Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1872-01-23

sionsswas inserted in the Constitution ian
equitable proportion of the public debt of the
Commonwealth of Virginia prior to the first
day of January, in the year one thousand eight
hundred and sixty-one, shall be assumed by
this State; anditheL Legislature shall ascertain
the same as soon as may be practicable, and
provide for'the liquidation thereof by q sink.
ing fund sufficient to pay the accruing interest
and redeem the principal within thirty>four
years." Whether this be taken as a compact
between the two States or a constitutional
duty, the result is the same SO far as the peo.
pie of West Virginia are concerned it inns
poses upon! them an obligation which cannot
be evaded, and at the same time lays down a
RUE oy winch to measure the scope, or extent
OF this obligation. No action looking to a
settlement of the question between the two
States seems to have been had uotil February
ls, 1870. when Virginia took the initiative
by providing for the appointment of commits.
sloners to treat with the authorities of this
State Commissioned appointed on behalf of
Virginia proceeded at once to Wheeling. and
the Legislature of this State PROMPTLY an.
pointed a committee TO confer with them, and
subsequently by Joint Resolution adopted
March 3, 1870, authorized the appointment
OF three commissioners .to treat with the au.
thorities of the State of Virginia on the sub.
ject of the public debt of that State. due. or
incurred prior to the first day of January,
eighteen hundred and sixty-one. and a fair
division OF the property belonging the State
on that day" commissioner were subse-
quently appointed, but for reasons which were
communicated to the last Legislature by the
Governor. and which were deemed by him
sufficient. they did not execute the powers
conferred upon them by Joint Resolution
adopted February Is, 1870. Thereupon the
Legislature again authorized the appointment
OF a commission to treat with the authorities
OF Virginia, and also to procure the statistical
information, without which it was impossible
to ascertain what is the equitable proportion
OF the public debt" of Virginia prior to Jan
uary l, 1861. In the meantime, however.
Virginia thought proper to change her policy
as to the mode of settlement between the two
States, and by a Joint Resolution adopted
February III, 1871, rendered to this St,,e
ian arbitration of all matters touching a full
and fair appott;onmcnt between said States of
the said public debt" by arbitrators not citi>
zens of either of said States, and not subject
to the ratification of the legislative depart,
ments of said States. When this action of
the General Assembly of Virginia was com.
municated to the Legislature last winter. it
respectfully declioed to accept the tender of
arbIsration, on the ground that any adjust.
ment OF this debt ought IT, be subject to It's
ratlhcatlon, and also. that ~''citizen commits
sloners would. of necess ty, he more familiar
with the circumstances attending the creation
OF SAID Debt, and the many intricate questions
connected Herewith :" aud, at the same time
the Commonwealth of Virginia was invited
"to appoint three disipterested citizens as
commissioners to treat with like commission
ers VINO had been heretofore fully author
lied on the part of this State" And the
commissioners on behalf of this State, in
in addition to their other powers, were au.
thorlzed to adjust, award, and determine upon
fair. just and equitable principles. what pro-
portion of said public debt of Virginia Should
in their opinion be paid by West Virginia.
and what part thereof should be paid by Vir-
gina " subject, however, to ratification by
the legislative departments of the two States.
In August last three distinguished and dis
interested citizens, General J. J.. Jackson,
Hon. j. NJ. Bennett and A. w. Campbell,
Esq, were appointed commissioners on be-
half OF this State, and as soon as I was mott
he'd OF their acceptance of the appointment
rendered them, l communicated the fact of
their appointment and acceptance to his Ex-
cellehcy g. G. Walker, Governor of Virginia.
In reply, he said that while the Joint Reso>
luton of the General Assembly of Virginia
rendering an arbitration does not in direct
terms repeal the Act of February. IS, 1870,
yet it "was intended to supcsede it. and there
fore I do not feel authorized to appoint com.
missioners." The correspondence between
Governor Walker and myself will be laid be.
fore you. These plain statements will show
that West Virginia has simply adhered to the
plan OF adjustment first proposed by Virginia.
and that she has promptly and courteously
responded to all 0ve,tures made on the mart
of Virginia They will also constitute the
vindication of the State from the charge i'm.
piled in the following language used by Gov
ernor Walker in his recent message s.Now
if the authorities of West Virginia ep,er>
tanned an earnest desire to make a speedy and
final settlement of this matter. why did they
not accept our tender of arbitration Z"
V~1NDIcATIoN OF WEST VIRGINIA.
In grave questions of this kind, crimina>
tons and :recrimlnatiuns do not tend to pro.
duce a satisfactory solution. As Governor
Walker declined to appoint Commissioners on
behalf OF Virginia, no course was left to the
Commissioners of this St tie, exert by inde-
pendent action to procure the Data from which
to ascertain what is the equitable proportion"
OF the public debt of Virginia, which West
Virginia ought to assume. The able report
OF the Commissioners happily spares the ne
cesslty on my part of a discussion of the issues
involved in this matter. 1t will be laid on
your tables in a few days it is entitled to and
will no doubt receive. a candid and earnest.
examination. The funded debt of Virginia
on the first day of January. 1861, was SAL
71S,S67 81, after all deductions" All of
said debt was expended within the present
St,e of Virginia, with the exception of So
656,330 80. The report will show that this
debt represented money borrowed and ex>
pended in improving the State by canals. rail
Sroads. turnpikes. plank roads and bridges"