Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1878-02-05
THE VIRGINIA DEBT.

Mr.. Waitmau I. Wiley, of Monongalla
county, West Virginia, who was man OF
distinction in Virginia before the war and
the division of the State, and who was cleo
ted to the United States Senate from West
Virginia Immediately after the organization
of West Virgins, delivered an address last
week at the University of West Virginia, at
Morgantown, in which he expressed the
soundest views upon reputation. He said
"Repudiation, and any violation of public
faith is crime, and Republican institutions
cannot survive dishonor. Let Virginia and
even West Virginia look to this subject"
Upon the point of the responsibility Of West
Virginia for her part of the debt of the old
State he made q declaration which will sur>
prise many people. He said that when West
Virginia applied for admission to the Union
it was with the express understanding that
she should pay her proportion of the old Vir-
giuia debt, but not one cent of it has ever
been paid. Young men, see to it that the
honor Of the State is redeemed"
baltimore Sun.
In the matter, at least, of West Virginia's
proportional share of Virginia's indebtedness,
it looks as if the Republican party of this
State were determined to win for themselves
o record fer honesty and fair dealing that
may we'll put the Democracy to the blush.
The convention which framed the constitu-
tion of 1861, and which was overwhelming
ly Republican, put into the constitution,
which was emphatically the handiwork of
the Republican party. a clause declaring
that an Equitable proportion of the public
debt of the Commonwealth of Virginia, prior
to the first day CT January, in the year 1861,
shall be assumed by this State and tho
Legislature shall ascertain the same as soon
as may be practicable, aud provide for the
liquidation thereof" Under that constitution
steps were actually taken to ascertain what
was West Virginias equitable proportion of
the public debt of the Commonwealth of Wiz.
ginia." The glarng defects Of that consti-
tuition, however, framed by group of bitter
Republicans, called loudly for reform, and
accordingly another convention, which was
overwhelmingly Democratic, was elected in
1871, and framed our present constitution
Although this new constitution is without
doubt a vast improvement upon the one
which it superseded, yet it is most remarka-
BILE that Democratic convention should
purposely have omitted to pledge the honor
of our new State to tho payment Of fair
share of debt for the payment of which
the State is jointly bound in honor with Eir-
ginia. Nor do we remember q single prom>
inent Democrat of our State who has, in any
public utterance, advocated a payment By
West Firginia, of even proportional share
of that debt which was contracted partly
upon the faith of West Virginia's honor and
wealth. But Senator Whitman T. Wiley,
who may, not unjustly, we think, be said to
represent the bitter and proscriptive wing
of the Republican party, declares in his lec-
ture at the West Virginia University, that
unless this State makes some provision for
the payment of an equitable share of Vir-
ginia's Indebtedness, she will have a stain
upon her honor which will never be effaced.
1t must be admitted that in this declaration
Senator Wiley has expressed a sentiment in
perfect accord with the actions of the party
of which he is certainly a representative
member. In this matter, at least, the De-
mocracy of this State has been taught les
son in good morals, by which, it is to be
hoped, the party will profit.
90 Virginia home,' that means comfort,
welcome, cordiaiity and quiet. at Mrs. New
toms, 381 Lexington street, Baltimore, may
be found just such home, and to any of
our patrons who are going to Baltimore to
spend any time, we would say, at Mrs. New
toms "Virginia Home" you will find one the
incest and most pleasant set of people ever
gathered together under one roof, old Vir>
ginia cooking, large comfortable rooms, and
last, but not least, prices that suit the Vir>
ginia pocket-book just now. The writer
knows whereof he speaks, having had the
pleasure of spending many happy hours as
boarder in Mrs Newton's pleasant homo.
On Tuesday evening last Shenandoah
Lodge 1. o. G. T., of this place, which has
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