The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-11-27
TIE WEST VIRGINIA COMMIS
SlONERS AT RICHMOND
THEY HAVE A LITTLE
TIFF" WITH TIE
DISPATCH.
A CARD FROM OUR COMMISSIONERS.

RICHMOND, Nov. 10,
To lie Editors Of The Richmond Dis
patch;
slRs;-Tho following notice appeared
in your paper this morning under the
heading of "Wcst Virginia Commits,
siOucrs:"
"Nlcssrs, Bennett, Jackson ani
Campbell, the Commissioners uppointcj
by the State of West Virginia to con.
slider the means of adjusting the fnan
cial questions at issue between that
State and Virginia, have been here roI
several days, but have not as yet made
an official call upon the Governor, OF
sent him an official communication
They have, however, applied to the
Secretary Of the Commonwealth for
Office accommodations for the pursuit
Of their work. These the Secretary
was unable to accord them, as the
State is already renting rooms outside
for the use Of its officers"
W. feel called upon 10 say a few
words in answer to the above, BY way
Of correcting your information and
disabusing the public mind of any false
impression resulting thcrefrom.
The Commissioners did not all ar
rive on the same day. Nlcssrs. Ben.
nett and Campbell, having arrived be-
fore Mr. Jackson, called on the Gov
ernor on the 9th inst. and made known
10 him the object of their visit. On
the morning Of the 10Th, Mr.. Jackson
having arrived, about llalf.past II
o'clock the Commissioners in body
went to the Executive Chamber for the
purpose Of making an official call on
the Governor. He not being present,
his Secretary, Mr.. Owens, said that
his time had arrived, and he would be
in shortly. We stated that We had
called officially to pay our respects 10
the Governor. Mr.. Owens said that il
he did not soon arrive he would 60
and let him know that We wished 10
see him, We also, in conversation iu-
quired whether the Governor could as
sign to US some room in the Capitol
where We could meet and examine such
public documents us would aid us in
the object Of our mission. We under.
stood that Mr. Owens went to see the
Governor, and on his return he stated
that the Governor said be had no room
for US.
We remained for about two hours,
visiting the Adjatant General, Score.
tary of the Commonwealth, and library.
The Governor not making bis appear.
ance, We went to the Auditors Office,
and making known to Mr.. Taylor, the
Auditor, our wish to occupy portion
of one Of his rooms, he, with marked
courtesy, promptly provided US with q
room, where We have been prosecuting
our researches.
Wo do not know what may have in
spired tho notice in the Dispatch, but
If it was for the purpose Of suggesting
want Of official courtesy on the part
of the Commissioners, We think the
foregoing statement will determine that
il there was any want Of official courtesy
il certainly does not attach 10 them,
AS 10 the statement that we had not
addressed to the Governor au "Official
communication" We reply that on the
9th day Of August, 1870, we addressed
to him Il letter advising him of our ap.
pointment, and inquiring whether any
action bad been taken on the part Of
Virginia on tho subject OF our mission,
and II none had been taken to inform
US whether any channel of cOmmuni.
cation was open to US. To this letter
wO received reply, dated the 7th oil
September following, enclosing US a
COPY of letter addressed to Governor
Jacob, Of West Yirginia, in which he
stated that he was not authorized to
appoint any Commissioners to meet US,
nor did he indicate that any door Of
communication with the authorities Of
Virginia was open to US.
Our visit to the Executive was not
with any expectation Of entering into
npy discussion as to the offset Of our
mission, for that We supposed was con-
cludCd by his letter. II was simply Il
call 10 pay our respects to the Chief
Magistrate Of State in whose service
two Of US had spent many years, aud
for which all Of US entertained pro.
found respect.
Very Respectfully,
JOHN j, JACKSON,
j. N BESNITr,