The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-01-19

late upon the subject, and certainly
with more satisfaction to the people at
large, than now with ill.defined ideas Of
the sum which might be reasonably ex-
pected from West Virginia. The solu-
ton Of this question bears intimately
.on the point of Virginia's ability to pay,
indeed so intimately that without such
ascertainment, no basis for calculation
is allowed other than upon the assump~
ton that the whole debt is the sum TO
be provided for by this State.
The question Of West Virginia liza
bility for portion Of the debt to Nir-
ginia we consider, settled beyond all
cavil by the terms Of the organic law of
the former; and we cannot bring our
selves to the belief that that State, by
her Legislature or otherwise, will ignore
the plain demands of her Constitution,
or wantonly trifle with. her honor by
the intervention Of frivolous excuses or
captious impediments. We hold her
people in higher estimate, and shall
cherish our opinion until we are forced
to a different conclusion by her solemn
acts of reputation.
1t is eminently proper to have this
question promptly settled, as to the best
interest OF both States; but we submit
that neither the question of mutual liza
bility nor the extent thereof forms an
element in the question of responsibility
to the creditors. This is wholly q diff
ferentsuatter, in no wise dependent on
the fact or extent of the liability Of
West Virginia TO Virginia, nor upon
the ability of Virginia to meet the OBJ
legation. The honor and good name of
our commonwealth is the only legacy Of
our fathers rescued from the ruins of a
desolating war; and we trust that in the
several propositions asserting only
partial obligatian on us to pay the
public debt may not be found a lurking
disposition TO avoid our just responsible
tiles, in whole or in part. God forbid
that a Virginia Legislature can ever,
under any pressure, present or to come,
stamp upon the brow Of our mother the
damning blot OF reputation. TO repu-
date a part is less manly than to
repudiate aN. The attemptto do either,
we trust. will rouse such storm OF in
dignation as will place its movers aud
abettors under the merited and indlg-
nant Reproduction Of the honest
yeomanry Of the land.
1t has been shown to our readers in
the clear, able and eloquent speech Of
the Senator from Accomac, that under
the present rate OF taxation the State
will be able to resume the payment Of
interest on the whole debt Of, say fifty
millions, on July |, 1872 The faithful
public servant who brings to the high
position of Governor Of this Com
monwealth qualities Of head and heart
that have bound him to her people,
has indicated a vet earlier day,
and unhesitatingly declares that,
with appropriate and required
reductions in the expenses of
government, and the prompt handling
of the assets Of the State, she will be
able to resume the payment OF interest
on January !, 1872, without the add.
ton of a mill to the present tax.
Who then would, for the sake Of an
incOnsiderablc reduction in their dues
to the State government, jcopardlze the
honor as well "a the best interests Of
the State? 1t may be that some are so
weak as to fear that Virginia constitu-
ency can be found, who for this mlsera-
BILE "mess of pottage" would bartertheir
brthright but, in thefull strength ofan
abiding faith in the integrity, uncorrup:-
en- and incorruptible, Of Virginia sons
and daughters, we can never believe it.
In conclusion, as Virginians, by birth
and education, neither directly nor in
directly interested in dollars worth of
public bonds, we enter orr solemn pro
test against all and every scheme and
measure which does not fairly and
s9uarely declare Virginia = ,tuH and per-
feet obligation to pay the whole debt,
as of April, 1851, and her solemn pur-
pose to meet it, to the LAST FARTHiNG OF
HER CAPACITY