Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-04-14
WHAT'S TO PAY.
WEST VRGlNlKS RELATION TO THE
VIRGINIA DEBT.
Statement Of the Case by Senator Camden
in the United States Senate
The little Mountain State
Fully INDICATED.
CLEAR STATEMENT OF THE FACTS,
From the Congressional Record Of Tuesda
April 18th Issl,

From the Congressional Record Of Tuesday
April 18th Issl,
Mr.. Camden-Mr. President, in the
discussions OF the last few days Sena'
tors have taken occasion to refer to the
relation which West Virginia sustains
to the debt OF Virginia. 1t has been
charged that " est Virginia has shown
no disposition to ascertain or provide
for the payment of her proportion OF the
debt, and were it not that Senators on
the other side of the Chamber who
evidently do not understand what has
taken place in regard to this question
have made statements rejecting upon
West Virginia which are not sustained
by the records and the facts, | should
not have taken any part in discussion
at this time.
In what | may say have no purpose
to criticise the action OF Virginia in re,
lation TO her public debt. Those who
understand the great losses and finan.
cial reverses that have come to tina,
State by the late war the disposition
shown by her people to arrange satisfac'
torily with her creditors to restore her
public credit must sympathize with her
in her efforts to get her debt in such
shape that she could meet the interest
on her obligations. In her prosperity
and power, as Virginian | was proud
OF my nativity, and in her reverses and
trials | honor and sympathize with her.
Bat for stronger reasons am jealous
that no injustice shall be done to West
Virginia.
West Virginia's relation to the public
debt of Virginia is misunderstood, and
has been greatly misrepresented in
financial circles throughout the country.
Inquiries are repeatedly made from all
quarters in reference to what are often
called and quoted as "West Virginia
certificates, and with many persons the
opinion prevails that certificates OF in
debtedness issued by the State OF West
Virginia, or by her consent, have been
selling on the markets at from eight TO
twelve cents on the dollar.
On the other hand, it has been charged
that West Virginia has shown no dis.
position to enter into any adjustment or
to make any provision to ascertain what
portion OF the debt she should bear.
M, Son,,D. from, N;rr;p;a NJ Mohnpa1
in this connection says-l quote from
the Congressional Record Of March 81:
Mr.. President, If there is any man in
the party which my colleague represents
who agrees with another member OF that
party in Virginia as to what the debt OF
that State is, We have yet TO find the
concurrence; it is with one leader this
figure, with another leader another
figure; by one report OF their officers
one sum, and then by another report OF
other officers a different sum. Grant
that sum 10 be the true one; but let the
Senator state that our constitution recog-
nized no specific sum. 1t says there
shall first be a settlement with West
Virginia, which has not vet been had,
and commands payment OF what Vir-
ginia shall owe. That is the language,
that is the construction OF the cOnstitu.
ton OF Virginia; that, after a settlement
with West Virginia, covering one-thrd
OF old NIrginia's territory, shall have
been arrived at by an al Just nent OF their
relative proportions of the public debt,
Virginia will provide for her share.
Now | would like the Senators from
West Virginia in this cry against read
iusters as regulators TO tell the country
what answer they have made TO their
obligation for one-third OF the debt con-
tracted by the old Commonwealth OF
Virginia. Will they tell the country
where they have ever male PROPOSE
ton to pay one silver Of their share OF
the public debt OF that State to maintain
the honor and the dignity OF their own
Let them answer.
Mr. President, as it will be my object
to vindicate West Virginia by stating
the facts in relation to this question as
they have occurred, and to avoid dis.
cussIng the merits OF the question or the
equities between the two States, can
not DO it better than BY presenting the
record and history Of all that has trans.
pired between each OF the States on this
subject.
The ordinance OF the Wheeling con-
vention of August 20, 1851, which was
the first convention held in Virginia TO
provide for the formation OF new State,
provided that
The new State shall taxi upon itself
the just proportion OF the public debt OF
the Commonwealth OF Virginia prior to
the lst day OF January, 1861, to be ascer-
tained by charging to 1t all State expend.
itures within the limits thereof, and the
Just proportion ci the ordinary expenses
of the State government since any part
of said debt was contracted, and deduct
ing therefrom the moneys paid into the
treasury OF the Commonwealth from the
counties included within the said new
State during the same period.
1t will be seen by this ordinance that
West Virginia undertook in the very be-
ginning TO fix and determine a basis
upon which her proportion OF the pub
lie debt OF Virginia was to be ascer-
taiued.
But what is known as the Alexandra
OF Virginia OF 1853 did not
give its consent TO the basis OF adjust
ment proposed by West Virginia, but
indicated different basis, which if car
ried out would result yery differently
from assigning one-third OF the debt 10
West Virginia.
| quote from the constitution, section
27 Of article 4 in full:
The General Assembly shall provide
by law for adjusting with the State OF
West Virginia the proportion Of the
public debt OF Virginia proper 10 be
borne by the States OF Virginia and West
VirgiRis respectively, and NAV author
ize, in conjunction with the State Of West
Virginia, the sale OF all lands and prop
erty OF every description, including all
the stocks and other interest owned and
held by the State Of Virginia in banks,
works of internal improvement, and
other companies, at the time OF the for.
nation OF the State OF West Virginia,
aud no ordinance passed By the conven-
ton which assembled at Wheeling on
the llth Of June, 1861, adjusting the
public debt, shall be binding upon this
Stcte.
The constitution Of West Virginia,