The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-12-09
Governor Walker on the AppOrti0n.
ncnt Of the State Debt.

ment Of the State Debt.
From the Message to the General Assembly
of Virginia.
Upon the subject of the assumption
and payment by West Virginia Of her
just proportionment of the public debt
contracted prior to her organization |
respectfully refer you to my last annual
message for a statement Of the facts a.
to its then condition. and my own views
and recommendations as to the proper
course to be pursued. What has tran,
spired since that time has but served to
confirm my impressions and views then
entertained.
In accordance with my recommends
ton our General Assembly adopted a
joint resolution entitled Joint resolu-
ton rendering to West Virginia an
arbitration 'or the apportionment o. the
public debt" which was approved on
the llth OF February, 1871.
Ga the 18th of the same month
transmitted tender of arbitration, as
authorized, with an authenticated copy
Of the resolution, to the Governor OF
West Virginia, accompanied by re-
quest that ne should submit the same
to the Legislature Of his State.
Some days thereafter | received from
the Governor of West Virginia letter
dated on the 18th Of February, 1871,
enclosing a copy of a joint resolution
adopted by the Legislature of West
Virginia authorizing the appointment
OF commissioners to treat with the State
OF Virginia on the subject Of the State
debt" Subsequent to this time | re-
ceived another communication from the
Governor of West Virginia, dated the
2Sth of February, 1871, enclosing a
copy of resolution adopted by the
Legislature OF that State entitled "joint
resolution providing for the settlement
of the debt between Virginia and West
Virginia.
Some time in August last | received a
communication signed by Messrs J. j..
Jackson, J. NJ. Bennett and A. w.
Campbell, dated the 9th Of August,
1871, notifying me OF their appointment
as commissioners under the last above
mentioned resolution. To this letter |
replied on the 9Th of September follow
ing. To this letter of mine | received
reply from Governor Jacob Of the same
date. Copies of all this correspondence
arc herewith submitted for your con.
sideratior. They comprise all Of the
official communications upon this sub
ject of date since my last annual mes
sage, and l trust that they will receive
your careful perusal.
The objections to commission such
rs he action of the Legislature of West
Virginia authorizes are very evident,
for it is not empowered to make final
settlement ofthe questions at issue. The
commissioners could investigate and
discuss, but determine nothing. unless
to disagree with any commissions we
might appoint.
Now, if the authorities OF West Vir-
ginia entertained an earnest desire to
make speedy and final settlement OF
this matter, why did they not accept our
tender OF an arbitration "a mode OF
settlement of such controversies uni
versally recognized by both nation and
individual as right aud appropriate.
Suppose an equal number of commits
sioners be appointed BY each State, and
that they should meet and disagree
upon any one or all points involved,
who is to decide between them ? And
yet beyond doubt they would radically
disagree upon the first and chief point
to be settled-viz: the basis or prin-
ciple upon which. the settlement
should be made. But suppose
that the commissioners should finally