The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-04-15


tsTmined until March, 1871 wallace re-.
ports, page 81, Virginia vs., Wet Virginia J
Another cause soon followed for delaying
negotiations between the two States, The
reconstruction act NJ Congress passed on
the Cd OF March, 1867, RENTED the Slate
to Federal control, where. ttremained I'M
I'll January. 1870, when the State govern
ment Of Virginia, reoTganizad under ita
constitution, was recognized, ana the
State restored TO representation In Con-
gress by the act o! January y, 1871:
This constitution contained the follow
ing section (l9) in regard to the debt;
The General Assembly shall provide BY law
for adjusting with the State OF West Virginia
the proportion Of thepublic debt OF Virginia
proper 10 be borne by the states OF Virginia
and West Virginia and shall pr wide that
surh sum as shall he received from West Viz
ginla shall be applied to the payment Of the
public debt OF Virginia.
After the reorganization Of the State, Vir.
ginia again by joint resolution passed
on the 18th OF February, 1870, authorized
the appointment OF commissioners to treat
with West Virginia, and under this reao-
luton commissioners we're appointed who
visited the Legislature Of West Virginia,
then ia session, but within few days OF
adjournment under constitutional limita'
tons, and by the journal OF that body, 1t
will be seen that q joint resolution was in
trOduced and passed Rppointing loint
committee oil the two houses to confer with
these commissioners, which committee
was at once appointed This was followed
In few days by j1lnt resolution, passed
on the last day OF the session, authorizing
the appointment oil commissioners 10 treat
with the authorities oil Virginia, But, In
tho hurry OF business incident TO the
closing hours OF the session, NO provision
was made to defray the necessary expen'
ses OF the commissioners, and, although
the commissioners were appointed by the
Governor, they were forced to postpone
action under this resolution till the next
session Of the Legislature.
And will say here In reply to charge
made y the Senator from Connecticut
Mr.. HSwlev1-I quote from the Congress
SiOndl Record Of the 6 h instant, and | ak
the Secretary TO read 1t.
The Chief Clerk read as follows:
abhor reputation In every fiber Of my
being, whether 1t biIf national or Sta q debt.
Ny State knows nothing VI 1t. do not know
how much or how little there is OF 1t In tie
Virginia campaign do remember, how.
ever, that the Republican Constitution Of
West Virginia, established IN 1856! promised
10 assume an equitable share VI the whole
Virginia debt: da know that Republican
legislation in West Virginia provided d com.
mission 10 go 10 Richmond and see what
shOuld be assumed IS West VirgluiaS pr rlion
OF that debt, and know tat when the Denl'
OGraliC party got control Of West Virginia, In
1879, II made new Constitution and wiped
out that paragraph, and the Democracy OF
West Virginia has never to my knowledge
undertaken 10 carry out the pledges made by
the Republicans OF West Virginia to take an
hOnOraOIe share Of the debt,
Mr.. CAmden-I will say In r. ply To the Sen.
ator and other Senator's on that side Of tue
Chamber who havesince repeated this charge,
th this was the last action taken In West
| Virginia by Republican legislature In refer.
encV to this debt question.
The Democrats elected Democratic
Governor and Legislature In 1870, and the
subsequent action to which l shall refer
was by Democratic Legislature, and under
resolution introduced by my colleague
who was then member Of the Legislature
and whose Democracy, | take 1t, will not
be questioned commissioners Rp
pointed by DEMOCRATIC Governor. But
| will state further that there has never
been any issue between Republicans and
Democrats In our Stale on this question,
and as far as know no political difference
Of opinion 10 regard to It exists, and there
never has been any public action or official
expression by either party In West Vir.
gina, that did not recognize her obligations
TO assume her equitable portion Of the debt
according to the Constitution OF 1868 when
ascertained.
The Democratic Legislature OF West
Virginia, on the 10Th OF February, 1871,
by joint resolution authorized and direc'
ted the Governor 10 appoint three Com.
missloners TO treat with the authorities OF
| Virginia on this subject oil the adjustment
Of the public debt, requiring them TO make
report thereof to the Governor, TO be by
him communicated to the Legislature at
the commencement Of It's next session, and
made the necessary provisions for the
payment OF their expenses, which had
been omitted in the resolution OF the pre-.
vious season. Under this resolution COM
missloners were appointed, and they made
very full and exhaustive report, to which
| shall take occasion TO refer.
But here II Is porper to state in this con-
nection that the General Assembly Of
Virginia, by a resolution adopted on the
1lth Of February, 1871, no doubt antiCipat.
ing the provisions OF the funding bill
which was passed the following month,
rendered 10 the State OF West Virginia an
arbitration OF all matters touching the ap.
portionment oil the debt, thereby chang.
Ing the manner Of negotiations then
authorized through commissioners from
each State The mode OF arbitration was
designated In the resolution. This was do.
Clined by the State oil West Virginia by q
resolution adopted OIL the Gath OF February
the same month-less than two weeks
after Ito passage by Virginia, for the reason
that commissioners had already been EN-.
powered TO act In tho matter and Tor OBJ.
ieCLions TO the methods OF arbitration, and
the State OF Virginia was again requested
by this resolution TO permit negotiations
to proceed through the commissioners
already authorized by tho two States.
But Virginia, without awaiting the re-
suit Of the action OF the Commissioners,
passed the funding bill Of March 30th,
1871, and dosire to call attention 10 the
fact that this act was passed BY the FIRST
Legislature elected Under the Constitution
OF the restored government OF Virginia,
and within less than month after the
suit Ia the Supreme Court OF the United
States between Virginia and West Viz.
pinin, relating TO theterrltory In the oonn.
Ties Of Jefferson and Berkeley, had been
finally decided, and before 1t was possible
for the Commissioners TO act. BY this bill
Virginia agreed to fund twothirds Of her
debt ty issuing new bonds therefor, and
TO issue certificates for the other third,
payable In accordance with such settle.
ment as should hereafter be had between
tho two States.
II would follow from this that II no Get.
Element Is ever made with West Virginia,
Virginia would he forever released from
one.thitd OF her debt, OF 80 much Of II "a
had been funded. Would II be unfair to
gay that Virginia was not from this time
interested Id making any settlement that