The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1866-01-12
The settlement with virginia.

found on our first page this morning.
The settlement with Virginia
a question of growing interest is the
settlement TO take place sooner or later
between this State and East Virginia.
As has been already noted in these coli
umns, the Virginia authorities have
broken ground in reference TO II. 1t is
to he presumed, we think, that the real
movers in this matter, behind the Vir-
GINA Legislature, are the holders OF
Virginia bonds, who are operating I'M
der the belief that West Virginia viii
come out considerably in debt to the old
State, and will therefore be Obliged to
assume portion of the debt of which
they hold evidences, In this belief we
think these gentlemen will find them7
selves mistaken, when they come to
find out the grounds of settlement. If
the debt were TO be adjusted on the
Richmond basis, viz: that each State
should assume u share Proportionatet to
its ability TO pay, the case would be dr.
terent. But we nre not required by the
law in the cnse to settle on that bnsis. 1t
is not consistent with justice, nor will
our authorities or people eversubmitt to
the exnction of such terms.
The principles to govern this adjust
mcnt of tho debt of Virginia are laid
down in the 9th section of the Ordinance
orthe Virginia Convention, passed Au-
gust 10th, 1851, and entitled "An ordi-
nance to provide for the formation OF u
new State out of apOrtion of thisSt
We quote the section referred to:
"g. The new State shall take upon
itself 81 just proportion OF the public
debt of the Commonwealth Oh SlTSiin ni
prior to the first day of january, 1861,
10 he asCertuincd by charging to 1t all
state expenditures within the limits
thereof, and Just proportion OF the
ordinary expenses of tic State Govern
mcnt. since any pnrt of said debt was
cuntruCted; and deducting therctrom
the monies paid into the treasury OF the
Commonwealth from the counties In
cludcd within thesaid new Stnto during
the said period"
It will he seen that this puts very
different face on the matter from that
indicated by the Richmond papers and
by the reference to the subject in Cover
nor Peirpoint's last message. West
Virginia is TO be charged with a fair
proportion OF the legitimate cost of CIR
rying on the State Government OF Nir-
ginia since the year 1852, that being the
year, We believe. from which the debt
began to accumulate. West Virginia
is also to be charged with all expendi-
lures by tile State of Virginia, within
its tifty counties, since the same year;
and is TO he credited with all revenue
paid into tho treasury of Virginia dur
ing the-same period.
The precise amounts of these debts
and credits can DO asccrtainedb by nm ex-
animation of tho records of Virginia !;
80 thut the process of efecting an adj
iustment on these principles will bcas
simple as the bnsis is just. 1t is not
practicable for ns, to lay the figures be-
fore our readers ut present Possibly
we may be able to do 30 hta future day
But general statement OF facts viii
show that West yirginia will not neet
to assume dollar of the debt of Vir
Einia, II the settlement be made on thu
equitable principle, laid down by thu
Virginia Convention four years and sis
months ago, and near two years befor'
the new State had mn existence.
of all the railroads built by Virginia
in the creation OF the debt, not u foo
was ever finished within this State.-
Some grinding was done on the, Covingi
ton aud Ohio; and as the portion of II
below Charleston was subscribed by
tho State to the West Virginia Central
mt 800, 900, we take it that is about what
IL cost. In addition to this some gra
ding was done in Greenbrier county,
Tho State also expended something in {
few bridges and turnpikes, which it i.
impossible, without data, to compute
hut which evidently will not mako 4
very enormous aggregate. Whetlel
anything was expended on the Ka'
nawhn improvements since 1852 we
cannot say, but think very little, ii
anything. ss
The revenue paid, on the other hand
wns very considerable. From 1856 II
was about SSO0,OOOa year.. prior to that
probably not over $3.50, 600. This would
make 50, 75O, 200, certainly enough to pay
for all the Improvements given us by
the Stato Of Virginia, and our fair pro-
portion of the Legitimate cost of State
government from 1852 to 1861.
If our people are to have Justice in
this matter, 1t is not question that
very greatly affects them. IL not, they
have a grent deal ut stake and it be-
comes u matter OF the proFonndest mo-
mcnt. Ia-1.
A D1srArcu from Washington says
that A. o. p. Nicholson, formerly U. S.
Senator from Tennessee, having made