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

I
Mr.. DAwes-Thst West Virginia had
not made any Provision?
Mr., Camden-Yes, sir.
Mr.. Dawes-No; did not say say go.
Mr.. Camden-l beg pardon. l under
stood the Senator 90,
Mr., DAwea-No; the Senator's colleague
told me that had complained Of Virginia
because she claimed not 70 be able TO pay
her debt. | stated diatinctly that that wai
not what said, but that she expressed nc
desire to pay it-Virginia not West Vir'
ginia.
Mr.. Camdsn-I beg pardon; 1t was the
Senator from Louisiana.
Now ! wish to Tec6pitulate in Q few
words the condition in which West Viz
GINA was placed by the action OF Virginia.
In the first place, up TO 1855 no action
could bs taken by either OF the States look.
log TO an adjustment oil this debt. In 1855
Virginia passed an act Withdrawing her
consent TO the formation oil West Virginia,
and soon atLerward also instituted q suit to
recover jurisdiction over the counties oil
Berkeley aud Jetiehon. That o! necessity
interrupted all negotiations between tbs
two States, That suit was not decided
until the 9th OF March, 1871. In the mean
time acts had been passed by the Legisla.
ture OF each State authorizing commission.
eTs on the part OF Virginia first TO nego.
tiAte for the return Of West Virginia to the
old stAtei secondly, for the adjustment OF
the public debt.
Nj, DAwss-Ths Senator will allow me
ka tRnntRn M hn adj knk,unan WI.
ginia and West Virginia about the change
OF the line between the two States from
that which was originally set up In the
division by including two counties in West
Virginia which before were In old ViT-
ginia2 | thought that was the subject OF
Mr.. Oamden-All the counties Of West
Virginia were In Virginia before the for.
nation Of West Virginia.
Mr.. Dawes-But two counties, II / re-
member Alright, that were originally left
In old Virginia, were taken into West Yir.
ginia by achaugs OF line, and the two
States had q lawsuit about that, and there
was q long controversy, l unfortunately
got into newspaper correspondence with
some Of the West Virginia gentlemen
about II myself; but that was not upon
the legality Of the setting up OF West Viz.
ginia. While l am up / will say that I
voted in the House against The setting up
OF West Virginia. never believed that Il
was properly done. recorded not only
my vote but my earnest protest against
the proceeding, But the suit to which the
Senator alludes had nothing to do with
that,
Mr.. CGmden-I will answer the Senator,
The act Of the Virginia Legislature with.
drawing her consent to the formation OF
the State Of West Virginia was intended
to 90 10 the formation Of the State itself
and the admission Of 1t; and contemplated
Of that time an action on the part OF Yir.
ginla 10 revoke or annul the formation Of
the State Of West Virginia. AtIerward,
however, she abandoned that ground and
brought suit 10 recover the Jurisdiction
OF the counties OF Jefferson and Berkeley,
which she claimed had not been legally
admitted into the territory Of West Viz.
ginla.
Mr.. DaWes-0n the ground that she had
never given her CONSENT
Mr.. Camden-Yes, on the ground that
the consent che had given did not extend
TO those counties, but the counties OF
Berkeley and Jefferson were admitted 10
the State Of West Virginia after the action
Of the first convention which formed the
State Of West Virginia out OF the other
counties embraced In its territory. How.
ever, West Virginia claimed the jurIsdio.
ton OF those counties, had the jurisdiction
OF the counties, was exercising II, they
were 10 possession OF West Virginia, and
until that suit was decided II was impossi.
BILE fof any adjustment TO take place be.
tween Virginia and West Virginia, be.
cause they entered largely into the basis
OIL any settlement that could take place.
make this point for the purpose OF
showing that up to the 9Th OF March, 1871,
West Virginia was powerless 10 make any
settlement; neither was Virginia In a con.
dition to make any settlement, beCaure
she was under the reconstruction acts Of
Congress BY which her State government
was not empowered 10 make any adjust.
mems oil her debts either between herseli
and her creditors or between that State
and West Virginia.
That brings Us to the OH Of May, 1871.
About that time Virginia appointed com.
missionels 10 treat with commissioners
from West Virginia. West Virginia
promptly met that demand and appointed
commissioners to treat with the Virginia
commissioners. But about. the sSme time
Virginia saw that she could make Q better
bargain with her creditors than she could
possibly gain from any settlement with
West Virginia, and within lees than thirty
days from the decision OF the suit she
passed the Funding bill Of the Goth OF
March, 1871, BY which she got rid OF one.
third Of her debt BY the consent and even
at the solicitation OF her creditors. Vir.
ginia from that time has been placed in
such position that she cannot afford 10
make settlement with West Virginia, and
rs long % che feels herself unable 10 meet
promptly the interest and demands upon
her for the balance Of the debt, alter hay.
ing acaled II one third by reason Of the
territory taken from her by West Virgins,
she will decline 10 make any advances or
10 permit q settlement 10 be made with
West Virginia. Therefore, after the com.
Of West Virginia had ascer.
tained the amount that they conceived
West Virginia was equitGbly entitled 10
pay upon the debt Of Virginia, West Vir.
sinia had no place to offer the payment Of
that money.
The Governor Of West Virginia 10 sub.
hitting the report Of the commissioners
10 the Legislature oil West Virginia, refer.
ring 10 the report, says:
II will demand your serious confederation whether
you will row proceed 10 assume what yOu MAY cor
salye 70 be- the equitable proportion Of the public
1ebt Of rgnA prior 10 The iSi u January, 1885, or
whether you Wlli 10 the ght Of pat EVENT., await
iutthu Actlon.o The part Of Virginia.
Al that session Of the Legislature the
Legislature concluded 10 await such &c.
lion as might be taken by the authorities
81 Virginia upon the subject. The action
Of the Commissioners was reported 10 the
Governor Of Virgins. Virginia took no
notice OF II, and has taken no notice Of II
from that time to this. Now there is no
place where West Virginia can seek q set.
Element except through Virginia, and
am justified aud authorized Ia saying
what have Ia reference 10 the disincIina.
Al ~ =. L a - A