The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-01-16
west 'y;:ir;r.inia,s Dsbs.

West SirElaaid y A1Sp 80. -
II. J. DESNIs, Esq, OF Greenbrser cona9-:
II. has sent to us, With bis compliments, =
copy Of a Join. resolution which he has has. To-
PRODUCED into the T,est Virginia SENATE
concerning the assumption by that state ate, q
a norton Of the debt Of Virginia as that
debt existed prior to Che latc war between
the States. Mr.. DEsSls's resolution int ae-
clares that Che. Legislature does not aamh
any Indebtedness on the part OF West VIZ
c,nla to Virginia, but is now ard has "a always
been ready to settle che matter upon the
bss,s contained III an ordinance passed by
the tbogus) State Constitutional Convention
OF 1861, and upon no other basis. The IAN an
cuaee OF that ordinance Is ass follows
..Tha new state shall take upon itself a
inst proportion OF the public debt OF the
Commonwealth Of Virginia prior TO tue ISL
day of January, 1861, 10 be ascertalnea py
charging 10 it all State expeEdi WITHIN y
the limits thereof, md Just proportion u
the ordinary expenses OF tine osate so'esn
mont since any part OF satd aeDt was .on a
tractcd. and deducting sthereirom the mo-
news mid into the treasury OF the Common
wealth from the counties included wlthin
the said new State during the same PERIOD
When such man as Mr. DENNIS proposes
such resolution as bis, Y p,ay safely be as; as,
silmed that most OF the mem VI TIC GOV
Virginia Legislature would be nnwiiiing 70
agree to pay any Of the debt. The ordi-
nance quoted is plain statement OF the
intention Of West Virginia to repudiate her
public debt. The basis OF settlement sug'
eestcd is so unjust as to amount to an ao-
surdty. 1t does not deserve serious con-
sidera.Ion by Virginia. 1t ought 10 De
secuted by the Virginia Legislature. Ii
. West Virginia wishes to repudiate her hon
est debts, let her do so; but let her not at
tempt to attach the stigma OF disgrace which
Is upon her to her old mother.
Let us look at the proposition
The James-riyer canal, for instance, cost
say ten millions OF dollars. That expendi-
ture was made for the purpose, amongst
Others, OF beneiting West Virginia. That
the canal was never completed does not al
feet the obligation Of the debt in the slight
est degree. IL it did, Virginia could also
honestly repudiate ten millions OF her debt,
seeing that that canal has resulted in great
damage TO her best interests. That work
bad TO be commenced somewhere; and
Richmond was decided to be the proper
point. West Virginia owes for that i'm.
proyement as truly as il it had been begun
at Point Pleasant. Yet under the ordinance
aforesaid not one dollar OF the debt incur
red for the canal would be paid by West
Virginia.
So as to the millions OF dollars borrowed
TO pay for the construction OF what is now
the Chesapeake and Ohio railroad. Were
million and a half OF dollars spent upon the
Blue Ridge tunnel simply that there might
lie hole through that mountain? No.
That money was spent there that West Viz
ginia might have route OF trade and travel
leading to good market for the produc-
tons OF that State. The money was spent
at least as much for the benefit of West Vir-
ginia rs for the benefit Of Virginia. Nay,
more. The tidcwater counties Of Virginia
had none but the remotest interest in either
the canal or the railroad. 1t is clear, there
lore, ludl IL W CSt eSo
whole debt for the reasons given in her Or
dinance, one hall the counties still remain
ing In virginia nave much better reason
for repudiating it; and SO the creditors Of
Virginia as she was up to 1861 would never
get dollar OF the money due them.
Take the case OF Accomac and Northamp-
ton. Those counties have not now, and
have never had, any interest in any railroad
or canal. They could offer much stronger
plea to the creditors OF Virginia than can
West Virginia. Would MIR. DENNIS consider
it honest for those counties to repudiate
their share OF the debt OF Virginia? II not,
how can he possibly fail to see that West
Virginia is wronging both herself and her
mother State when she proposes such basis
OF settlement as the one we have been dis
cussing?