The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-04-11


appointment shall be made, which event
has not yet tTauspired; and, II II had,
there might still be 3 question whether
such settlement should take place IN the
present condition Of Affairs In Virginia
Again, in his message Of January 49,
1859 Governor Bureman referred to the
subject as follows;
"The suit brought by Virginia In the
Supreme Court Of the United States to re.
cover Jurisdiction over the counties OF
Berkeley and JelTerson, has not yet been
ended; and the final disposition thereof
having been prescribed as condition preCe-
dent 10 the appointment OF commissioners
10 treat with Virginia in regard to the
public debt oil that State under the resolu-
lions adopted by the Legislature, February
%, 1857, the commissioners could not
properly be, and have not been, appoint'
Governor Stevenson, in his message ot
January II, 1871, referred to this subject
In the following terms:
"In my last annual mesSage.to the Leg.
isIature | said: Heretofore the unset led
condition OF affairs in Virginia, growing
out OF the war, has prevented any, settle
ment OF this question by the authorities
OF the United States; but as the relations
Of Virginia with the Federal Government
are likely soon TO be fully restored, am
OF opinion that steps should be taken
looking to an early adjustment 81 this
debt upon fair aud equitable TERMS Soon
after, az anticipated, the State was re-
stored to her place in the Union, and
within a iaw days preceding the close
OF the last session Of the Legts.
lature, three distinguished Cior OF
Of Virginia, appointed by the Govern
that State, came 10 the seat OF Govern.
ment to confer with the authorities In re-
gard TO tue settlement ol the public debt,
OF once communicated the fact Of their
arrival and tho purpose OF their
mission 10 the two houses. A
Joint committee was appointed to confer
with these Commissioners, and subse.
quently, at the las! day Of tho session, a
Joint resolution was passed BY the Leg
islature authorizing the Governor to
appoint three resident citizens OF this
State, one from each Congressional dis.
triCt, to treat with the authorities Of the
State Of Virginia on the subject Of aproPer
adjustment Of the public debt Of that
State. The resolution fixed the
compensation OF the Commissioners, but
In the hurry OF business incident to
the closing hours Of the session, 10 pro-
vision was made, either In the resolution
itself, or in the General Appropriation bill,
TO meet the expenses that must neCessa'
riIy be incurred by the Commissioners.
Under such circumstances, ] found 1t diff
cult, indeed almost impossible, 10 secure
the services Of such citizens ss The imporr'
tant interests involved seemed 10 demand.
No provision was made authorizing me to
appoint financial secretary to keep \ cor
rect record OF the proceedings ot the Com
mission, and attend To other necessary
matters 10 facilitate its business, Nor did
the gentlemen upon whom | finally pre-
vailed 10 serve, or sonle oil them OF least
feel authorized 10 employ one themselves
or think 1t best to commence the Intricate
and laborlous duties Of their appointment
without one.
"In this State OF facts and the delay oc
oCasioned by it'll deemed Utmost prudent
10 let the whole matter go over to the
present meeting OF the Legislature, be-
lieving that they would see the importance
OF calling up the subject early enough In
the session TO give 1t thorough inVestiga
tion, and to mature eGiCiont measures ioi
an equitable adjustment ot the debt at M
early day as possible"
1t will be seen from the above extractI
from the messages Of the two Republican
Governors Of West Virginia that the Deb
question was not lost sight OF by the party
as Mr.. Davis would have the United State
Senate suppose. On the contrary the Re
publicaus gave every evidence that the!
desired and intended 10 carry out tn
, provisions Of their Constitution on tn
subject In good faith. They kept the mat
ter alive until 1S7l-the year the Demo
Gratis came into power-and hence tn
Joint resolutions passed by the Democrat
Legislature in the February following wer
simply continuance OF the agitation o
the matter that had been kept up by Tia
Republicans. ...
Bat maik the difference. As soon a
:. the Democracy came to adopt funds
mental law for The State they refused t
|, recognize the debt, and, as we have shown
, refused to re.enaCt the obligation taken Of
|, herself by West Virginia when Bho wa
1 admitted into the Union. In other wordi
1 in the year 1872 the Democracy decide
not to name the Virginia debt in the Cor
}, stitution OF West Virginia,
!, These are come Of the facts that MI
J, Davis should have presented TO the Unite
/, States Senate when he go rashly remarke
|, that "the Democratic party Is probably tn
only party that has moved straight 10 til
J. question" Tho exact reverse Of this STATE
n ment 10 the fact,