The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-05-06


statement OF this distinguished gentleman,
the first Senator from that State and Q
member OF this body when the bill passed,
that at the very time that State was admit.
ted It was only upon condition that West
Virginia shouId by its organic act, as It had
agreed 70 do, assume portion oil this debt.
The Democratic party struck out that pro-
vision by party vote, and by q party
vote refused to insert an equivA'
lent provision In the new con-
stitution. Ii seems TO me, therefore. that
the Democratic party in that had shown
its tendency TO disregard public obligA-
tons, and that in this particular, a. In
many other cases that might cite, 1t did
show that 1t did not sufficiently recognize
the importance oil an observance Of the
public faith given by State or Nation.
make these official statements without
any further comments, amply in justice
to the Republicans oil West Virginia, II
seems that l had fallen into one or two
eTTorB In my statement, not very material,
when spoke here O month or 90 ago, for
| had NO data before me at the time, and |
spoke from memory. Mr.. Wiley corrects
these errors and also gives the exact facts,
and those facts are very cTeditable 70 the
Republican party OF Weat Virginia; and as
he says there Is no one Of that party so Tar
as he knows in that State-and perhaps
he says 1t also as TO the DemoGrats-but
what feels that 1t 10 his obligation, his du.
~, to assume o portion OF the debt Of Viz.
ginia. only regret that 1t has not been
done long before this.
Mr.. Davis, OF West VirginiR-Mr. Pres.
ident, will say q word and then give way
TO my colleague, Mr.. Wiley, to whom
the Senator from Ohio refers, 10 very high
authority; he stand well in our State, as
we'll as any man could possibly stand any.
where, and / should give credit u any.
thing he would state from bis recollection.
It 10 true, % Mr.. Wiley has said, that there
was such 0 provision In the first Con.
ltitution OF the State, and no doubt his re.
collection Is correct as 10 what Congress
would have done. The Senator from Ohio
and all others will do me the justice TO say
that have not In my remarks In the least
reflected upon any Republican In the
State. | have stated that 1t never has
been made o political question there
party lines have not been divided upon IT,
| believe 1t would have been better TO
have inserted the old provision In the new
Constitution. GO, stated In my remarks
II had been there think would have
60 voted with other Democrats, for there
were Democrats who voted for II,
Mr.. Snerman-Only one.
MIR. Davis, OF West Vrginia-SeVeral,
beg my friends pardon my colleague will
show directly there were half dozen or
more,
Mr.. President, as to this debt question,
as Mr., Wiley has said, the State Of West
Virginia does not nor does she wish 10
avoid the question; she will DO found
ready and willing whenever the adjust.
ment is made 10 take her Just and equit-
able proportion Is the original Constltu.
ton contemplated. But now l want to
ask my friend from Ohio, who Ia good
lawyer as well as hnancier, II he does not
believe that the provision In the present
Constitution covers the ground fully?
Mr.. SheTman-I feel bound to-
Mr.. Davis, OF West VirginiA-A word
before the Senator answers. l do not
mean as 10 acknowledgment, but mean
as 10 the recognition that she can pay or
make provision To pay II anything Is
found due. | agree with the Senator
that 1t would be better probably, II |
would certainly have acknowledged more
clearly the debt, II the provision had been |
retained In the second Constitution that |
was In the first; but the appeal made 10
the Senator from Ohio was, 10 It not In his |
judgment the fact that the present con.
Stitution contains provisions for the pay.
ment Of anything that may be found due |
between the two States
GkAa T tS.k. - III, III. II.
only thing that looks favorable 10 the pub |
lie sentiment Of the State Of West Virginia. |
II the people oil West Virginia feel the
moral obligation Of this debt, |
they will pay Il; but there 10
nothing in their Constitution that re.
quires them or that even recognizes the |
existence Of this obligation. The State
had then been In existence q number oil |
years, aud II says: III there are any
debts outstanding we will provide for
them;" that is all. but II does not recog.
nize the fact that there was any obliga. |
ton 10 assume debt that existed before |
the existence OF the State when It 10 taken |
In connection with the vote on the propo.
Sition Of Mr.. Wiley. There is nothigg In |
the Constitution u West Virginia now
that In q court OF law would be regarded
as recognition Of o debt pre.existing the
formation OF the Constit ution.
Mr.. Kellogg-The frat Constitution pro.
vided that
An equitable proportion oil the public debt Of the
ConmoIE ealth II Virginia prior to the lGt day Of
January, 1851, shall 10 assumed By this State and
the LegislAiute shall AcerAin he same 10 ssOn
may be practicable and provide for the liquidation
thereof BY stalking land suhclent TO pay the &C.
etulng interest and redeem the principal within |
Thirty flour years.
That was stricken out by the vote the
Senator from Ohio has stated.
Mr.. Camden-Mr. President, will state
In answer 10 the Senator from Ohio that Of
the twenty votes In favor OF inserting the
same lclante in the Constitution oil 1879
that was In the Constitution OF 1868, there
were, I think, only seven Republicans
voting for Il and thirteen Democrats;
there was one Republican who voted
against II, the others were Democrats. So
that Il was not In any sense political
question, and repeat II has never been q
political question iE our State.
Mr.. Sherman-That agrees exactly | |
think with the statement Of Nj. Wiley
one Republican voted against his PROPOSE:
toni oil the other Republicans that were
present and voting voted for II.
Mr.. Camden-There seem 10 have been
seven other Republicans present who
voted for Il; the thirteen additional votes
making up the twenty were Democrats.
Mr.. sherman-It would shcw, then, that
the Republicans were seven 10 one Ia
favor OF an assumption and the Democrats
were about four or FIVE 10 one against II.
Mr.. Camden-That is true. The Sena.
Tor will also bear 10 mind as To the ex.
PLANTATION and reason for this action that
The report OF the commissioners was be.
lore that convention. The journal shows
that fequision iir six hundred copies
had been made. That report aecertained |
The amount due from West Virginia upon |
The indebtedness Of Virginia 10 be some.
thing less than million Of dollars. The
question before the convention was 10 |
provide for the payment OF the amount, |