The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-04-15
Treasurer Commonwealth of Virginia.
Second auditor,

Second auditor.
Mr.. Camden-This, Mr.. President, WAS
the end, and completes, I think, tho his.
tory Of all legislation had by either State
upon this subject, and have recited 1t In
detail in order TO aid in o full understand
ing OF the subject, and for the purpose Of
showing that West Virginia was prompt III
keeping pace with every advance made
by Virginia towards securing an equitable
adjustment OF the public debt uuder the
Constitutions OF the two States.
This brings me, Mr., President, to the
consideration OF the report OF the commits.
sioners OF West Virginia, appointed under
the act Of February 10, 1871. The com.
miasioners appointed were General John
J. Jackson, Of Parksrsburg, j. NJ. Bennett,
OF Lewis, and A. W. Campbell, OF Wheel.
ing-two Democrats aud one Republican
all distinguished for their experience and
ability. MIR. Bennett had been the Auditor
OF the STATE Of Virginia for eight years
preceding the close Of the war. Mr.. Camp.
bell, Of the Wheeling lSTRLLIGRNcER, was
one Of the ablest aud most prominent Re-
publiCans In the State. General Jackson
had been distinguished for over half a
century In the public affairs Of the two
States.
These commissioners entered upon their
duties promptly and earnestly, and judg
ing from their report they met with but
sCant courtesy from the authorities Of Vir.
ginis. After addressing an official com
muniCation 10 the Governor OF Virginia,
dated August 0, 1871, the commissioners
visited the capital Of Virginia, but they
were not met by commissioners on the
part Of Virginia, nor did they receive any
official recognition. They proceeded,
laborioualy to perform the duties assigned
them aud made very full report.
They aeCerlatned-l quote from page II
OF the report-that the funded deb oil Viz
ginia on the lst day Of January, 1861,
was SSl,778 1857 80, after all deductions
That all or nearly all oil this debt was
incurred aud actually expended In works
OF public improvements, such as canals,
railroads, turnpikes, plank.roads and
BRIDGES That OF this vast sum, upward
Of $50, 900. 900 was expended for improve
ments In the present State OF Wiz.
ginia, and only about two and half
millions In the present State OF West Vir.
ginia. That the present State oil Virginia
contains 4! 1852 square miles and West
Virginia 10000 square miles, or less than
one.Lhird. That the counties composing
what is now Virginia contained, accord.
ing to the census OF 1860, q population OF
!, 1920, 800, and those composing West Vir.
glnia only a population Of 374, 0S5, or less
than one.iourth. And BY statement &c"
Of the report 1t was also shown that the
whole revenue oil the State OF Virginia for
the year 1900 was s. 03B 1913 81, Of which
only $047 $40 80, or less than oneBixth,
was assessed In the counties composing
the territory Of West Virginia, and 81, $780,.
78O 90 In the present territory oil Virginia.
1t will thus be seen, Mr.. President, that
West Virginia would not be entitled to
pay one.third OF the debt OF Virginia as
signed by the funding bill Of 1871, either
upon the basis OF territory, population or
revenue,
1t viii be observed also that all, or
nearly all, Of the debt was incurred and
actually expended on works OF public i'm
provement, and that OF the whole amount
for which the debt was created only about
two and half millions was expended in
the territory Of West Virginia, and that
chiefly In turnpike toads.
Tho report also shows that Virginia on
the lot day Of Jauaty, 1851, held pubic.
Improvement securities 10 the amount Of
$50, 1911 900, and In addition thereto, as
shown by the message Of the Governor OF
Virginia OF March s. 1870, there was an
amount Of 50 739, 09g So 40 lost, abandon.
ed, surrendered or released, and Of course
that portion which had been surrendered
or released between 1861 and 1870 was
without The consent OF West Virginia.
The commissioners, after reviewing at
length the principles OF Law and the Au.
thofities cited In the case Of Hartman vs..
Greenhow, referred by the senior ssns
tor from Virginia, Mr.. Johnston, az.
stunned that West Virginia should bear
her equitable proportion Of the deLt Of
Virginia, as provided by her constitution
OF is03; that this equitable proportion
should not be ascertaihed from the b.Bis
Of territory, because one division might
contain oil the wo X, ofinternal improve.
ment, the more important Olti0s and har.
bors on the sea board, the fertile and i'm.
proved lands, The public buildings and
other sources oil wealth Tor which the debt
had been created and expended, whilst
the other division might be nudeveloped
and comparatively destitute Of value aud
reeoutCef,
They luther concluded that the public
Improvements lying within the territory Of
Vifgipla, and for which Virginia holds
the seGuflties, are woyth their cost 10 that
Commonwealth that these improvements
csnnot be enjoyed in common with West
Virginia, "A contemplated BY the rule laid
down by Kent, that "if a State should be
divided In respect 10 territory lis rights
and obligations are not impaired, and Il
they have not been apportiohed by special
agreement their rights are 10 be enjoyed
and their obligations fulfilled by all the
parts In common, because the territories
oil, the two States have nothing In common
are separated by mountains, with the
nayipAble streams oi each Stale running
In opposite directions, the improyeMentt
Tor which the debt WAS created do mol
reach into tie territory Of West Virginia
aud are therefore Of no value 70 tha
State and that Virginia, by ceiling, donat
Ing and disposlng { these works as hei
own pTobeNy without committing WesI
Virginia, must be treated az having &C
copied them upon that basis.
The commissioners, therefore, assume
a. a. l....A IL L.