The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-02-24
v,o., y,rcinta and the Public DEBT

ycnsf ytrcintR anu ths SO.
rhs honesty of the leading Repuplitah
,>.ner in West Virginia puts to shame Inc
course of the profcsscd friends Oh v,rs'ni'
~ ,,,n west Virginia Convention. The fol-
lowinr manly article is from the "nec''"E
mtcINgencer:
,,,,r,.n,,r,oS AT CnARLEsToN--A pEPLohAhhS
MISTAKE.
We reproduce this morning Charlesso,'
di.pa;cl, To the Cincinnati Enquirer LII w. ,,.
once 70 the action of the ConVentloi IcSp "S,.
in.e the Virginia debt. As printed IL y ~ .,,o
nonsense; but in view of the lact tL'. IF II
convention has been discussing "hcIno, i
should nut into the new Constitution VI T o
from It clause like that in the presen. Lido ;Jc
stit,tion requiring the Legislature to p hoht #
for this states equitable share ol tne l,, Ios
i evident what the Convention has oo 1. ' No.
hrrn "a decide. bv vote of ~ 10 -, .nnt -"
YrcI clausc shall go into the ne" , 1,'.iD
finn The matter is referred to Ill Il Nii'. S ~,
ton Ie,tcr IN our columns this lnorliiS' ',''', ~
WnnIs Of Barbour, and Alf. lla!ihon., y.
Nr,,inn nnncar as the advocates OIL liis ali - "
rr,i.s;nn and. had as some OF tlie'i ln'''s
deeds ,.e have been, they will never n''o
i'i.,,.,,,.,. ana, +, answer for than liih.
When the consent Of Virginia las letIe'
,on,cd in tie Convention that sat Ill tli!>
c;ty in August. 1SG1,) was gwen ~ ua' :
.;on Of the state, it was OH tlic GHpiIa'
nnnd;tion that the new State should ttN.
mon itself an equitable proportion Oh MI NE
I,.ht Of Tie State to be divided. lie
"ondit;nn was laid down in the ordinance
providing for the first step toward, ul''
1
Sion. When the Constitution was li''iileo
This requirement was embodied III II u
linJinr the State to fulfil the condltioI
agreed to. II is the Sth section oi Ii'c GU
article. and is in these words: ,r,
AN equitable proportion OF the puplle
dc,,t Of the commonwealth Of Virginia prior
~ the 1st day OF January. 1861, shall be rs,
snnrd bythis State; and the Legislature silai
,.,,rr,an the same as soon rs may be pracll
cable. and provide for the liquidation Thereon
ly 4 sinking fund sufficient to pay. the accru
inc interest and redeem the principal Wi'hll
tbjrtv-lour years" :. A.,
r. WAS upon this express pledge in tn(
Constitution that the consent OF the hestS
l,turc of Virginia rs represented III tac re
c.ni,ci government" was obtained 10 the ul|i
.;nn II Was upon the faith Of tins promise
that thc Congress OF the United States con
s,ntcd and admitted the new State INTO I;i'
Union 3ud without it that admission cot.i'
NOT hive been obtained. When West |u'
ririn first presented herself ut the door G
Conoro$S. tlc first inquiry was TO know
what provision we bad made for our publi'
creditors. The answer WAS made through
Mr.. lawrence. of Ohio, who read from inc
n(i;,.i,l co,,y of the Constitution forwarded
"a Congress the section above quoted.
Now. What does this action by the Hc>
yirnipi, Constitutional Convention mean
II we intend to fulfill this pledge, repeated
in 80 many forms and places, why sinai
il not arye:tr i'll the new Constitution: 10
stem las vet Lcen taken. None can bt
| taken unless there he constitutional all
| ,hority for ii. II it is the intention II
keep faith in this matter, why shall no
the Com titution arm the Legislature witt
the nccdfll authority? Why shall it no
go further, and require the Legislature, Il
! The existing Constitution does, to 1Clilil IN
| rIrdcc: II there is an intention to NEE
| Ills obligation ut all, i'll any way, ut an
| time. there is just one thing for the Cor
ycntjon to do. and that is to "nomiimtc 1t L
the bond.' Ii that is not done, ii will mca
deliberate reputation. 1t cannot neal any
tl.irm else. For without express proTlSlo
in the Constitution the Legislature neithc
| cannon will ever take one step towards Il set
Element. We presume all this has hccn d!'
/ cu.scd and well understood, and that Tn
| for:y-two lave deliberately voted with intcl
ton that the Legislature never shall take
| SINGLE Step towards tlitlMCnt of our ob!lgS
ton, 10 Virginia and 10 tie creditors OF tn
| twu States.
| This, rs We view it, is a dcp!orablc mi
| fake, viewed only as matter OF policy. Dis
honesty pays 10 better i'll public affairs In
in private. An old and wealthy State coul
hot afford to break faith with It's creditor,
iIow much less then, one like OURS, Whlcii
iuSl starting III business and needs above a
things the good will and confidence Of til
r.ui,Iie. 70 do What is proposed under an
circumstances would lc inGctcn>ible. i
do il in Our circumstances is utterly Withol
excise. The State is able to meet her eqllit;
bic share Of this debt, aud ii she met it hon
orally and promptly might expect, in fey
wears. such growth to result from her goo
E,i.h rs would make the burden easily borne
| 10 Jake the opposite course, as the CONVEX
ton iIaS voted TO do, is to break Faith Wit
All. partics--with Virginia, with Con@rc>:
jtn our creditors. We break AL bond
moral and legal. Coed faitil, confidence
h,nor arc all ruthlessly sacrificed. Ate
ti.:.t what is lett West Virginia but the intln
| anai scorl that long since overlook Missi>
| sil nj!