the Governor favored the project of a division of the State. Added to this was the complaint of unequal taxation. The eastern portion being the large slaveholding district, paid _per capita_, without regard to value, while the wealth of the western, consisting of land and stock, was taxed _ad valorem_. This strife, of necessity, was carried from the people into the Legislature, and stormy debates followed. The feeling of the West on the slavery question, also, added fuel to the flame, and the loyalty of that section was attacked. In the State Convention which passed the ordinance of secession, the western delegates took a firm and bold stand against it. When the Act was about to be consummated, great excitement prevailed in regard to the action of the western members, both inside and out of the Convention, and some of them were obliged to leave Richmond. In May, when the ordinance was submitted to the people, the north-western counties voted largely against it. A Convention assembled at Wheeling, and a committee was appointed, which called a General Convention to convene at the same place on the 11th of June. Forty counties were represented there, and an ordinance was passed for the reorganization of the State Government, every officer to be obliged to swear allegiance anew to the United States, and to repudiate the Richmond Convention. A Governor, Lieutenant-Governor, and other State officers were elected, and the Legislature was summoned “to assemble at the United States District Courtroom in the city of Wheeling, at noon, on the first day of July, 1861.” Both houses met and organized. The Governor’s Message was sent intogether with a document from Washington, officially recognizing the new Government. The message recommended an energetic co-operation with the Federal Government. United States Senators were then elected. On the 20th of August, the Convention passed an ordinance creating a new State, to be called “Kanawha.” It included thirty-nine counties, and provision was made for the admission of other adjoining counties, if a majority of the people of each desired it. The question of forming a separate State was submitted to the popular vote on the 24th of October, and resulted in favor of the proposition by a large majority. Since that time other counties have signified a desire to be admitted.