Mr. WILLEY. Well, sir, I merely allude. not to bring them into the proceedings, but simpl to say that there is a report from the other House laid upon our tables. ppose it is in order to reer to that and is the only reference that I make. lhiit rt shows that the matter was fully investigated I do not wish to get into a controversy with my friendfrom Delaware in regard to the facts li in this case. I will cont ent myself by saying that I have not a doubt. today that there is not, a loyal man, as we used to understand that, term, in the county of Jefferson that is not in; favor of remaining where Jefferson county is, now supposed to be, a part of WestVirginia. In the count of Berkeley it cannot be contro, verted that there is a very large majority of the people there, loyal and disloyal, taking illE aggregate of all the people of that county, in 3 favor of remaining with WestVirginia, and I am disposed to believe that today since certain recent action on the part of the WestVirginia Legislature repealing a law affecting the rights of disloyal persons to prosecute suits in the courts, if the vote were taken in Jefferson county there would probably be a majority in that county for remaining in WestVirginia. The disability of which they complained so grievously has been removed by legislative action in WestVirginia. Now, sir, what are some of the facts? These cOunties for some years past have been with l WestVirginia after fair action by the legislatures of 0th States. Polls were opened in, both the counties. permission to hold the election having been granted by the Legislature of Virginia; the election was held in pursuance l I, of an not allowing it to be held; the votes were duly certified b the Governor of Virginia to the Governor of WestVirginia, and the Legislature of WestVirginia, acting upon the proceedings, accepted these counties. The counties have gone on under these circumstances to organize under the very different system of county police and judicial proceeding and recording of deeds, &c., provided in the constitution of WestVirginia from that which original] existed in these counties when they l were under the jurisdiction of Virginia. Deeds have been recorded; various things have been done under our new constitutional provisions, and under our new legislation in WestVirginia, enacted in pursuance of our constitution; I rights have accrued under this legislation., Now, ifthe are sent back to old Virginia, the result will O confusion in title papers and in l the decrees of courts; and a great many mischiefs that will readily occur to every Senator under this existing state of circumstances must necessarily ensue. l The loyal people are satisfied where they are. The election was openly held in these counties. Every man that wanted to vote could have voted., The men who are petitioningtoday that avote f be taken again were not in the counties at the 1 time that election was held; but where were they I They were in the armies of the alleged confederacy. They were fighting against the loyal men of these counties. They were not at home. Some of them, the principals, perhaps, in this matter, held seats in the Legislature of Virginia under the authority of the confederate government. I trust it may be the pleasure of the Senate to let these people remain where they are. As to the form of the State, it is a little zigzag; but it was the desire of this people themselves, principally because these counties lie l 1 upon the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, which railroad runs out into our State, and therefore connects them directly with the interiorpart of the State commercially, and for every other convenience; whereas they are not connected by railroad with cast Virginia, and in order to get to the capital of that State they would have to do as we have from all over WestVirginia. come by Baltimore and Washington city in order to get to Richmond.