The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1878-02-08

And vet, because we desire to preserve
our decency and self.respect, the State is
ssssiled as being dishonest. 80 mucn
for that point. Now as to the second
question, what is our equitable propor-
ton of the debt2 Is Mr.. Wiley autnor-
lied to say Whist it isl Can he say thst
we owe any of the debt, and Is ne pre-
pared TO prove that upon fair settle
ment Virginia is not indebted to US! l
don't affirm that she is, but l am rot
prepared to say that she is not. Neither
Is any one else until settlement has
been effected, which has not been done
tor the reasons given above. But inue-
pendent of all this, what special hsste Is
there for sction on cur part until We
know what Virginia is going to do? L
scarcely see the necessity for West Vir.
einis breaking her neck in q hasty en-
desvor to pay fifteen or twenty miliioos
! OF Virginia indebtedness, when VIZ
gInia heI Iself talks about repudistlnS the
whole amount. 1t might at least, be
prudent in US TO wait until the old State
is done "resdjusting," in order to enable
US to determine what our equitable pro-
portion of the readjusted debt will be.
We may need some such basis on which
TO begin settlement.
In the face OF these facts, Mr.. Wiley 8
charge thst West Virginia is tainted
with dlshonor because of her conduct IN
this matter is unkind, ungenerous, unpa-
triotic and unfounded. 1t is unworthy
the high position he occupies as citizen
and representative man Of the State 10
seek TO instil into the minds of the young
men at the University prejudice against
tho State which fosters the Institution
wherein they are being educated. West
Virginia will pay every dollar she justly
owes. If she is found TO be indebted to
the State of Virginia, or to her creditors
there will be no difficulty about the pay
ment of the debt. Her people have as
high sense of honor as any people on the
lace of the earth. There has been less
peculstion and jobbing in this State than
in almost any other State OF the Union.
And whenever il has been attempted TO
be practiced the people were quick to
detect and put stop to it. But at the
same time the people OF West Virginia
are no, to be forced or gulled into any
legislation for the benefit OF particular
class, from any false sentiment OF honor.
They are shrewd enough to detect the
true frcm the false, and no amount Oi
specious argument will swerve them
trom the right or make them traitors to
their own honor and interests.
THEY ALL DO IT.
1t does seem that the holder of q State
bond ia sctusted by pretty much the
same motives rs influence the national
bondholders. Equity, in their opinion.
is tat which most promotes their in
terest, and when they come to receive sn
equitable proportion they construe it to
mean all Of IL without regard to any
rights the other party may have. And
it is Just such blinded selfishness obscur-
ing their vision, which prevents them
from seeing that their inieulty is arous.
ing u spirit in the land which threatens
to result in the overthrow of all interests
These bondholders are great sticklers
for law. So were the Jews who killed
the first Christian martyr. They carried
Stephen beyond the gstes OF the city, sc-
cording to the letter OF their law, and
then in the spirit of the Devil, murdered
him. The bondholders have been shap-
ing national legislation exclusively in
their own interests, disregarding any
rights that the people have. They legal
ize robbery and then 90 to plunderlng.
They enact laws by which a systematic
public robbery is carried on, and then
parade sIound with their banners flying,
on which are inscribed the motto 4: "Lcy-
atty 10 the laws OF your country" 1t is
Just such hypocriIical cant as this that
has Induced such general disregard OF
law, and bred the spirit OF mobocrscy 80
rife in this country. When laws are
coupled with justice their dignity will be
asserted, their supremacy sck, owledSed
and authority respected. When political
wisdom Is to be taught TO the youths OF
the land, let not the teachers forget to
repeat that wise political maxim OF Ed
mund Burke "thst TO the protection OF
the people Of State, and not TO It's cred
itors, is the original faith of society
pledged" Whilst implsnting the seeds
of letters and OF science in the minds OF
eur young men, they should also be edu-
Gated to comprehend, practice and enun-
cisie Truth. Carlyle says: "He who
seeks for truth, as for light and life and
will surely find it." But they
will never sock it thus rs long as preju.
dice, mercensry motives or intellectual
dishonesty are permitted to bar their
way to the limpld fountains OF knowi-
edge and wisdom. Such truths can
alone be imbibed by penetrating
to the hidden depths or inner
sources of things, and there
studying the secret forces and
germinal essences which birth exterior
manifestations: 1t is important that our
youths should possess moral purity, the
only medium through which the higher
truths are preceptible. 1t Is proper that
lessons of honesty should be taught and
enforced At all times. Our young men
should be educated 10 guard with jealous
care the honor of their State, But, IN
the name of Heaven, do not let their
Young minds be clouded with the belief
that the State is covered with dishonor,
because her interest, her selt-respect, her
dignity, do not admit of her seton being
in direction TO suit the interest OF some
unfortunate creditor Of another common
wealth.
Honor is q chaste goddess-so chsste
that she needs no artificial props TO VIM
dicste her chastity. &. Ii. NJ.
ClOrsrlick, ". Ia, Feb. !.