The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1870-12-24
From the Weston Democrat
The virginia Public Debt.

The carpet-bag Governor OF Virginia,
known by the name OF Governor Walk
er, who now fills the place in former
DAYS occupied by Henry, Jefferson,
Harrison, Randolph, Lee, Monroe. Bar
bour, Tyler, Floyd, Tazewell, and our
own citizen, Governor johnson, has re-
Gently in his message to the Legislature
(part of which is printed on our first
page), INDUCED in many upkind threats
and lnuendoes against this State, grow
ing out of her failure to pay into the
treasury nj Virginia, her share OF the
public debt OF that State He brings
TO his relief the discourtesy of Gov
ernor Stevenson in not replying TO his
threatening demands. Ot course we
know nothing which Governor Steven
son has or has not done; but we take it
for granted that he has done that which
is right, and in the right we defend him.
We presume Governor Stevenson has
appointed commissioners to meet the
commissioners of Virginia to settle the
equitable proportions of the public debt
which each State should bear. This
was accepting Virginias proposition.
This was meeting them half way.
This State cannot consent TO go be.
yond an equitable adjustment of these
liabilities, and will not and in this her
integrity must not be impeachcd. No
threats of Governor. Walker will drive
us into an improper mode Of settlement
or into any mode looking to the com
pulsory one, Of paying our share OF the
public debt into the treasury Of Nir-
GINA Whatever we owe, We will as
sumo and pay the creditors Of the State,
and il any creditor fails to accept our
bonds, let him go unpaid; as we have
nothing further to offer. In truth, we
owe but little, ii an equitable adjust
ment Of the public debt be made, Gov
crnor Walker seems to realize this diff
Guilty, and by his friends in the Legisla-
ture wishes to drive us to an arbitration
by bond-holders who will be interested
in fixing a basis oil adjustment, that will
promote the interests OF outside CAPT
t lists. From this we dissent, We are
unwilling 10 place our own resident
bond-holders at the mercy of the treas
ury OF Virginia, o. interested capital
lets. We cannot consent to do our resi-
dent citizens an injustice They are
the persons we intend first to pay, and
we intend 10 pay others to the extent o.
our liability. aud there stop. The
share we should bear in the bonds OF
Virginia can never be allowed TO ex-
coed the money raised by them, and
appropriated within our territory. TO
this extent we will 90, aud no further
In Virginia this would be taken as an
equitable basis by ninetenthS OF her
citizens but by creditor representing
the interest Of capital, and desiring to
initiate the value Of the bonds they own,
different basis might be fixed
which would unjustly impoverish
us and our children after us for
an indefinite time. Whenever the
money arising from the bonded debt of
Virginia appropriated within the terri
tory of this State can be asCertained,
we are ready cheerfully to meet it,
This may readily be aScertained by re-
ference to the public records at the CAPT
tol of Virginia. TO ascertain this, it is
no: necessary to arbitrate. Any person
who can add and subtract may settle
the differences.
Ii is true there are certain matters
growing ont of the administration OF
the Literary Fund of Virginia, which |
be properly used to liquidate the stock |
in the Fairmont back appropriated by |
this State. Capacity and craftsmanship |
to bring them TO the surface should not
be overlooked; and we trust Governor
Stevenson may instruct his commission, !
ers to examine thoroughly into this |
subject