The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-01-29
THE VA. DEBT
WEST VIRGINIA'S PRO-
PORTION ABOUT ONE
lLLEON OF
DOLLARS.
synopsis OF the Report Of
the Com nIiSsiOncrs.

synopsis OF the Report Of
the commissioners.
We regret that the crowded state Of
our columns prevents our giving this
report in full, inasnucb as it it treats
Of matter Of great importance to
evOry taxpayer in the State. The
following synopsis, however, gives the
substance Of tie report. and We be.
speak for it careful pGrusal.
The tables or statements annexed to
the report show, among other things,
the following facls;
That the funded debt Of Virginia,
on tie LIST of January, 1861, wa.
S9l,770,OG7 80, after all deductions
That all, or nearly all, Of this deb
was incurred for and actually expended
in works Of public Improvements such
as canals, railroads, turppikes, plank
roads and bridges.
That Of this vast sum upwards OF
$4,000, 900 was expended Tor improve.
ments in the present State of Virginia,
and only about two aud a half mill,
ions in the present Stale Of Yves. Viz,
ginia,
That the present State of Virgins
contains 1882 square miles and
West Virginia only 10000 square
miles, or less than onc.third.
That the counties composing what !!
now Virginia contained by the census
of 1860 a population OF ,2l0, 1904, ant
those composing West Virginia only ,
population Of 374,0S7, or about one
fourth"
The Commissioners then proceed tc
show that no just apportiOnment 9th,
debt can be made on the basis Of popu
Iation and territory alone, and the lie,
gal argument of Judge Meredith. o.
Richmond, on that subject is shown tc
he incorrect and not sustained by the
authorities upon which he relies.
"A moments consideration will show
that a division of tebt according tt
population and territory would not only
be impractiiable, but would conflict
with common sense. 1t would be i'm,
practicable because it does not deter.
mine the relative value Of each one Of
the two elements Of population ant
territory. Suppose the population tl
be twice as much a, the territory, OIL
suppose the territory to be three times
as great as tho population, which Gle.
mcnt has tho greater value III deter,
mining the result!
Without pursuing this thought
further it is manifest that nothing i,
settled by such rule. You must Gx
the relative value of tho two element,
before you caR reach conclusion. Ii
is, therefore, plain why the books DO
not give the rule as stated by Judge
Meredith. Because Of its indefinite.
ness, but mainly because Of its injus.
lice, Would any san. man lay down
a rule for tho division of State which
would ignore tho great cities, public
improvements, public works, institu.
tons OF all kinds, great commercial i'd.
van;agcs, such as rivers mud larbors.
anl the great advantage Of fertility oil
soil all of which, aud many other el.
emcnts of wealth, property and power,
might he found in one division and be
wholly absent 10 tho oih;r? IIchcc we
say that such rule is rcpsgpalt to
common senSc.
"a public debt is mainly a charge
upon the wealth and resources Of a
people. It is represented by taxes and
taxes are imposed not on numbers or
square miles, but on resources and val.
ues. How much stronger is the case
when the very deb. uuder cousidCra.
ton was created in developing and en- -.
r:chiug one portion Of the State almost
exclusively. Nay, more, when that
division Of the State is in possession Of
aud enjoying, giving away and selling
at auction and otherwise disposiuV Of
tue very subjects for which tho debt
was created"
1--WE think We take a more practical
view Of the subject, and one which will
attain all the ends Of justice. Th. ia.
bles accompanying thi, rcpor: show that
the bonded debt Of Virginia on the Grs.
day Of January. 1861. represented
money borrowed and expended in i'm.
proving the State by canals, railroads,
turnpikes, plank roads and bridges
All these expenditures conferred a To-.
cal and special bcnefl,where expended,
not only by the outlay of the money in
Grating market and stimulating en-.
tcrprisO and trade. but in otherwise
developing the resources Of particular