The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-02-26
West Virginia has not Repudiatod her
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E,.,s., 4l,o IIyl..Ii.- II

.r. VIC ehS SntlSLtu GllaG the lHStI2yGWCCT Is
entirely wrong and does great injustice to
the State in assuming That the Consti-
tutional Convention has voted to repu-
diate West VirginiRs share of Virginia's
debt. The proceedings Of the Convention in
relation to this subject cannot. be fairly made
to bear that construction, and assuredly no
good purpose can be served by sending to
the world false statement so damaging in
its character and SO destructive Of West Vir
ginia's good reputation for honesty as is con-
tanned in the TntelJSgencer's editorial article
published yesterday morning. .....,s
Our Charleston correspondent showed
yesterday that on the 18th instant the Con-
vention had under discussion the report OF
the Committee OH Taxation and Finance.
The fifth section Of that report is as follows ::
as. No debt shall be contracted by this
State except to meet casual deficits in the
revenue, to redeem precious liability of the
State, to suppress insurrection, repel inva-
sion, or defend the State in time Of war; but
the payment Of any liability other than that
for the ordinary expenses of the State shall
he equally distributed over a period of at
least twenty years." ,~s. .
Ibis section Mr.. Hagans moved to amend
by inserting provision that West Virginia
should pay her equitable proportion of the
State debt of Virginia, when ascertained.
Mr.. Wheat offered an amendment to the same
effect, differing only in the language en-
ployed. Mr.: Price, Mr.. Wiley, Mr.. Pendle-
ton, Dir. Armstrong, and the gentlemen who
had offered these amendments. favored their
adoption, but Mr.. Hagans, Notwithstanding
he had first proposed amending the section
under discussion, thought that our obligation
to pay an equitable proportion Of the public
debt of Virginia rested upon moral grounds
alone, and that there was no legal liability
resting upon us. This view of the matter
was controverted by Mr.. Raymond. who, in
the whole course of his remarks, uttered no
word in favor Of a reputation of what we
legally owe, but thought the language Of the
report given above was the only declaration
that was necessary to show West Virginia s
intention to- pay all the liabilities Of the State.
A telegram OF the goth, addressed to the
Cincinnati Enquirer, and copied by the INTEL
hgencer, and by this paper also yesterday
morning, shows that on that day the Convcn-
ton, by vote of AZ to 26, adopted in COM
mittee of the whole the 9th section Of the
report az given above, ,cithout amendment,
thus refusing to refer in more specific terms
to the Virginia debt, but, as Che language Of
the telegram itself declares, "leaVing the
Legislature with authority to provide for the
payment Of any liability or indebtedness of
| the State prior to the adoption Of the Consti-
tution."
II there he in this any "repudiation of
our share of the Virginia debt" las the In
tchtgcuscer heads the dsatch), or any lack
Of disposition to arm the Legislature with
| needful authority" to make suitable provi-
sion Tor protecting the honor and good name
of the State, we fail to see it. The InteNt-
gencer jumps to the conclusion that {" the
iorty-two have deliberately voted with inten-
ton that the Legislature shall never take sim
Gle step towards the futilment of our obli-
cations to Virginia and to the creditors OF
the two Statcs.p But the facts show that
this stigma is undcserved, and that the Con-
vcntion has mol done the wicked and sui.
s7eidal thing charged upon it by our neighbor.
We trust that the day may never come when
West Virginia will deserve the disgrace which
| the Iatpilegencer too hastily assumes she has
| already incurred, and the people Of the State
cannot too strongly condemn the publica.
! ton of statements which if true would justly
subject the State to universal contempt.
West Virginia is both morally and legally
bound to pay her equitable proportion Of the
public debt incurred by Virginia before the
| separation. The absence of any express re-
cognition of that fact in the new Constitu-
ton would not lessen our liability in any re-
spcct; nor would special declaration Of orll
intention to pay render the payment any
more speedy or certain. AS soon as our por
ton OF the Gebt is definitely ascertaincd
provision will be made for its settlement
The report of the Committee on Taxation
and Finance, as approved by the Convention
gives the Legislature all the power that is
needed in this regard; all that tue present
Constitution gives; and all that could be
given were a whole article devoted to this
subject alone. We have no objection what
ever to the amendment that Mr. Wheat
sought to make, but we fail TO find in the
language adopted any, even the slightest
justification for the charge that forty-two
members Of the Convention have voted tc
bring upon West Virginia the shame of re
pudiation. We trust that the Intelligence,
will reconsider its hasty conclusion in refer
cnce to this subject and disabuse the minds
of its readers Of the impressions conveyed by
yesterday mornings editorial. ,.r ..l
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