The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1870-12-12
The PubIic Debt.


The remarks in Governor WALKERS
message to the Legislature OF Virginia
in relation to the apportionment OF the
State debt between Virginia and West
Virginia, will attract much attention
from our citizens. We believe there is
no disposition among our people to
shirk a fair settlement Of the question
at issue. 1t is generally conceded that
some portion OF the State debt OF Viz
ginia is justly chargeable TO and should
be paid by West Virginia. This we
believe has been admitted here ever
since the formation OF the State, but 8
policy of inaction has heretofore pre-
vailed; not denying the validity of the
claim, but staving off and postponing,
as long as possible, the disagreeable day
of settlement. We doubt whether this
policy has been either honorable or
wise. The day OF payment must come,
and We may as well make up our minds
to look the matter squarely in the face.
The Legislature which meets next
month will probably feel compelled to
take some definite action with a view
to an equitable division Of the debt and
to the liquidation Of our share Of il in
the best way we can.
The provision in the Constitution of
West Virginia in relation to this sub
ject is the eighth section Of Article
VIII, and reads as follows
"An equitable proportion OF the pub,
''lic debt of the Commonwealth Of Eir-
"ginia, prlor to the first day of Janua.
Try, in the year one thousand eight
hundred and sixty-one, shall he As
"sumed by this State and the Legisla-
"ture shall ascertain the same as soon
as may be practicable, and provide tor
the liquidation thereof, 10y sinking
fund sufficient to pay the ACQUIRING IN
"terest, and redeem the principal with
in thirty-four years,
More than seven years have already
elapsed since the adoption OF the Cor
stitution, and the Legislature has not
vet found it practicable to ascertain
our equitable proportion of the public
debt Meanwhile, interest las been
accruing since the lst of January, 1861,
and the longer we postpone payment
the more there will be TO pay. We re-
gret exceedingly that the new admins
tration, upon its first advent to power,
is to be buriened with the settlement Of
this matter, but ii cannot wisely avoid
obedience to this plain Constitutional
provision. Ii is in no sense a party
question, and is attended with no party
responsibility. 1t is matter of CON-
mon honesty and honor, to which no
man can object who does not desire to
see our Constitution violated and the
good name of the State sullied by an at
tempt at reputation. The Legislature
at its next session can scarcely 10 more
than to adopt some means TO effect an
equitable apportionment. When that
is effected in such a manner as to do
justice to our people, and command the
respect of both States by its equity and
fairness, we doubt not that West Viz
GINA will faithfully do her utmost 10 re-
deem her obligations
Governor WALKER is perhaps uu-
necessarily severe in his structures upon
the conduct OF West Virginia in this
matter. For the discourtesy Of Cover
nor STEVENSON in failing to reply to the
letter received, OF course there can be
no excuse. But the Governor is in err
ror as to the appointment of commits
sioners. Commissioners soere appointed
by Gov. STEVENSON, in compliance with
the act Of the Legislature, TO meet
those appointed by Virginia, but, so far
as we are informed, the Commissioners
never met and no action has vet been
bad.
Berkeley and Jefferson.