The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1869-10-25


test oaths Ia the only issue In the com.
Ing election worth the attention Of
this community, Is one we cannot concur
In. We have shown that the extreme
ground held by the Register and lts
ticket on that Issue Is untenable; but
there are other matters 10 come before
the next Legislature which concern the
people Of Ohio county much more
deeply than this. Every doubt that
Virginia will resume her full place In
the Union very early this winter has
boon removed. She may do so before
the Legislature we are about 10 cleo.
will assemble. Tho Virginia Leglsla.
turo will meet at once; and one Of the
very frat things to engage liz atten.
ton will be settlement between
the two Virginia.. There Is large
accumulation Of interest, for which
the creditors will push with prompt.
tude and energy. The Virginia
Legislature will be constrained to act
at once. By the time our own Leglsla.
ture meets, or certainly before It ad-
Journs, It will be officially requested to
take steps for an adjustment OF the
debt. When we remind our readers
that the whole debt cannot now DO far
from 1tty millions and cannot possibly
be reduced below thirty millions
probably not below thlriy.ilye or forty
milllons-by the sale OF the public
works in Virginia, and that Virginia
will undertake to fasten one.thIrd Of
this on West Virginia, that VlrgInla's
claim In the matter at one Time received
the countenance OF the head Of the U.
q. Treasury; and that the holders OF
this vast Indebtedness will all be Inter.
ested in making US responsible for as
much OF the debt as they oan, they
Will agree with US that this Ia a
matter OF enough moment to over.
shadow every other consideration
in this canvass. Whatever share OF
that immense debt has to DO paid by
this State, must be paid by the property
Of the State-by houses and lots, lands,
money and stocks. Ohio county holds
more taxable wealth than any other
county In the State. She has more to
dread aud suffer, therefore, from the
pressure OF taxation that must ensue II
we pay any part Of this deb!. II we
assume five millions OF the debt the
bare Interest on 1t will equal the
money now raised by taxation for State
purposes. II we assume one-thlrd, say
ten millions, It will double It; and
this, efiectlng no reduction OF the
principal, would have to be kept
up every year. Now, we arc drm-
ly persuaded an equitable adjust
ment between the Two States would
mako us liable for very little OF this vast
and constantly growing debt; and for
such an adjustment we must fight
unitedly and manfully. It Ia our only
salvation from bankruptcy OF the State.
And therefore It Is a matter OF supreme
moment, one We could not unduly
magnify II VIC tried, that every step our
Legislature takes in this matter, be
taken with the soundest discretion and
With clear perception Of what It will
lead to. We must commit this matter
to our very beat men. They must have q
knowledge ofall the steps that have been
taken hero since 1861 80 as to fully un-
derstand the bases OF such settlement
as West Virginia will demand; they
must be men OF mental force, OF proc
teal business dIscernment, and OF NOR.
al trmnesE to resIs: the arguments too
often used to influence action where
great interests are at stake. Every one
must see that In approaching this SET
Element, It would be the worat Of folly
to suffer any minor consideration to
expose US to the evils that might follow
the action OF incompetent or inexperl-
enced men. This county must protect
herself fully In tho Legislature when
that question comes to be met; and II
We fail TO do 1t, out OF small party ri.
valries 1t may prove misfortune that
cannot afterwards be retrieved. And
we repeat, there is little room To doubt
that the Legislature to be chosen Thurs.
day, will be called on too meet 1t.