The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1870-03-14
TIE DEBT OF VIRGINIA.
lsr.va .sooau nov. IONS SAY Bs,.yscs.
Wrs1os, va
,eF" u '''2,z AarcL'7. 1897

/, -. WESTON, ". Va.
: iGa" u '2,s Sarch7, 1870"
10 Ri. Ereslsney. Vim. E. .St;s..o",
Gosernor Of IIea Virginia
;asIK:-'rllclresp tho Legislature
Of this State, to the Commissioners ap.
pointed by the authorities UffrirgIaIs,
proposing an adjustment olplhe dst: Of
Virginia, between the two States presents
u subject Of deep interest aud great rag.
nllude.
u careful cxaninat on of this subject,
and a rigid investigation 'of'thc pg,poIes
for which this debt wus incurred, should
be made. AS Governor vi the STATE, the
people will naturally look to you TO see
tina, proper result is arrived at X; aud
you will, am assured, feel it !ncpubeu.
upon you to inrurpose yrur power md in.
huerce 10 prevent delrincnt to cur tax
paying people. II, therefore, vsr,urc To
suggest some views upon this subject,
which occur 70 NY MUD us appropriate to
VI
be considered.
r. First, and preliminary ,oSth's subject.
We should consider that this S,sic is q re.
suit Of the war, II is established. aud
will BE maintained ; and whatever may
have been my position in the i:riie which
brought il about, like all the v,Ler re-.
suits 81 That war-good aud Lsd--I abide
BY them aod AN disposed 70 elder, to
the good aud lcna my support 70 tho i'm
pruytihtnt II the bad. The State thus
coming into existcuee without public
funds, statr.huuse, public buildings. or
state institutions, had. aud sill !las this
work 10 do; and our people must pesse's
The endurance to perform il. All these
were within The territory Of the old State,
and il nov possesses and controls them,
Tic peopls,of tie territory nov en-
bfAGea Gy West virginin, prior + Janu-
ary, 1852, and from u time long anterior.
contributed BY taxation to pay The utter.
est or,a public debt uccruing fron, an
early day 10 the time stated, and then
nnri6un,ing to s11,97l,s3s 80. Nov:
| what was hi. p1rt Of Ihe public debt in.
Cured fsr 1T cannbl 10 denied that il
was for public improvements nlmos, e1-
clusiycly within the present territory cf
tho old Siatt--iLusN' cso,ii,,iGuting 10 build
up the then StIts Of Virginia, 10 Augment
values, to build up colln,rrcS, Trade aud
Thrift. wit!lyut profit Directly Ia Ibis els.
mountain section. Ii Ill I hav;as said or
propose to say.i,l donot souaddr this
question with preference to the rights Of
the public creditors but only with refer.
once 10 an .'eguiiuLl."r adjustment of,he
deLt bet cen the old and the new S,nts.;
and here suggest TINT a very insignia.
cant part Of this par, Of the debt vas dc.
voted to th. Improvement of,,his, section
Of the State. After 1881 tho I.egirla;
turc, in alavish manner, entered upon
lurge internal Improvements and enter
priscsy and tue. public funded deb. was
increased TO 1stofi January. 1860. &Iclu,
sive n of guarantees. by the, addition Of
,Sl9s707,S21 90; !, and Of this ii is within
the mcmoryiof oil that but Ia very small
portion Of TWAS expended in improve,
menisvwi,hin.the territory lof aWsstavir.
ginis. II Upon this deb,. and on tie old
debt, our paople continued, :, until Il s6l /.
to pay their sharo Of the interest prompt.
" as it accrued ), and to contribute to the
siukiDg fund. The fruits Of the debt
thu, made, and for which, We conribulcd
by, the payment iof large interest, exist
now as iuv s,ments in Internal improve,
ments, held BY the State Of Virgins; sud
although not now very productive 10 tlla
form Of dividends, yet no compensation
can lie made to thcipeoplc of'this State.
but eau BE- iuladentothe people Of vneiuia.
WeIall know the hrue6is ,ofisucb invest;
meu,s. are not aiij dividends, bntirun1
through ages, dispensing prosperity trade
aud wealth to the people Of Virginia.
These vast appropriations, for which this
debt was Incurred, were made MT alone
with the expectation of actual direct
profit, bat for the incidental. advantage of
the people, in situation and in local..
ties, 10 erioy the facilities and outlets to
market which the people of that State now
sujoy. 1t may be said. aud tho actual