The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-12-08
Treasurer Commonwealth of Virginia.
Second Auditor.

Second Auditor.
Implying by their terms that West Virginia
owes a debt, and further that the State is eth
er unable or unwilling TO pay the debt, which
must operate unjusty and ;njuriously upon
that State, and it is but just that the public be
made acquainted with the true state OF affairs
on this debt question.
"West Virginia certificates" and "West Vir-
gina Bonds" do not exist West Virginia has
never issued any such papers. The claims of
the owners OF these certificates and bonds, al
thought having been repeatedly presented to
the State authorities of West Virginia, there
fore could not be, and have not been recognize
ed, and any proposals for a settlement on the
part of these owners to the State authorities,
have not found any legislative discussion
1881, in reply to George H. Kearston, Esq,
London, England, regarding such claims
The ordinance of the Wheeling Convention
of August Goth, 1861, (the first Convention
held in Virginia to provide for the formation
ola new State) provided that "The new State
shall take upon itself the just proportion of
the public debt of the Commonwealth of Vir-
ginia prior to the LIST of Januar y, 1861, to be
ascertained by charging to it all State expen
ditures within the limits thereof, and the just
proportion of the ordinary expenses OF the
State government since any part of said debt
was contracted, and deductmg therefrom the
moneys paid into the treasury of the common
wealth from the counties included within the
said new State during the same PERIOD
The Constitution of West Virginia adopted
1853, provides that AN equitable portion of
the public debt Of the Commonwealth OF Vir-
gina prior to the LIST day OF January, 1861,
shall be assumed by the State, and the Legis-
lature shall ascertain the same as soon as It
may be practicable and provide for the liqu-
dation thereof
On the 23rd of February, 1853, the General
Assembly of Virginia bY a joint resolution,
authorized the appointmJht of three Commits
sioners with the power to treat first, for the
restoration of Virginia to its ancient juris-
diction and boundaries and, second, to tire at
upOu Sut.lcCt vi VIC piOPNA esoJ'iobihSAt vi
the debt
The Legislature of West Virginia at its SEES
sion February ssth, 1867, passed joint reso-
luton declining to treat for her reunion with
Virginia, but authorizing the appointment of
the public debt, as soon as the suit OF Virgin
ia INSTITUTED March, 1866 against West Vir-
ginia, pending in the Supreme Court of the
United States to recover jurisdiction over the
counties of Berkeley and Jefferson should be
finally determined as no proper adjustment OF
the debt could be made until it should have
been determined which State held Jurisdiction
over said counties
The reconstruction act of Congress passed
March I'd 1867 RENTED the State of Virginia to
Federal control until January, 1870, when the
State government of Virginia reorganized un-
der its constitution was recognized and re,
stored to representation in Congress by act O
January 25th. 1870 Section 10 Of this Con-
stitution. contains the following in re gard to
the debt:
"Tbe General Assembly shall provide by
law for adjusting with the State OF West Vr-
GINA the PROPORTION of the public debt of Vr-
GINA proper to be borne by the States of Vir-
ginia and West Virginia, and provide that such
sum as shall be received from West Virginia
shall be applied to the public debt of Vir-
ginia"
On the 18th of February, 1870, the Legisla
ture of Virginia passed joint resolution au.
thorizing the appointment of commissioners
to treat with West Virginia, and under this
resolution commissioners were appointed who
visited the Legislature of West Virginia then
In session; this body passed Joint resolution
authorizing the appointment ola joint com
mittee of both houses to confer with the com
nissiouers of Virginia, which joint committee
was so appointed This resolution was 81