The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-07-15

The Richmond DispGtch seems 10 have
very suddenly recovered is appetite Tor
discussing West Virginis's relation to the
Virginia debt. We supposed from It's re-
cent avowal Of disiuclinAtion to discuss
the subject that 1t had "sworn of" for an
indefinite time 10 come. 1t seems, how
ever that Its spell Of "mal de mer," go to
speak, has passed away, and that 1t once
more hungers and thirsts Tor Q whack ct
the old topic. It is very severe on the re.
cent letter Of Gov. Jackson to the London
committee representing Virginia creditors.
Here is what 1t says:
"Last spring Governor Mathews went
out Of office, and Governor Jackson came
In. The London committee wrote TO the
latter asking whether the Legislature had
acted upon their suggestion, and threaten
ing to take illegal measures" to compel
West Virginia 10 assume her Jus. proper.
ton OF VirginiA's Gnte.bellum debt. A
ridiculous threat, OF course. The London
b%ondholders, like q good many others,seem
10 suppose that In this country the courts
have some sort OF control over Legisla.
tures-a grand mistake, and one which
the bondholders will find out in good
time. Governor jackson answered In o
letter which, though little Oreditable to
him, shows Just what the creditors OF
West Virginia have to expect. He de.
clared that the creditors have no claim
upon West Virginia; that Virginia is ~.
BpOnaihle to them for the whole debt, and
Mat Nkentnta tulll NAugf IN ViRninNa N4h ~
the two states ngree upon as ner share.
He 10 guilty o ths miserable tubterfuge Of
quoting what Peirpoint's State Convention
In Wheeling in 1881 did, and Of speaking
Of that Convention Rs "the Convention Of
the State Of Virginia"-Gnother proof
that our West Virginia friends
are not honest enough to pay the debt
she Justly owes, much leSs the tWenty.iour
millions we have assigned 10 her. The
Wheeling Convention Of 1851 was o Yves!
Virginia convention, and consisted OF no
delegates except from the northern border
OF what 10 now Vest Virginia. II 10 hu.
initiating to find q West Virginia Govern.
or-One, too, who had no sympathy with
that bogus Convention-quOting the swim.
ding act oil q fraudulent body as authority
for Sinking o debt. Here 10 what Gov.
efnor Jackson quotes from the Wheeling
C~onvention's liberal Apportlonmsut oithe
debt:
1.-THE new State shall take upon lt1oii q lust pro.
portion Of the public debt Of the Common wealth Of
Virginia prior 20 the 1st day Of January, 1861, 10 b
within The limits thereof, and q juIt proportion Of
the ordinary expenses Of the state government Slnee
any part Of SAID debt was contracted, and deiuotinS
th0rtifoni the moneys paid into the treasury Of che
GOmmO0VNn Ain from ina eOOHtihn InNliiAnN Rtihla
the SAID new State 0uiing lheIamO period"
Under such a rule half the counties In
The present State oil Virginia would escape
all responsibility Tor the debt. Accomao
and Northampton would ' have 10
pay o dollar. But 1t Ia not necessary 10
characterize conduct OF this sort. : The
public will Judge Tor themselves.
The London committee also wrote sew.
eral letters 10 Governor Holiday, Of Viz.
ginia, on the same subject His only
answer says that he hAs no power In the
premises, and that the whole matter will
have to await the action Of the Legisla.
Lufe.
The Dttpdtch denounCesthe Convention
Of the State Of Virginia" oil 1851 90 q West
Virginia convention. Wesuppose, there.
fore, that II will d~enounce the Legislature
Of 1852 In a similar manner. The Legis.
latufe Of 1862, in which were representa-.
tives oil the eastern shore OF Virginia and
oil one or more counties Of that State ad.
Joining Washington, was recognized 40
the Legislature Of Virginia BY the govern.
ment Of the United States, and by oil dc.
paftmentS Of that government. II II had
Included O dozen counties Of Virgihia,
outside Of present West Virginia limits,
the Dtpdih would, we presume, still de.
hounce II as q West Virginia Legislature.
But such denunciAtion does not change
the record nor affect the verdict. II was
the only true government Of viFEinia-
the only d that could assent 10 the for.
nation Of a new State under the UonOtitu.
ton Of the United States, or prescribe the
terms oil such consent The government
at Richmond was . rebellion and had no
legal status. The government al Wheel.
ing was the true government Of Virginia.
This sail there 10 Of II, and therefore We
say the State Of Virginia not only in the
convention Of 1881, but Ia the Legislature
Of 1882, prescribed the terms on which
the State Of West Virginia might be OF.
EanIsed, and 1t was organised on sald
terms, and the entire and complete leeali.
" Of Its existence under said terms hAs
been affirmed over and again BY The GOV.
eminent Of the United States.
The State Of Virginia pte!ctibed the