The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-02-22

own favor. The fact is that the same
amount OF stamps have been voted IN
each of the years 1866, 1867, 1869, 1870
and 1871, viz: ten dollars worth, which
ia the amount this year. l always
thought it wrong, and still think 30
but it is well enough to be correct about
such things. YoRIcK.
Be kind enough to say to Hall that
always prefer to carry glasses over my
nose, rather than under it. Y.
The Public Debt Question In the
Conveniion-V Various Views OF
West Virginia's LiabiIity-Proba.
bIIity that no Mention of the Debt
will be Made in the Constitution
The Reporters GalIery--Personal
Sketches OF the Newspaper Cores.
pondents.
CHARLESTON, W. Va, Feb. II.
The Convention is still discussing
the report Of the committee on Taxation
and Finance. The third section. pro,
viding for capitation tax for the sup,
port of free schools, was first taken up.
Mr. Brown moved to amend by strik-
ing out zone" and inserting mot less
than one nor more than two dollars"
Mr.. Wheat moved to amend so that
il should not be less than one dollar
Mr.. Davenport moved to insert two
instead of one. All OF which were
lost.
Mr.. Station moved to make it one
dollar on all married men and two
dollars on bachelors.
Mr.. Harding had no objection to
this, if it could be provided that the tax
on bachelors went to the old maids.
The 4th section was passed, and
the 9th, relative to the contraction OF
State debrs and the payment Of any
"previous liability" was taken up.
Mr.. Hagans moved to amend by in
serting provision that West Virginia
should pay her equitable proportion OF
the State debt Of Virginia, when ascer.
tanned.
Mr.. Wheat, offered an amendment
differing only in verbiage, providing in
positive terms that this State would pay
her proportion of the debt of Virginia.
Mr.. Wiley opposed amending the
section further than adding a provision
for its payment. when ascertaIned by the
Legislature.
Mr.. Price favored Mr.. Willey's
proposition.
Mr.. Wiley wished to be understood
as favoring the payment OF any liabili'
tv that might justly rest upon us.
Reputation was degradation and the
best capital was integrity.
Mr.. Wheat supposed the whole Con-
vention recognized the obligation, legal
and moral, of the State to pay her
proportion of the debt By the separa-
ton from Virginia we did not relieve
ourselves from the liability, or change
the right of the creditors to hold the
property Of the State bound for the debt.
1t was the price Of our birthright and
he wanted it specifically recognized in
the Constitution
Mr.. Pendleton thought that if the
debt was to he recognized, the section
under discussion was not the place
where it should be incorporated. 1t
should be in a separate section. No
declaration OF the Convention or any
provision Of the Constitution could
change the liability which rested upon
this State, if any existed. This State
was formed by virtue Of, and with the
consent OF the reorganized government
Of Virginia, upon the express condition
that we should pay our equitable por-
ton of the then existing debt. This
obligation was reafiirmed in the Con-
stitution of West Virginia. 1t was
now not question with the Convention.
The amount, the nature and the extent
OF that liability would have to be settled
elsewhere, and in view Of this fact, the
Finance committee had thought it I'M
necessary to say ANYTHING upon the
subject; but, if the Convention thought
otherwise, he was willing to yield his
views, and do anything deemed neces-
sary to sustain the honor ard integrity
OF the State
Mr.. Wiley concurred with Mr.. P,
but thought in order to avoid criticism,
the amendment suggested by him should
he adopted.
Mr.. Hagans maintained that there
was no legalIiability upon us to pay any
portion OF the debit was only moral
obligation. If the section should he
passed as it now stood, the Legislature
could not provide for its payment, be-
cause there was no previous liability"
There was an imputation Of fraud con-
cealed in the section. He wanted an
express recognition Of our honorary
obligation to pay our portion Of the
debt. The trainers of the present Con-
stitution, actuated 10y the highest mo-
tivps of honor and integrity, had recog-
nized this obligation, and We should do
likewise. He did not believe acc owed one
cent Of the Virginia dett, but if we did,
he would not tarnish the fair fame OF
the State by the foul, fostering stigma
Of Reputation.
Mr.. Wheat pricked the bubble OF
Hagans' eloquence by stating that while
he agreed with him as to our obligation
to pay, he disagreed with his law. The
gentleman maintained with one breath
that there was no liability on our part,
and in the next begged us not to repudi-
ate liability which he had just shown
tad no existence.
Mr.. Armstrong favored declaration
OF our intention to pay, and preferred
Wneat's amendment.
Mr. Raymond opposed Mr.. Willey's
amendment. A declaration in the
Constitution that we will always here
after pay what we owe would imply a
thot ,,,1oe,