The decision of the President was awaited with anxiety. Without underestimating the importance attaching to the opinions of his advisors, it was evident that Mr. Lincoln's opinion was all-important. Characteristic of the President, and despite the wealth of opinion and advice at his command, he found his own reasons for concluding that the act was both constitutional and expedient. Not the least important one among these reasons was the fact that "the admission of the new State would turn just that much slave soil to free."[123] After the signing of the bill by the President and in conformity with the requirements of the amended constitution, the constitutional convention reassembled for the purpose of approving the gradual emancipation amendment inserted by Congress. Completing its work in a session of eight days, the Convention adjourned on the twentieth day of February. On the twenty-sixth day of March the people adopted the amendment; 27,749 voted for ratification and 572 for rejection. Certification of the election results was made to Governor Pierpont, who forthwith communicated the fact to the President of the United States. On the twentieth day of April, President Lincoln issued his proclamation relating to the admission of the State of West Virginia into the Union, the same to take effect sixty days from date thereof. Accordingly, therefore, on the twentieth day of June, 1863, the commonwealth of West Virginia formally entered into the Union as a State, the first one to do so with a constitution providing for the gradual emancipation of any class of slaves within the limits of its territory.[124] ALRUTHEUS A. TAYLOR. FOOTNOTES: [1] Hall, _The Rending of Virginia_, 13. [2] _Ibid._, 13. [3] Ambler, _Sectionalism in Virginia_, 1776-1861, 1-3. [4] Hall, _The Rending of Virginia_, 30. [5] _Ibid._, 30. [6] Ambler, _Sectionalism in Virginia_, 1776-1861, 137. [7] Hall, _The Rending of Virginia_, 42. [8] Ambler, _Sectionalism in Virginia_, 1776-1861, 137. [9] Ambler, _Sectionalism in Virginia_, 1776-1861. [10] _Ibid._, 169. [11] _Ibid._, 140, 141. [12] Hall, _The Rending of Virginia_, 38. [13] _Ibid._, 47. [14] Hall, _The Rending of Virginia_, 45. [15] Ambler, _Sectionalism in Virginia_, 187. [16] Ambler, _Sectionalism in Virginia_, 186. [17] _Ibid._, 189. [18] _Ibid._, 192. [19] _Ibid._, 1776-1861, 192. [20] Ambler, _Sectionalism in Virginia_, 200. [21] _Ibid._, 201. [22] Ambler, _Sectionalism in Virginia_, 202. [23] _Ibid._, 202. [24] _Ibid._, 244. [25] Ambler, _Sectionalism in Virginia_, 245. [26] _Ibid._, 1776-1861, 251. [27] _Ibid._, 251-252. [28] Ambler, _Sectionalism in Virginia_, 253. [29] _Ibid._, 253. [30] Ambler, _Sectionalism in Virginia_, 262. [31] _Ibid._, 264. [32] _Ibid._, 265. [33] _Ibid._, 1776-1861, 266. [34] Ambler, _Sectionalism in Virginia_, 266. [35] _Ibid._, 267. [36] _Ibid._, 268. [37] Hall, _The Rending of Virginia_, 62.