South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1878-07-05
What the New York "Sun" Has
to Say Regarding the Claim
of the Mother State
Against West Viz
ginia.
Probabilities Of the Matter Be-
coming a Question Of State
Politics, in Which Case
The People Should Know How
Their Candidates Stand
Before Election Day.

Below We copy from the Wheel.
ing Sunday Leader, . collection of
articles by the State press, on the
State debt question, and com end
them to the careful perusaI OF our
readers. The matter Is worthy the
serious attention of every citizen Of
West Virginia:
Thinks We Ought to csme rsuIss.
From the New York Sun.
Dealers in low priced State seeu-
rites are familiar with what are
called West Virginia certificates,
but the general public probably
know very little Of them. The S.ate
o. West Virginia was created by act
aCougreas in the year 1868, cut of
that portion ofthe old State Of Vir-
gnis which lies west OF the Allie
gbeny mountains. embracing about
O1e.'hird Of the area and population
Of the state. Nothing wss said In
the act concerning the assumption
By the new State Of any portion of
the public debt Of the old one, and
TO this day the subject has remain
ed In an unsettled condition. The
present State Of Virginia attempted
70 Dispose OF IL in 1871 by charging
West Virginia with one.third Of the
debt a. II existed In 1888, assuming
That the division should be made in
proportion to the respective popula-
lions OF the States. In pursuance
d this theory, Virginia fssued, for
ooe'third Of her original debt, certi-
A'ates for various amounts, which
on their face declare that they will
Oe provided for In accordance with
'Hch settlement a. shall hereafter
he hal between the State OF Virginia
SUI West Virginia In regard 10 the
luo,lr dent Of Virginia existing at
Tue lime Of IT, disbursement" The
'"ial amount issued Of such csrtifi-
Gates vas about 81 5 on, 900, and they
Ne the West Virginia certificates
" peak Of The State has never
recognized its liability for them,
lof taken steps for the payment
7.her OF principal or OF inter
=. upon II; and they huctuate In
Ne market between five and ten
ras 90 the dollar Of their face
value
Lrle'ly the question has been
R'a'ed 10 West Virgins whether
WOULD not he wise To make some
arrangement Tor retiring these secu.
MES, aud thus putting an end To
"r injury which, In their present
a a -
l- STATE Although II is true that
p- slate has never recognized
--'n, 'til they are 40 generally re-
'ls1 as equitable claims against
,hai lie long continued neglect
~ provide Tor them in any way
AeV-ft has almost the practical
go OF reputation, and would pre-
''' Y" state from borrowing fresh
N'N-S " d. should ever desire to do
pc chief difficulty ia the way
.s i''l That the certificates repre-
~ a. ~ have said, ons-third of
~ 1eot " old VIRGINIA, whereas
~ Expenditures for which Il was
..Nrfel were mostly made, not
,,nln The limits " West Virginia
nv. within those of Virginia proper.
hoailBR SUNDAY LEADER
R-.' TIE case thus
gs, lesi,iaiiye records of Virginia how
O. 49, STATE debt wss created In .a21
~ 1@l .be Hrst bonds were creat1,d In
fr.Ss.P .9 ~ whom West Virginia was
mace, 'n4 0eoi had anlounted 70 the
-., NO sum Of 81, 77aGGaa- II had
..-ys.. slnla thls amount for public inn
$500 $500 = snd tog aooalloas 70 vertous
10. gyah VI Tits satire sna daYing q
rE-tt, = ~ yoaSs ths Pranal anaoua t
sss spent Ia the territory