The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1881-04-27

LIME ot the tormation'of the State Of
West Virginia, and no ordinance
passed by the convention which as
sembled at Wheeling on the I1th of
June, 1851, adjusting the public debt,
shall be binding upon this: State.
The constitution Of West Virginia,
adopted in 1868, contains the proyis-
lions that
n.equitable portion of the public
lebt Of the G Commonwealth Of Virgin
a I5lior 70 the last day Of ,Iannary,
''1isrs rsta,a.
and the fsislature yskalE ascertain
theisams as Soon asst may be practi:
cable and provide for the liquidation
thereof.
The restored government Of Vir-
ginia, known as the Pierrepoint gov
eminent, was removed from -Alexan-
dria to Richmond in 1865, and on the
9th day of December, 1855, the GEN
eral Assembly passed an act repeal
ing the act giving consent to the for.
nation Of the State Of West Virginia,
and also repeating the acts giving
consent to the admission Of Berkeley
and other counties into the State Of
West Virginia. Noaction was taken
looking to the apportionment of the
debt by either State until the
2Sth of February, 1866, when the
General Assembly of Virginia, by a
joint resolution, authorized the ap-
pointment of three commissioners
with the power to treat, first, for the
restoration Of Virginia to its an
cient jurisdiction and boundaries"
and second, to treat upon the subject
of the proper adjustment of the debt.
West Virginia at the next session
of its Legislature passed a joint reso-
tion on the 2Sth Of February, 1867,
declining to treat for her reunion with
the old State and authorizing the ap.
pointment of commissioners to treat
with the commissioners appointed by
Virginia for the adjustment of the
public debt SO soon as the suit Of Vir-
ginia against West Virginia pend
ing in the Supreme Court Of the
United States to recover jurisdiction
over the counties Of Berkely and JEFF
ferson should be finally determined.
Suit had been instituted by Virginia
torecover back the counties Of Berk-
eley and Jefferson'in Mach, 1866, and
no proper adjustment Of the debt
could be made till il was determined
which State. had jurisdiction over
these two rich and populous coun-
ties. The suit was not finally de-
termined until March, 1871. (Wal-
lace Reports, page 81, Virginia Us.
West Virginia) Another cause soon
followed for delaying negotiations be-
tween the two States. The recon-
struction act of Congress passed on
the I'd of March, 1867, RENTED the
State to Federal control where it re-
mained until January, 1870, when
the State government Of Virginia, re-
organized under its constitution, was
recognized and the State restored to
representation in Congress by act of
January 25, 1870.
This constitution contained the
following section (19) in regard to
the debt:
The General Assembly shall pro-
vide by law for adjusting with the
State Of West Virginia the proper
tion of the public debt of Virginia
proper to be borne by the States Of
Virginia and West Virginia, and
shall provide that such sum as shall
be received from West Virginia shall
be applied to the payment Of the pub.
lie debt of Virginia.
After the restoration of the State,
Virginia again by joint resolution
passed on the 18th Of February, 1870,
authorized the appointment Of com.
missioners to treat with West Vir-
ginia, and under this resolution com.
missioners were appointed who Wis.
tied the Legislature of West Virgin.
ia, then in session, but within few
days of adjournment under constitu.
tional limitations, and by The journ-
ais of that body it will be seen that
joint resolution was introduced and
passed appointing joint committee
of the two houses 10 confer with these
commissioners, which committee was
at once appointed. This was fol-
lowed in few days by a joint reso.
luton, passed on the last day of the
session, authorizing the appointment
of commissioners to treat with the
authorities of Virginia. But, in the
hurry of business incident to the
closing hours of the session, no pro.
vision was made TO defray the neces.
sary expenses of the commissioners,
and, although the commissioners
were appointed by the Governor,
they were forced to postpone action
under this resolution till the next