The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-02-24
CHARLESTON.
The Debate on the Public Debt-Va.
rious Propositions OHered-Thc
Report OF the Committee Adopted
without Amendment.

Editors OF the Register:
About five days have been consumed
by the Convention in the discussion OF
the report of the committee on Taxa
ton, Finance, &c. Yesterday the dis
cussion ended and the report as amend
ed is in the hands of the printer pre-
paratory TO final action. The report
called forth but little expression Of
feeling until the fifth section was reached
and bombshell could not have created
greater CONSERVATION. l insert the
section for the benefit of those who
have not had the opportunity Of see.
ing it:
mo debt shall be contracted by this
State. except to meet casual deficits in
the revenue, to redeem previous liza
bility of the State, to suppress insur-
rection, repel invasion, 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 be
equally distributed over period OF at
least twenty years.
Mr.. Hagans was the first to offer an
amendment, which, at the suggestion Of
Mr.. Wiley he withdrew, in order that
that gentleman might offer one cover
ing the same ground and accomplishing
the same purpose. Mr.. Wiley
amendment was to be added at the end
of the section, and reads as follows,
including an equitable proportion OF
the public debt OF the Commonwealth
Of Virginia prior to the first day OF
January, 1861, which. when ascer-
tanned by the Legislature, shall be
assumed by this State
Mr.. Wiley backed his amendment
by strong and forcible language, APP
pealing to the Convention to preserve
the honesty and integrity of the State
i,y adopting it,
Mr.. Wheat offered another amend
ment the form OF which lie said he
preferred to that OF the gentleman
from Monongalia. He proposed strik'
ing out the word but" and interpo-
lating the following, ian equitable pro.
portion Of the public debt of the Com
monwealth of Virginia prior to the
first day of January, 1861, shall be
assumed by this State, and the Legisla-
ture shall ascertain the same as soon as
may be practicable and provide for the
liquidation thereof The mere reading
OF the amendment will suggest to any
ones mind what were the arguments
used to sustain the amendment.
These amendments did not suit the
views of Messrs. Raymond and Woods,
The former replied to them in quite an
elaborate argument, attacking princi-
pally the idea OF an equitable settle
ment contained in Mr.. Wheat's amend
ment
The arguments on 10th sides occupied
the sessions Of Saturday and Monday,
and were OF so varied a character that
| consider it useless to lay before Your
readers detailed account OF those days
On Tuesday the regulators and non
regulators were equally determined to
bring the debate to close, and the
incidents Of the fiual struggle | will try
to depict as fairly as can.
Mr.. Wheat had the privilege OF the
floor on Tuesday morning at the open
ing OF the session, but owing to severe
hoarseness was unable to speak. Mr..
Wiley occupied the time allotted 10
Mr.. Wheat, and commenced by stating
that when a question was well stated
the argument was more than half
made. In 1861 the jurisdiction OF
Virginia extended over the whole State;
we were equally liable-not equitably,
but equally-for the whole debt That
when the proposition was made for the
formation of West Virginia, a compact
was entered into between the two States
and ratified by Congress. 1t was a
compact, and not a disruption or revo-
luton, and International law had moth
ing to do with it. If we were to set
aside this compact, who would decide
our liability? Virginia agreed, West
Virginia agreed, and Congress agreed
upon an umpire when we entered into
the compact, and that is our Legislature
Gentlemen try to alarm us by our LA.
bility. Virginia has no voice in the
matter she has already decided. We
have everything in our own hands now,
and will we relinquish our security ?
Suppose sui: is brought-Virginia VS.
West Virgiuia-and decree rendered
against us, we having violated our com.
pact and being made responsible for the
debt in so!ido, what will be the result ?
While there is no power to enforce the
decree, we will have to take refuge be-
hind it and hang our heads with shame
recognizing ourselves as deserving CON
tempt, unless we recognize the debt and
pay it. He closed 10y saying that he
had confidence in the people that they
would reordain what they had done
before, il the matter was LETT TO them,
ana desired that the Convention would
not throw away its guarantees or its
umpire. which was the Legislature.
At this point Mr.. Faulkner gave
notice that at the proper time he would
offer an amendment which could COM
promise matters, and 10 which he
thought there could be no objection. l
am disappointed at not being able to
give Won his amendment, but from his
remarks perhaps You may CLEAN the
substance OF it.
He said 1t seems to me that more
time has been consumed and a gre9ter
range OF argument INDUCED in than the
character OF the proposition would war
rant. We are told that this is a grave
question, that our integrity, even our
very existence is at stake. | can see
no importance in such arguments, nor
can see anything that would impair
the destinies Of this State. have heard
no gentleman controvert the proposition
that the people are responsible for some