The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-01-20
THE PUBLIC DEBT.
Report Of she Debt Commissioner,
or the State Of West Virginia.

the 10th and Z4th OF last FEBRUARY, the
Governor was authorized to appoint
three Commissioners, whose duty it
should be to treat with the authorities
of Virginia on the subject Of pro-
posed adjustment Of the public debt OF
that State prior to the LIST Of February,
1861, and to make a report thereof to
the Governor. They were further au-
thorized to proceed as soon as practica-
bic to adjust, award and determine upon
fair, just, and equitable principles,
what proportion OF said public debt
should in their opinion be paid by West
Virginia, and what part thereof should
be paid by Virginia, subject. however,
to approval and ratification by the
Legislatures of the States concerned
Subsequent to the passage of the reso-
luton authorizing the appointment OF
these commissioners, the State of Vir-
ginia desired to have the question at
issue left to arbitration by three CON-
petent persons not citizens of the State.
The Legislature Of West Virginia, how
ever. declined to agree to an arbitration
in the manner proposed and, inviting
Virginia to appoint three commissioners
to meet and confer with those to be APP
pointed by the Governor of this State
adhered to its former resolution. As
commissioners On the part of West
Virginia, the Governor appointed Gen,
J. ]. Jackson, Of Parkersburg, Hon. j.
NJ. Bennett of Weston, and A. W.
Campbell, Esq, Of Wheeling. No cor
responding board was: appointed on
behalf Of Virginia. The West Virginia
commissioners proceeded, however, to
discharge their duties as best they
could, and present report from which
we condense the following synopsis:
The Commissioners met in Parkers-
burg on the 9th Of August, to arrange
their plan OF operations, and addressed
letter to the Governor of Virginia
notifying him OF their appointment and
asking him what channel of communi-
cation would be open to them in pur.
suing their inquiries. A month later
they received from Governor Walker,
by way Of reply to their letter, copy
Of letter addressed by him to Gov
ernor Jacob, recounting what had been
proposed by Virginia in the matter,
declining to appoint Commissioners, and
expressing regret that West Virginia
had not consented to arbitration. The
Board then resolved to take the same
steps they would have taken had they
expected to meet Commissioners on
the part of Virginia and, on the 4th
day of November, assembled in the city
of Richmond, for the purpose OF obtain.
ing the information called for in the
Joint resolution under which they had
been appointed.
After spending several days in the
examination of such public documents
as were available at the capitol, and,
realizing the necessity for further and
more explicit and official information
than they could gather unassisted, they
addressed the following note to the
Second Auditor of Virginia:
RICHMOND, November IA, 1871.
To the Second Audaor Of Virginia:
SRI am directed by the Commits
sioners representing West Virginia in
the matter of the pnblic debt of Vir.
ginia, prior to the first of January, 1861,
to procure from your Office such in
formation as can be furnished on the
following points, viz:
l. The actual amount of the public
debt Of Virginia on the first OF January,
1861. And under this head the
amounts Of said debt owned by the
Sinking Fund, the amount owned by
Literary Fund and the amount owned
by the Library Fund.
2. What portion Of the bonded debt
was invested, and how invested, on the
first Of January, 1861. Also, what
portion of the investment was produc.
tive, what were the dividends or profits
arising therefrom for the year 1860, and
whether any such investments have
since been donated, changed, converted
or otherwise disposed of.
3. What portion of the appropria-
tons expended in West Virginia for
public improvements came from the
sales Of State bonds and what portion
from the revenues or taxes of Virginia
4. A copy OF the advertisement for
the redemption of portion of the pub
lie debt on the first Of January, 1861.
5. A statement of the amount of
public debt actually redeemed on the
first Of January, 1861, pursuant to said
advertisement.
Upon these points the Commissioners
desire to hear from you at your earliest
convenience. Very respectfully, your
obedient servant,
A. w. CAMPBELL. Secretary.
"In reply to the foregoing communica-
ton, we received the following note at
5 o'clock on the evening of the 10th OF
November, after lapse OF two and
half days, and after We had abandoned
all hope of the assistance asked for in
our letter and after, in fact, we were on
the eve Of our departure for home:
SECOND AUDITORS OFFICE,
RICHMOND, Nov. Is, 1871.
A. W. Campbell Esq, Secretary, DC:
DEAR SIR: Yours of the l4th was re-
ceived. You ask me for a report upon
variety Of questions connected with
our public debt, the transactions Of the
Board Of Public Works in regard to it,
and the financial affairs of the State,