The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-03-03
MONDAY EvEN'G, MARCH 8, 1871
The True Position.

proving the assumption of the debts OF the
several states by the federal government
came up for conside ration in the House on
Saturday, Mr.. Deneale, of Rockingham.
offered,a substitute which was ordered to
be printed, and the two sets of resolutions
were postponed for further action until
Wednesday of this week. The Senate
resolutions were drawn up in accordance
with the recommendation of the Governor,
and embody substantially his plan of as
sumption, while the substitute resolutions
offered by Mr.. Deneale cover the ground
taken by THE STATE JOURNAL, and boldly
recite the reasons why the federal govern
ment should provide the means for liquidat-
ing the ante-bellatm debts of the old state OF
Virginia which it conquered, dismembered,
and anuihated or wiped out Of existence,
by the exercise of its war-making power.
Here is a reason why the Legislature OF
the state should press the proposition it
makes upon the consideration of the fed
eral government. In the Senate resolutions
there is no reason but that which any
prohgate or spendthrift might give for the
payment by another of his improvidently
contracted debts. They are confession
of repud;ation an admission that the
state is dead broke" and cannot pay the
honestly contracted obligations resting
upon it. Mr.. Deneale's resolutions are open
to no such objection. They scorn repudia-
ton as a principle, no less than as charge
resting upon the people Of the state. They
show in their preamble where the indebt-
edness lies, and whose plighted faith is at
stake in the matter of providing payment.
The fact is the federal government did do
this thing did subjugate the old common
wealth of Virginia, partition up her terri
tory, wipe out her existence as o state,
and provide for the organization of two
other states, neither of which was the old
one, out of her subjugated and dismembered
territory. The liabilities Of the old state
accordingly devolved upon the conqueror.
The new Virginia is entirely relieved of any
and all obligation to pay it. She has a
good digestion and heart impervious to
the whisperings of conscience on this sub
ject. The shame of reputation can never
mantle her cheek so long as she has the ne
plus ultra of argument to back her
propositions of federal liability. The
sooner the Republican party sees
this, acknowledges the fact, accepts
the consequences, and puts itself in
the way Of making PREPARATION, the better
it will be for all concerned, and especially
for the party concerned. Give US back
our territory, re-invest us with our ancient
sovereignty, enable us to put the assess
ment on the old yirginia-on its whole
people per capita and its whole territory
per legens teYrg-and then talk about our
liability to pay these ante-bellum debts.
1t is useless for the members of the
legislature of 1871, and the paid lobby
that hung like vultures about that body
trying to flesh their beaks in some streal
of marrow oozng out of the carcass of ole
dead Virginia, to claim that the new STATE
has made itself liable for the indebtedness
of the old IN consequence of theil
Infamous assumpsit. They plead the
recognition of assumpsit in the constitu
ton. But all they can claim for tina
instrument is that it requires the paymen
of such debts as have legal vitality
against the state. The clause relating
to TIE adjustment with the state of Yves
Virginia, provides for ascertaining tn
proper proportion" of the debt to b
borne by each state. If there was no lega
liability to bear any portion of the debt o
the old state, then there could be n,
"proper proportion" ascertained for eithe
to bear, and we may rest assured tina
West Virginia will never consent to an
ascertainment" that will fix dollar {
that old liability upon herself. She ha
got too old head on her young shoulder
to commit any such folly as that.
We are opposed to all resolutions AM
memorials addressed to Congress on thi
subject; but if any resolutions are deeme
necessary by the Legislature. let them b
those Of Mr.. Deneale, which are nethe
cringng nor servile-making no beggar
argument for congressional crumbs, but col
timing manly defence Of Virginia's att
tude before that body, as well as the Wal
street and other bon Tho lding harpies
the world. Let us say, what is true, TIL
we have created no Indebtedness since Il
war, and could have created none befo
that time, as we had no existence as
state until Congress graciously vouc
safed us one under its organic act. As
"body polite" the old state was, in Il
language of the international law writer
" destroyed. extinguished, annihilated
it hadn't life enough left to squeak t
word sovereignty" in the ears
the military authority which decay
taxed it, and snuffed out the little Pie
point government" 1t was reduced n
only to territorial vassalage, bat its ne
was placed under the heel of military &C
querors, not for the purposes of rehabii
ton, as is the case of other states, but
the end of making permanent the decapi
ton and dismemberment Of the old state.
IL we are right in this, we have but O