Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1874-03-28
ISTEREsTlNc DiscU UssIoN IN CON.
-GRESS.

| ISrEREsrING DISCUSSION IN CON.
DIsr OF VIRGINIA AND WEST ViR-
| eiSrA.-The following interesting be-
/! hate took place on the 10th inst, in the
Housr. between Mr. Hereford, of West
Virginia, and Judge John T. Harris,
of the Valley District of S::rsinia
Mr.. Hereford With the permiss.ca
! of the House l desire to make brief
statement. AT the opening of the pro-
ceeding of the House, when ! was sb-
sent from my seat in attendance upon
F., the committee on public lands, of which
I am member, resolution, offered by
! the gentlemen from Virgins, Mr.
Thomas in relation to the settlement
of the debt of the State of Virginia pri-
or to January 1, 1861, was referred to
the committee on thejudiciary. In that
paper is embodied a ''whereas that, in
my opinion, does great injustice both
to the mother State and the State which
have in part the honor to represent
upon this floor 1t reads as follows:
And whereas the State of West Vir-
ginia, though often and earnestly re-
| ouested 10 do so by the State OF Nir-
cinia, has neglected and refused TO ad-
lust and settle the debt aforesaid and
provide for the payment of her just and
equitable proportion thereof Therefore
resolved, &c.
Now. Mr.. Speaker, I cannot but be-
lieye that the sentiments therein ex-
pressed are not the sentiments OF the
people of the State of Virginia, because
il is not true that the State Of West
Virginia has ever, at any time, refused,
nnr will she at any time in the future
refuse, TO pay her mother State the last
farthing of every part of that debt which
she is equitably bound to pay, On the
contrary she, some two or three years
ago, appointed commission TO meet a
similar commission in the city Of Rich-
mond to adjust this very debt, and that
commission appointed on the part OF
my State went to Richmond, and repor-
ted to my Legislature That they were
even denied sn audience.
do not believe that the people ofthe
State of Virginia wish to say to the
world that the youngest daughter OF
that State is a repudiatiouis,, which sbe
is not. She is willing on the proper
adjustment of that debt to pay the last
iarthing that she owes Some say that
she owes nothing. Others say that sho
owes a small part. What the amount
may be am not here to discuss to-day.
l only wish to do the State have the
honor in part to represent justice on
this floor, and 10 deny the charge con-
tanned in the preamble to that resolu.
ton, that she refuses TO pay any part OF
the debt which she honestly owes.
regret the entire spirit OF these resolu-
tions. Their sole tendency ia to engen-
der bad feeling between the two States,
which l deprecate. We have been
friends in the past, and will be in tho
future.
Mr.. Harris, of Virginia: ! wish to say
one word in reply TO my friend from
West lMr. Hereford] tbs a question
of so much interest to both States that
it would be matter for regret that any
disputation should arise between the
State of Virginia and her daughter,
West Viryinia-no, not her legitimate
daughter, but State carved from her
side by the sword OF usurpa,ion.
Nv frien.1 from West Virginia says
that the commissioners on the part OF
West Virginia went to the city Of Rich
mond, and were there denied an audi
ence. cannot speak officially as to
that, or of my own knowledge, for was
not there. But the history uf that mat
ter, as am informed and as is general,
" understood, is that the commissioners
on the part of Virginia could not pro-
cure an audience with the commission.
ers Of West Virginia unless basis OF
settlement which would have brought
I Virginia in debt to West Virginia was
first conceded II was the Official set
Element Virginia desired, but which she
could not get. The commissioners OF
West Virginia, upon a punctiho. LETT
Richmond, and would do nothing i
admit that the State Of West Virgins
has nominally professcd her willingness
TO pay her share of the public debt OF
Virginia, but she has accompanied that
profession with basis of settlement go
| inc back to the foundation OF the gov
ernment, and charging Virginia with
all the improvements whenever and
wherever made. They claimed that
wherever road was made in what is
now Virginia, from the beginning OF
tho Government, il should be charged
to the old State that wherever tarn-
pike was made in East Virginiait should
be charged to the old State; that every
dollar expended in East Virginia, from,
its first settlement at jamestown down
to this fatal separation, should by char
ged to the old State and that then .
balance should be struck on that basis
If this were admitted, our friends OF
West Virginia would not only bring
their own State 10 debt 20 them bccsuss
East Virginia was settled and improve
ments made there long before the tide
of emigration began TO 60 West but
they would get as muoh money from
Virginia with which to- bniid up Che
State of West Virgiaia - would make
it twice az rich ~ the old State itself.
We have asked West Virginia TO agree
TO a settlement Of ouf State, debt, and
assume her just proportion, but she be-
steadily and persistently refused We
haze asked her TO refer the mstter TO
arbitration-to just arbitration by dis-