The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-04-09

that i may N HcTho !" .ho nublic VOL
making this announcements ~
will greatly oblige ..,u,.
1oufs' WI .JonS Ii. ANDERSON.
NJ p.sf,cId Speaks his Nina as 80
.,,,,t,on In Virginia ana "es'
Virginia. w.,
Nv Keltcld writes from Charleston, "eS'
Va. to the Cincinnati Commercial:
Tbcrc is an ugly feature in the DEBT con
troycrsy between mother Virginia ana hcl
daughter. The ugliness of the matter VII
he apparent when 1t is understood tiha aoou
fifteen millions of honest indcptcoheSs - IL
a fair way to be repudiated. 5
4 year or two ago Virginia iSsueo eonu
for two-thirdS Of her State debt 10 an WIZ
would receive them upon conditioh t,iat 'n y
creditor should take the other onc-tnfu /,
the shane of certificate. which certlrcace wa
to be redeemed after settlement oetMeei
thu two States These have been known IL
W. y;r~;ni, certificates, although West
VIRGINIA is not liable for them any further
than she is liable for portion OF the va
yirripia debt. Ii was understood ny the
holders that rayment upon them was posi-
noned until the States could come 10 SET
Element. an. .a soo,,, .s
But thew have failed to settle, ana seem as
far otr os ever, The points Of difference fc
considerable. the old mother claiming tllal
her daughter is liable for one-thlrd OF the
debt. and her daughter denying that sue Is
responsible for more than iortieth OF II, o!
about one million dollars. n joint commit
tee tried to settle the dispute. but succeeding
in doing nothing more tangible than cor
neripr a few drinks purchased at JOINT eA-
ncnsc, The West Virginia commissioners
lain that they were 1'Snubbed blythe Gov
ernor of the old mother, and came nome
with keener appreciation OF offended diS-
nitv than precise information concerning the
debt.
think that West Virginia is trying to
dodge her inst share Of the burden, ana thai
both States are acting in il manner that Woul!s
disgrace the members of dissolved hlm, II
they should each try to sneak out OF what
they honestly owe in the same manner. Inc
WAY TO do is to take the taxable wealth oil
tbc whole State into consideration ut the
time Of the division, and parcel out the then
existing debt according to that. The figures
of the patriots of this side of the mountains,
who take about third of the old mother :
territory and none of her debt, do not I'm
derstand. No wel-regulated firm of three
persons would let one walk Off with tnlrd
of the assets and not be liable for any OF the
debts.
pur it is claimed that most of the pubic
buildings. &C., fell to Virginia in the dlvl-
sion. which is true; but that don't make any
difference. II West Virginia would claim
an interest in the buildings she should have
remained within the State and enjoyed them,
for thew were not made to be cartcd about OF
closed out ut auction.
So far as reference is made to the old Capl-
tol at Richmond, the less interest a man has
in that rotten old trap the better. Ii var
yiniu will furnish heads to he smashed when
decayed floors cave in, she should be ailoWea
undiSputed possession Of her pubic pul!o'
ings, and 40 charge made Ivy West Virginia.
1t is apparent that the debt muddle VIII
never be settled outside of the United States
Supreme Court, but how it Is to DC got lnert
is not clear. Before bench of judges West
Virginia will not be able to get out of hei
share of liability. however plauSibly some q
her statesmen may argue her out OF 1t now
With twelve millions of dollars or so ut stake
some right nice arguments can he framed
There is no higher incentive to erudlte rea
soning and lmir-spitting logic than twelve
millions of dollars, unless it be larger sum
While both States are engaged III dis
graceful squabble about debt which botl
are bound in law and justice to pay, it j
amusing to read the speeches upon the sub
iect of gentlemen upon either side. Rheto
rio and fine writing is abundant, but no pay
We are directed back to the glorious hlstor.
of Virginia, to the fact that she producct
Washington, and Madison, and Jefferson, ant
p. Henry. and that her children will neve
consent to the reputation of dollar of he
Indebtedness. On this side of the mountain
we are told that the daughter is as honorabl
as the mother, and ready, willing, and anXioll
to fork over every cent due; but amid all tn
twaddle there is no nearer approach to ascel
tanning what is due than there was four year
ago. Wordy paintings of the glorious his
tory of the Old Dominion. and spread-eagl
references to Jefferson, Madison, and 7
Henry may sound very nice, but man will
his pockets full of past-due coupons and re
pudiated certificates would like something
more practical-a tangible peg upon which t
hang hope.
A State debt is Il charge against the soil ant
revenues Of State rather than against tn
people. A man can move out of an indebted
State, and take none of the burden with him
and so can any portion Of the population, bu
when it comes to moving half hundret
counties out from under the jurisdiction Q
that State, they should not be allowed by thi
means to escape their share of the common
liability.
The formation of West Virginia has take
largely from the territory, population, an
resources of the mother State, yet she no,
seeks to escape any of the common indebted
ness, or all but very small portion of it.
From the temper Of the present Convc1
ton. OH two or three occasions when TIL
subject has been indirectly under consider;
ton, am satisfied that West Virginia wi
shirk out of bearing any portion of the bu
den unless made to do her duty by the court
and just how the law can grant redress I
the swindled bond-holders am unable I
see. The West Virginia certificates, repr,
sentiug one-thrd Of the debt, have been r,
pudiated 10y Virginia, as before shown, an
the only hope of the holders is this Stat
and slim hope it is, for see no dispositio
here to assume them. Those who pinnc
their faith and risked their dollars upon vi
ginia faith and honesty have been cheate
out of their money.
In the face of this, all the fine eloquen,
and rhetorical Establishments about Il
Mother of Presidents, her untarnishe
honor, spotless integrity, glorious past, illu
trious sons, and much of the same sor
amounts to nothing. One becomes sick
SO much of this stuf, and so little genuii
attempt to pay honest debts. As in the ca
of individuals, when you hear man fir
ouentIy sounding his own honesty, you mi
be assured he Is a suspicious characte
There is too much talk here and at Ric
mond about unsullied honor, ancient r
nown, proud Old Commonwealth, and NJ
enough that denotes an intention to kee
faith with creditors.