The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-02-26

concerned, agree to no uncertain action.
What was done he wanted done boldly
and in language clear and certain.
There was always remedy where
there was q wrong. If not to-day,
then tomorrow. We must do right,
however hard The consequences that
might ensue from such action. Policy
was not the question. Justice was
the question. Justice was the prlncl-
pie that should actuate all. 1t was
true that we would all like 10 avoid
this debt, but we could not afford to
do so at the expense Of our integrity
of justice, and of honor. He, there.
fore, favored an express recognition Oh
the debt. This was tie speech OF the
day. 1t was a calm, well considered
argument, clothed in garb OF the
purest language and delivered with an
earnestness and eloquence that are
seldom equalled.
Mr.. Travers, in effect, closed the
debate, although some halfdozen mem
bers managed 10 get on their legs before
the vote was taken. He thought, as
the discussion had taken such wide
range, it would be well to call the minds
of the members back to the question
which was really before it. Gentle;
men who opposed the report, maintained
that no act of ours could rid us OF our
portion Of the debt,-that it is a debt
which we owe, and the payment Of
which we cannot avoid. If this be true,
is it not provided for? Is it not pre-
vious liability? ?" and why was it neces'
ssry 10 mention it specially when it is
ALREADY provided for? The gentleman
from Mopongalia (Mr. Wiley had
stated that the question as to whether
the State OF West Virginia should con
time to exist, was even now being
agi;ated in political circles, and init,
mated that Congress might blot us out
of political ex stence. lie was aware OIL
this: Whenever Congress assumed TO
itself power to blot ont sovereign State
of the Union, pretext for their action
would not be long wanting, but he was
not afraid that the action OF the Con-
vention on this subject, would increase
or precipitate the evil with which the
gentleman threatened US. The process
of Capitalization had not get reached
that point; Congress bad not get uHur2ed
all the powers OF government; the Con-
stitu,ion was not get quite dead letter,
and the spirit OF liberty was not get quite
dead in the hearts of the people.
The report OF the committee was
finally adopted, all the amendments
being voted down, and it now stands
Just as published 10y you a few days
ago.
| have lis ened patiently 10 all the
discussion on this subject, and now that
it is concluded, | must confess ] know
no more about it than the "Grlmgogs
OF Chesire know of the Appleways OF
Applicable, or the Slraddlebugs OF Strad-
dledale do Of the DoodlebOos of ILL.,
manqungerie," and | am inclined TO
think most of the members are in the
same condition. Everybody has been
kinder "kavorling" round the subject
and now that the subject is finally dis
posed Of, the question arises, "Hsve
we, or have we not, recognized our liza
biIitv to pay our own portion OF the
deht?" | think 50 neither.
| regret to say that hereafter | will
not be able to write you regularly, but
| will drop you line or two as l can
snatch an hour from business.
YoRICE.