The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1866-12-24

We quoted Saturday morning from
the Baltimore Sun, paragraph con-
corning "VIrginIa and West Virginia
Finances" wherein the "neglect OF
West Virginia to act In the matter OF
the Virginia State debit" is spoken Of
I'm connection with the action Of the Viz
gInia Senate in regard to funding the
interest on that debt. The Senate pro-
poses, II seems, to provide for but two
thirds OF the Interest, for the reason that
"two.thirds of debt contracted prior
to April II, 1861, is the portion OF the
public debt Justly chNrgeHble to tho
State OF Virginia, Us at present organ
lied, according to tho estimate OF the
Auditor [of Virginia.
Nov, In the first place, there has been
no "negleCt " on tho part of West Vir'
RInia in the matter. The proper juno
ture for a settlement has certainly not
gone by, II It has yet arrived. 1t might,
indeed, be IL question worth considering
whether we ought to undertake set
Element with Virginia until her status
is definitely settled by Congress. But
whatever delay there has been thus far
has arisen, not from this consideration,
but simply from the condition of things
with which the termination OF the re-
bellion left both parties surrounded.
The armies were not disbanded till the
Summer of 1865. In the following Win
ter, Just few days before tho adjourn
ment of our own Legislature, the Leg
islature Of Virginia provided for the
appolntment OF Commissioners, who
were instructed to make propositions Of
reunion, and II our Legislature de-
clined, then they were TO treat concern
ing a settlement. A few days after our
Legislature adjourned, copy Of the
resolutions was received by Governor
Foreman from Hon. A. II. II. Stuart,
one of the Commissioners under 1t, who
was informed that the Legislature Ind
adjourned. There has been no session
since; but when the Legislature meets
next month, we presume the resolutions
will be laid before them for considera-
ton. Until then, and until the l1egis-
lature has had an opportunity to take
concurrent action, there is no ground
TO speak OF "ncglect" on the part Of
West Virginia Tin the matter OF the
Virginia State debt"
In the next place, we cannot conceive
how tho Auditor Of Virginia fig
ures out West Virginia RESPONSE
bic for one.third OF that debt
only two cases OF settlement, we bo'
lleye, have ever been discussed. 1t is
understood that Virginia and her cred
itors will claim that each State shall
nav share of the debt proportionate
to the resources OF each. Then we ask,
resources Of what periodH Nobody
imagines West Virginia ought to or
would settle on the basis Of present re-
sources-aiter Virginia has chosen to
bring ruin and bankruptcy on herself
In her traitorous assault on the Gov
ernment-after she has in her rebellion
oven worn out and run down the rail.
roads tobuild which this debt was crea-
ted. Tho proposition is, we suppose, to
take the relative resources OF the two
States, when the rebellion began, and
divide the debt in that proportion.
"Resources, i" in this connection, means,
of course, simply and exactly subjects
of taxation. A comparison, therefore,
of the assessments for 1860 in the coun-
ties now composing Virginia, and those
in the counties now composing West
Virginia, will exhibit precisely tho re-
latiye ability of the two sections to pay
taxes Mt that time. We take the report
of Auditor Bennett, and find the taxes
assessed in 1850 within the counties now
composing Virginia amounted to
S2,G92, Gl3,Ol; while the taxes assessed
within the counties now composing
West Virginia, amounted to SG27, 5Os,V5.
West VirginiA's assessment was there
fore little under 10 per cent, or less
than one.fflh of The whole. Divided
in this proportion, her share of the debt
would be not far from ton millions
the annual interest Of which would
about equal the whole revenue Of the
State now collected each yoar.
The whole debt as given 10 tho pnblic
by tho Richmond authorities, is not fur
from EOrty.fve millions; but there is
reason 10 believe II Is really six or
seven millions more, and the fact will
be- developed in aSettlomont. Suppose,
We took the third Of this debt, already
assigned ns our share by the Richmond
financiers.-and what could we do with
Il? How could our people puy year
~ interest OF $500, 900, in addition to
present taxation? 1t Is needless to nsk
how wo could hope to reduce the prn-
cIpal and stop tho accumulation of that
interest.
West Virginia will assume no such
burdens, because they do not belong to
her. She will settle on no such basiS'
forit Is not just; and she has no reason
To be more than just To hcr unnatural
mother, who was never even just to hcr.
Tho Convention Of June, 1851, which
reOrganzod the government Of Virgin
ia, In the ordinance providing for the
formation OF Wost Virginia, thus hid
down tho basis of adjustment with the
old State.
1.-THE now State shall take upon itself
q IuSt proportion OF the public debt Of
the Commonwealth of Virginin prior 10
the LIST day of january, 1861, TO DO Ms
certaInOd by charging to II all State OK.
penditnrca within tho limits thereof
and II Just proportion Of tho ordinary
expenses Of tho State government,
since amy part Of said dObt wns con.
Lrncted, and deducting tho monies paid
into tho treasury of III" Commonwealth
from the counties included within the
said now Stats during tho snm" period"
There can be no h"nnI that this pro.
position Ia rigidly equitable. Tho pco.
ple Of Western VlrgInin always com.
planned, --Hnd Justly, That nearly NIL
tho expenditures Of tho Stat" revenue