The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1872-02-22

Reputation at CharlestOn-.A De.
Es plOrable Mistake. ri

| hepuulatlOn ut ChnfIeStOnssA dee
| Es plOrable Mistake. RI
We reproduce, this morning, a Charles
ton dispatch to the Cincinnati Enquirer
in reference to the action Of the conven-
tion respecting the Virginia debt. AS
printed 1t Is mere nonsense; but in view
of the fact that the Convention has been
discussing whether 1t should put into the
new Constitution or omit from Il clause
like that in the present Constitution, re.
Quiring the Legislature TO provide for
this States equitable share Of the debt, 1t il
evident; what the Convention has done
has been to decide, by vote Of 40 to 90,
that no such clause shall 60 into the new
Constitution. The matter Is referred to
in Charleston letter In our columns this
morning. SAM WOODS, Of BarbodR, and
ALE. HAYMoND, of Marion, appear as the
advocates Of thissin of omission; and, bad
as some OF their public deeds have been,
they will never haye q blacker one to
answer for than this. I &3s s
When the consent oil Virginia las repre-.
sented in the Convention that sat in this
city in August, 1861 } was given to q divis.
ion OF the State, it was on the express
condition that the new State should take
upon itself an equitable proportion of the
debt Of the State TO be divided. This
condition was laid down in the ordinance
providing for the first step towards divis-
ion. When the Constitution was framed
this requirement was embodied in it'as
binding the State to fulfill the condition
agreed TO- 1t is the 9Th section of the 9Th
article and is in these words: G#
"An equitable proportion OF the public debt Of
the Commonwealth Of Virginia prior TO the 1st
DAY Of January, 1881, shall be assumed by this
same as soon as may be practicable, and provide
for the liquidation thereof by sinking fund snf-
lcient TO pay the accruing Interest and redeem
the principal within 81 years"
1t was upon this express pledgein the
Constitution that the consent of the Legis.
lature of Virginia as represented in the
"restored government" was obtained to
the division. twas upon the faith of this
promise that the Congress of the United
States consented and admitted the new
State into the Union, and without it that
admission could not have been obtained.
When West Virginia first presented her.
self ut the door OF Congress, the first in
quiry was to know what provision we had
made ior our public creditors. The an.
swer was made through Mr.. LAWRENCE,
Of Ohio, who read from the official copy
Of the Constitutionforwarded to Congress,
the section above quoted.
Now what does this action by the West
Virginia Constitutional Convention mean
five intend tofulGll this pledge, repeated
in so many forms and places, why shall
ltnotappear IN the new Constitution p? No
step has yet been taken. None can be
taken unless there be constitutional au-
thority for it. If it is the intention to
keep faith in this matter, why shall not
the Constitution arm the Legislature with
the needlul authority? Why shall it not
go further and require the Legislature, as
the existing Constitution does, to fulfill the
pledge? If there is an intention TO meet
this obligation ut all, in any way, at any
time, there is juss one thing for the Con-
ycntlon toydo, and that is to nominate it
10 the bond" II that is not done it will
mean deliberate reputation. 1t cannot
mean anything else. For without exprOs
provision in the Constitution, the Legis-
lature neither can nor will ever take one
step towards n settlement. We presume
all this has been discussed and well un-
derstood, and that the AZ have deliberate
ly voted with intention that the Legisla-
ture never shall take single step towards
q fultllment Of our obligations to Virginia
and to the creditors OF the two States.
This, as we view It, is deplorable mis-
take, viewed only as matter Of policy.
Dishonesty pays no better in public affairs
than in private. An old and wealthy
State could not afford to break faith with
its creditors. How much less then, one
like ours, which is just starting in busi-
ness and needs above all things the good
will and confidence Of the public. To- do
what is proposed under any circumstances
would be indefensible. To do 1t in our
circumstances is utterly without excuse.
The State is able to meet her equitable
share OF this debt; and il she met 1t hon
orably and promptly might expect,
in a few years, such growth to result
from her good faith as would make the
burden easily borne. To take the oppo-
site course, as the Convention has voted
to do, is 10 break faith with all parties
with Virginia, with Congress, with our
creditors. We break all bonds, moral
and legal. Good faith, confidence, honor,
are all ruthlessly sacrificed. After that,
what is left West Virginia but the inlamy
and scorn that long since overlook Mis-
stssippig az III alag. (