Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1879-05-17

we Ougnt 10 pay. We Ha'S USSp Va"
Justly blamed as seeking to repudiate
our obligations because all the facts are
not known. When the separation took
place, it was assented TO by the Legisla
ture of Virginia. sitting at Alexandria,
known as the loyal Legislature, on con-
ditiou that West Virginia should as
sumo her equitable proportion of tho
debt of the State as il existed in lS6l,to
be ascertained rs follows: West Virgin
ia 10 be charged with all publicimprove-
ments within her borders, and her pro-
portion of the expenses OF the State
Government since 1924, aud TO be cred
tied with all taxes paid into the State
Treasury by the counties of which she
is composed since that date. We have
always been ready TO settle on that
basis, but Virginia has persistently Dc
cIned. In 1871 she arbitrarily set apart
onc-third of her entire debt as belong
ing to us to pay. This amounted to fi5-
600, 900. For this she issued ccr;ii.caics
to the bondholders, parable ~her West
Virginia should settle. We appointed
commissioners III lC4.A " aiA 'hN
difficulty, and sent them 20 Richmond,
but Governor Walker declined 10 ap-
point any one to act with them. They
figured on the basis of the ordinance Ut
separation that We owed the Old state
about SI,OO0000. Subsequently the
committee on Finance OF our State sen
ate went over the calculation aud trongb.
Virginia in debt TO us in the sum OF
S5OO,000 Al the improvements We
90, Tor the fifteen millions Virginia
wants MS 10 pay were m unfinished IN
sane asylum at Weston, = little work on
the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad,
short piece of turnpike aud an old State
library,
"ln what condition are your public
schools 2
Quite good, and all the time improv
ing. At first there was some hostility
TO free schools, bat that has all died ont,
and tho people now take great inter'ss
in them. We have m excellent Super
intendeut in DR.. Pendleton, OF Bethany
College.
"What is the rate Of State taxation ?
"Twenty cents on the dollar Tor state
purposes, and ten cents for the school
fund.
"Are politics bitter?'
mo, not more so than IN the North
ern States. We have brisk poli:ical
contests, but we have worked out OF The
animositics OF the war into condition
Of tolerance and good feeling. There
are good and influential citizens III both
parties. Since have been in Office ]
have made it rule to give the Repub-
lcan minority representation on all
State boards and commissions. be-
leye it's the true principle OF govern
ment. The negro question scarcely eli
ters into our politics. We have only
1900 colored people in the State-not
enough to form an important element
of our population
The general impression one gets OF
West Virginia from talk With Govern
or Mathews is that it is making slow
but sure progress i'll population, wealth
and intelligence; that it is in an excel
lent condition financially; ,hat its stores
Of mineral wealth ought TO attract the
attention of Eastern capitalists, and that
there il room for thousands of industri-
Gus people who do not expect to iind
farms ready made by nature, as on lie
Western prairies, but are willing 10
struggle with tho forests for the sake Ct
a peculiarly healthy climate, fine noun.
tain scenery, copious springs otdclicious
water aud pure, sW III streams.