Mr. LAWRENCE, of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I have listened attentively to the remar s of my distinguished colleague on the ComJudiciary, but he has failed to satisfy me that this resolution ought not to pass. It seemed to me that he has failed entirely to answer the arguments submitted in the report which I had the honor to make to this House on the 12th day of January last. I believe, sir, that the State of Virginia as sented to the transfer of the counties of Berkeley and Jefferson to the State of WestVirginia. It seems to be conceded that the State of WestVirginia agreed to the transfer, and that all that was necessary to complete the transfer was the consent of Congress. It seems to be conceded that if the consent of these 2 States and that of Congress had been obtained the transfer would have been complete. The gentleman tells us that the State of irginia withdrew her as sent, and therefore this transfer is not now legal. I am free to say that the Legislature of Virginia, the socalled Legislature of Virginia, since this Congress commenced, did pass an act withdrawing lier assent to the transfer of these 2 counties from old Virginia to WestVirginia; but it seems to me that withdrawal can have no effect on this bill for 3 reasons: 1st, West irginia having accepted the transfer and the State of Virginia having as sented to it, that assent cannot by any subsequent legislation be withdrawn. On the faith of her assent given by the Legislature of Virgnia to this transfer, WestVirginia took jurisdiction over these counties, organized her courts, and assumed complete jurisdiction; and that jurisdiction has been recognized by Virginia, accepted by WestVirginia, and acknowledged by the authorities of the national Government. There is another reason why Virginia could not withdraw her assentto the transfer of these 2 counties, and that is because Congress has already assented to the transfer. This resolution is not introduced because it is absolutely necessary, but simplyfor the purpose of set thng a controverte question. ilhen Congress admitted the State of WestVirginia into the Union, with a clause in her constitution authorizing her to receive the transfer of these 2 counties, that was itself a consent on the part of Congress; and no further consent was necessary on the part of congress.