The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-04-07

OF independence in politics, declaring tha
there was NO such thing Rs "hRll.Wa
ground" and illustrating the failure Q
any such attempt by reference to Nj
LoDgstreet, who had begun by being in
dependent and had brought on himsel
nothing but seoEn and contempt FL
sherman admired the courage Of an,
men Of the South who had the indspend
ence 10 think and act for themselves, AnC
the Republican party could do nothlpI
less than open it's ranks 10 such men. al
referred to Mason, Hunter, and other Vir
ginia statesmen Of the past, who had Gu
adritt from the wings and allied themselves
with the Democrats. The most conspic
uous case Of independence in politics wa
that Of Sir. Robert Peele, who had never
been denounced by the Tories, whom be
abandoned, more that Senator Malone
had now been denounced by the Demo
cratic Senators. He declined 10 discuss al
this time the position OF Senator Malone
on the question OF the State dsbt-he was
not sufficiently familiar with the subject.
One OF the officers OF the Government was
now making up an elaborate table az 10 the
States, cities, and counties which had re-,
pudiated or scaled their debts, and he I'M.
deratood from the article written by Port.
or oi the census bureau, that ten OF the
Southern States bad repudiated, readjust.
ed or scaled down their debts to the
amount OF $l30,OO0,OO He went on 10
argue that the proposition to elect few
Senate officers was entirely too narrow
Q basis Tor revolutionary movement. II,
as had been said on the other side, the
election OF Riddlebefger was 10 Affect
politics in Virginia and help break up
Bourbon Democracy there, 90 much better
then would be the additional justification
for the position taken by the Republican
Senators. He informed the other side
that the Republicans OF the Senate
would cover Malone with their shield
and protect him with their strong arm,
II the Democrats attacked him they at.
tackled the Republicans II the election Of
Rtddleberger would strengthen the Re.
publican party then the Republican Sen.
ators were justified in elscting him. There
was not Democratic Senator who would
not be governed by political motive like
that To call It corrupt or dishonoFable
was to use q term that was totally I'M.
worthy, We buy no man; we
barter with no man; we have made
promises to no man. There has been
no promise made, no hope or expectation
OF . reward held out nothing that 10
corrupt. Our motives for entering into
the movement are as patent as the day, as
the light, ot the sun, and can be proclaimed
from every hOusetop and every stump.
We give our hand to the Senator from
Virginia, because we believe we will thus
advance the public interests and break
down the bitter spirit in the South, which
has prevailed since the war. We believe
while extending our help and aid to these
men In expressing their opinion (eVen II
we do not Agree with that opinion, while
aiding them In defending themselves
against the oStraclam Of o great and power.
ful sectional party, we are doing good to
our country, and we propose 10 carry out
that policy. In carrying out that policy
We do more good to the South than we do
to ourselves. Reverting 10 the question
Of the Virginia State debt, he said his own
advice TO the people Of that State and 10
THE STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA
Was that they pay the whole Of 1t
between them. Congress itself had been in
fault in not providing when 1t severed
West Virginia from Virginia. what share
Of the State debt should be assumed and
paid by West Virginia. He had perhaps
himself voted for the measure OF dividing
the State oil Virginia without thinking oi
that point, but he had always regretted
that II had not been provided for, The
State government Of West Virginia had,
however, appointed Commissioners 10
arrange matters with the State OF Vir.
ginia and those Commissioners had gone
TO Richmond for that purpose. But there
had been disagreement, and finally the
Democratic party had come into power In
West Virginia and the debt was repudia'
ted.
Mr.. Davis. Of ". Va, challenged the
correctness OF this statement, and declared
that In the revised constitution the Demo-
crats had inserted provision not exactly
similar 10 that In the constitution Of '63,
but for the payment OF the debt whenever
the settlement as TO the amount took
place. He said the Democratic party Of
West Virginia was the only party that
had moved straight 10 the question. Il
was on his i [DAyis'l own motion that the
commissioners had been sent 10 Rich.
mond. These commissioners had not
agreed with the commissioners Of Virginia
and their report had been made by Mr..
Campbell, q leading Republican OF West
Virginia. She was ready at all times TO take
her fair, Just and equitable proportion Of
that debt, and he hoped the time for do
ing go would soon come. 1t was Demo.
o,oIa and bnk Pannhlinana SVho had aank
the commissioners TO Richmond.
Senator Sherman resumed bis speech,
but soon finished, and after brief remarks
by other gentlemen the Senate adjourned
ior the day.