The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1872-01-20
GIreGttetttlge'tesr.
THE VIRGINIA DEBT.
Report OF tho West Virginia
Commissioners.

II ~ AANSAAN
Report Of tho West Virginia
Commissloners.l
A Good Case for West Virginia.
10 lis Rrcellency, j. J. JdcoJ, Governor
Of West Hfryinid:
SIN; Under the joint resolutions passed
by the West Virginia legislature on the
18th and cath days Of February last, the
undersigned were appointed Commission
ers by you ITO treat with the authorities
Of Virginia on the subject Of n proposed
adjustment Of the public debt Of that
State prior TO the first day oil January,
1851" and were directed by the legisla.
ture "to make report thereof TO the Gov.
ernOr," which we have the honor TO do
rs follows;
On the 9th day OF August last the
Commissioners met in PGrkersburg to
confer together upon the subject matter
OF their appointment and TO organize q
programme other procedure in respect
lhcroC They addressed letter TO your
ExCellency notifying you Of their meeting
and organization, and also the following
letter TO Governor Walker, of Virginia:
PARKERsBURd, WEST Va,
August 9th, 1871.
70 ia Ercsllency, the GOrerNOr Of JH.
RRia
SIR The undersigned have the honor
TO inform you that under the joint resolu.
lions passed by the legislature Of West
Virginia on tho 10Th and cath of Februa.
ry last, they have been appointed Com.
InisSiOnerS by the Governor OF West Wiz.
ginia 10 treat with Virginia in regard to
the debt as It stood on the first day Of
January, 1861.
Also, that they met in this. city o.day
for the purpose Of entering upon the dis.
charge Of their duties, and to this end
have designated General John j. jackson
rs their chairman, through whom they
propose to receive such communication
as your ExcellenCy may be pleased to sub.
nit.
win your Excellency be pleased to in.
licate at your earliest convenience what
action, II any, has been or is likely to be
taken by Virginia in the matter OF ap-
pointing Commissioners, or, in the event
Of no such appointments, what channel of
communication will be open to lis.
We have the honor 10 be your Excel.
lencys obedient servants,
goaN J. JACKSON,
20 j, NJ. ,BRNNETTS
A. w. CAMPBELL.
After forwarding this letter, together
with the one 10 your Excellency, the
Commissioners adjourned to meet at
Richmond on u day to be agreed upon
later in the season, there TO confer with the
authorities Of Virginia and to make such
examination Of public documents rs
might enable them to carry ont the oh.
ieCts Of their appointment.
Meanwhile they received from the
Governor Of Virginia, In answer 10 their
letter Of August 9th, letter dated Sep.
TENDER 9th, the same purporting to be u
copy OF a letter addressed to your Excel.
lency, and which is ms follows:
EXECUTIVE CHAMBERS,
Richmond, Sept eth, 1871.
Ills ErcelteqGy, DID, hcoJ, Governor Of
Virginia
SIR: have the honor TO acknowl.
edge the receipt Of your communication
Of the 18th ulto., notifying me of the ap.
poinlmcnt III Messrs. jackson, Bennett
and Campbell rs Commissioners on behalf
Of the State Of West Virginia 10 treat
with the authorities of this State upon
the subject Of the State debt. hive also
received certified copy Of the joint reso.
lhtlons empowering you TO make these
appointments. Absence from the Capital
has prevented an earlier response TO
these several communications On the
18th Of February, 1870, an act was pass.
ed by the Legislature of this State, and
approved by me, authorizing the Cover.
nor 10 appoint three Commissioners on
behalf OF this State to treat with the all.
thoritics of West Virginia upon the sub.
ject Of a proper adjustment Of the public
debt OF the State Of Virginia due or in:
CURED previous to the ACKNOWLEDGMENT of
the State, and OF a fair division Of the
IH"Ib plOpVltJ'
Commissioners were promptly appoint
ed under this act and notice OF their an.
polntmCnt, together with an authentica.
ted copy Of the act, were at once forward.
ed to the Governor ofWest Virginia. No
response whatever to my communication
was made by the Governor of West
Virginia, but | learned through other
sources that the matter was promptly
submitted to the legislature then in ses-
sion, by which, either by act or resolu.
ton, tho Governor was authorized TO
appoint Commissioners 10 meet and
confer With those appointed from Vir-
glnia. have never been informed, how
ever, of the appointment Of any Com
missioners under the authority thus con-
ierred.
Ahistory OF these proceedings, together
with statement OF my own views upon
the subject, was submitted to our legisla.
ture in my annual message of December
last, a copy Of which herewith enclose.
The legislature, acting upon the sugges.
lions Of the message, on the 18th day Of
February last, In o joint resolution,
""'""iHSh thC uONCluOl W lGuuGL " tue
State Of West Virginia IAN arbitration of
all matters touching q full and fair appor.
tIonment between said States of the said
public debt" an authenticated copy of
which joint resolution, together with the
lender OF an arbitration us herein au.
tnorized, was promptly forwarded TO the
Governor of West Virginia.
This joint resolution, while it does not
in terms repeal the act of February 18th,
1870, was intended TO supcrscde It, and
therefore do not feel authorized TO ap.
point Commissioners. Our tender of an
arbitration has not been withdrawn, and
regret exceedingly that the authorities
"TWest Virginia declined TO accept II. |
cannot understand what reasonable obIec.
ton can be raised 10 this fair and eOlita.
bic mode of adjustment so frequently re.
sorted to by individuals and nations, and
trust that West Virginia will reconsider
her action and accept the more speedy