The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1872-01-20

OF the question at issue2 ofcourse not u
This quotation from Governor Walkers
message fairly exhibits the spirit in which
ne has seemed to view not only our own
efforts to carry out the object Of Our
appointment, but likewise the sincerity
and good faith Of tho Legislature OF Yves,
Virginia, in providing for the appoint.
ment Of such commission by your
EXccllency. And yet, while this Ia the
case, It Is mot 10 be forgotten that Vlrpi.
nla herself initiated this method OF at.
tempting 10 adjust the debt question,
And the language Of the Governor would
seem to DO all the more gratuitous in
such q connection from the lact-tlla[ IN
his annual message of December 7th.
1870, he considered It worth while ID
allude to the political change that had
taken place in this State Of tie preceding
October election, and bespoke in so many
words for the "new administration" an
opportunity OF manifesting It's intentions
and It's appreciation Of honesty and fair
dealing" And yet Notwithstanding this
language by himself thus voluntarily
employed on our behalf, and notwitI.
standing also the fact that one of Inc
early acts Of the "new administration
was TO respond to the policy that Virginia
herself had initiated, and before Il was
known In this State that she had changed
that policy; and while the appolntees
under the response were in Richmond
seeking In vain from the proper authority
OF virginia for such information rs every
debtor is entitled in law to receive from
his creditor, saying nothing of that spirit
OF "Ialr dealing" that was so conspicuous
Y Despoken on our behalf, Governor
Walker proceeds in his late message 10
aSperse the good faith of the State of
West Virginia alter the manner and in
the words that we have quoted.
The authorities OF West Virginia have
never assumed to themselves any right of
precedence in the matter OF IL policy for
the difficulties surrounding the
debt question. But In the Joint resolution
passed on the Gath oil February last, they
did assume the modest right Of adhering
to the policy already inauguratcd by the
State oil Virginia, and by her so freely
rendered heretofore for their acceptance,
and therefore they respectfully declined
to adopt q new and different proposition
from her until they coulil test the merits
OF the one already adopted.
Apparently the present Executive of
Virginia, from an enforced familiarity
with the workings Of personal govern
ment," which he so much deplorcs, has
acquired ideas as to the right of the mi
tiative between equal contracting parties
that are scarcely consistent with the
delicacy Of the issue pending between
this State and his own. For Instance, in
his letter of September eth he tells us
that the Legislature of Virginia, upon his
has rendered an arbitration TO
this State: and he trusts "that West
Virginia will reconsider her action and
accept the more speedy and satisfactory
mode oFsettlemcnt proposed by Virgins"
And again, in his late message he says
that "the better course to be pursued is
Tor the two States to submit the whole
question to arbitration" and West Virgi.
mia is arraigned, rs heretofore shown, Tor
not concurring in his opinions. Appa.
rently It did not occur TO the Governor
that since Virginia had proposed both
modes OF settlement to this State, the
latter might make her choice between
them without subjecting her motives 10
imputation. And yet all that she has
assumed to do is simply to choose between
two policies initiated by Virginia I'm.
less, therefore, il can he shown that it is
the prerogative Of that State TO prescribe
the terms upon which tho debt shall be
the question should hereafter
be discussed in spirit better calculated
to allay all sectional irritation.
But we pass from this incidental refer.
ence to Governor Walkers strictures upon
the attitude OF this State towards the debt
question TO the action OF the Virginia
Legislature upon the same question us
in the act approved on the Both
Of March last, and known as the Funding
bill. This act is in keeping with the mi.
tiatOry legislation Of Virginia in regard
TO the debit which we have Just referred.
1t assumes to apportion the debt Of that
State arbitrarily, Notwithstanding her
authorities had six weeks before the pad.
sage OF the act received notice of the
joint resolution Of the West Virginia
legislature providing Tor the appointment
OF Commissioners. 1t assumes, also, 10
lppOrtion the debt not as II stood on the
first day OF January, 1861, but as It would
stand on the first day of July, 1871, after
the interest had been twice compounded,
once in 1866, and again at the date last
and to apnnriinn Il. too, upon tho
basis Of territory and population, and
without any reference to the equities that
should always govern an assignment of
debt between two sections and that were
30 notorious in our own case. In other
words 1t assumes to apportiOn to West
Virginia one.third of the debt as It now
stands, simply on the ground that she has
onethird OF the territory and population
belonging 10 Virginia, and with
out reference at all to the question Of re.
and values. This is apparently
the practical result which Governor Wal.
ker hoped to reach when he urged upon
US the more speedy and satisfactory
mode ofsettlement proposed by Virginia"
inasmuch as he tells us in his late message
that this is the "plan for reorganization
Of the State debt" which he chad recon.
mended twelve months before"
But without reference to the authorship
Of this or any other "plan" for adjusting
the debt question, we propose TO consider
as briefly as possible tue real case now
pending between Virginia and West Vir-
ginia as We understand it.
The tables or statements which We an
mex aspart oil our report show, among
other things, the following facts:
That the funded debt OF Virginia on the
LIST day Of January, 1861, was $S1, 49,.
067 80, after all deductions.
Thatall, or nearly all, of this debt was
incurred for and actually expended in
works OF public improvement, such as
canals, railroads, turnpikes, plank.roads
and bridges
That OF this vast sum upwards of $780,.
600, 900 was expended Tor improvements
in the present State Of Virginia, and only
about two and a half millions in the pres.
mt GiOIa IF IVnai T;nntnta