The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-01-26
From the Richmond Enquirer, Ath.l
Report Of the West Virginia Com.
misstOners.

FROM the hlCQmOQu 6uQulIcI, Hnth'I
Report Of the West Virginia Com
missiOners.
The West Virginia Commissioners
have reached the sublime conclusion
that the proportion Of the public debt
of Old Virginia that ought to be paid
by West Virginia amounts to nine
hundred and ffty-three thousand three
hundred aud sixty dollars and twenty
three cents-whether with or without
interest is not stated. The whole debt
is some forty-six million Of dollars, and
West Virginia owes little less than
one forty,sirth! What with the West
Virginia Commissioners and the Viz
ginia Legislature, we are afraid 1.-THE
bloated bondholders" sre in bad way.
We begin to fear that debtors have not
that serene impartiality in estimating
what they ought to pay that character
lied celebrated character of antiquity
BY the name OF Aristides.
We are q little surprised that the
Com missioners of West Virginia did
not bring US in debt. 1t certainly indi-
Gates some consideration for appear
snces that they acknowledge nine
hundred thousand dollars.
We had no idea there was 80 much
ingenuity in West Virginia. We knew
it had just elected a Democratic Gov
ernor, and that it was practically land
locked from contact with Yankee
influences, and we have been therefore
astonished at the amount of precocious
peartness which the young common
wealth exhibits. Only nine hundred
thousand dollars! really, you came off
well from your old partnership. No
wonder you left when by so doing you
got rid OF so much debt. We have
heard of "a new way to pay old debts,
and our Legislature here in Richmond
has very good receipt, but this West
Virginia way is the latest.
We here in the east supported the
government while we were together,
paying taxes on all OF our co!ored pop
ulation above II wears OF age at the
rate of $500 a head in the way OF val
uation-which amounted annually to q
property tax on some 100000, 900 paid
by the east, which she ought not to
have paid. And now that slavery is
abolished, and we have no slaves, and
only twice the white population that
West Virginia has, she is to pay one
forty-sirh of the Old debt and we are to
pay forty,fve ,torty-Sirths. We have
always heard that the cattle business
made persons pretty keen, but we were
not prepared for this blast.
The Commissioners ascertain how
much West Virginia ought to pay-not
on the basis Of the area of her terri
tory as compared with that of Virginia,
nor OF the relative population OF the
two States-but on the basis OF the
amount OF money expended respectively
in the two States during the process Of
the formation of the debt. Thus:
Upon the data thus ascertained and
explained, we summarize the account
between the two States as follows:
West Virginia to the State Of Virginia,
DR.. For the amounts
expended and in
vested in her ter
in statement f.. s3,SiS929 20
Or. BY one-fourth of
the estimated
value of the pub
lie buildings and
other assets, as
ment G................ 96s,75O %
BY three-thirtcenths
of the United
States surplus
siatement...,...... 4lG,G32 81
By three-sevenths OF
the Literary
same. 637,O79 81
BY the amount col
lected in West
Virginia after
January 1st, 1861,
r. .. 3lS FOG 22-s2 200. 569 O6