Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1882-09-22

not clean enough; we will cut little closer,
and by our sacred honor we will pay the bal
anco, if any" Down in Georgia the original
old Bourbon, who rides rough shod over the
body polite, not only says, "Base is the slave
that pays but enacts constitutional amend
ment making it impossible to pay even if a
qualm of conscience should seize some con-
verted Legislature In the other southern
states now, like Georgia, waxing rich and fat
and able to pay, there is no attempt made
even to seem honest. Here and there favor
ed bond is paid, as in Georgia and the North
ern doughface points with pride" to that
bond Quoted above par as evidence of South
ern honor. All right. If Northern men
choose to embark their means in Southern |
states they may get few dividends but are |
quite likely to lose their capital. Men like |
Jay Gould may own all the railroads in the |
South in flush times, but they will own no
stock there when the next crash comes. So |
much for Mr. Blaines horror of Republican
determination with Southern repudiators.
But the idea of compromising Virginia be-
cause she lost West Virginia during the war
is q much more material question. He says
Virginia suffered more than any other state,
and leaves it to be inferred, if he does not say
in terms, that she should be compensated for
losses deliberately brought upon herself by
making herself the base of supplies and the
basis of government for the confederate abor-
ton. He also says Virginia alone was dis
membered, and distinctly asserts that she
should therefore be compensated by having
her debt assumed by the United States, West
Virginia refusing-''and very properly" says
Mr.. Blaine-to pay dime of it. Well did
the United States ever get West Virginia If
not, why should they pay for It ? The great
tract of forest and mountain called West Vir-
ginia was taken by its own inhabitants who
for many years had been trying to secede
from the old cavaliers of Virginia, whose chiv-
alrous association they abhorred. Like Pha.
raoh, in another familiar case, the old Virgin
ians would not let the people go, and so they
took advantage of the Rebellion, hoodwinked
the Republican party, and went. The dis
memberment of Virginia was a gross viola
ton of the constitution of the United States,
and in time of peace would have been impos-
sible but a state in rebellion has no property
rights which the sovereign is bound to respect,
people. The partitioning of Virginia was not
crime, but foolish blunder to be atoned
for
l sometimes think that the acts of the in
| dividual man are of comparatively small nc
count in the sight of Omnipotence, but that
the crimes of nations and of national parties
are sure to meet with retribution at the hands
of the only power that can discipline nations
In other words, that what are called Especial
providences" are confined to nations or great
aggregations of people, and that no national
wrong goes unwhipt of justice at the hands
of Almighty Right. Thus West Virginia, i'm
properly torn from the state of Virginia by
the help of the Republican party, has been a
thorn in the side of the party almost from
the start. The ingratitude of these southern
people is something unspeakable and the case
| of West Virginia illustrates it. A few schem-
ing West Virginia politicians, calling them.
selves loyal Virginians, assembled at Alexan-
dria under the guns of the United States, and
| pretended to be the legislature of Virginia
then in session in Richmond. In that fraud
ulent capacity they went through the motions
of dividing the state of Virginia Just as if they
had been the real legislature, and Congress
gave its consent to the division just as if it
were dealing with the actual legislature of
Virginia. If the senate of the United States
passes from the control of the Republican
party, it will be in consequence of this stupid
and unnecessary act for almost from the be-
ginning the state of West Virginia has been
| one of the most reliable of Democratic states
and although its inhabitants eagerly welcom-
ed the Republican folly which made them a
state, they have sent the bitterest of seces-
sionists to Congress. Even at the beginning,
when the Foreman legislature sent senators to
Congress, and while the war was yet fragrant
Mr., Summer felt obliged to rebuke the 'plan-
tation manners" of one of the West Virginia
senators who called himself Republican and
put on as many airs as if he had represented
old Virginia in her palmy days OF course
the new state should pay its share of the old
states debt contracted before the Rebellion,
and l cannot understand upon what principle
of equity or decency Mr.. Blaine holds the
contrary. But why should the United States
pay any part of that debt ? If you say there
is an equitable claim upon the Democratic
party-which has reaped all the benefit am
with you but the United States has not prof
tied by the state of West Virginia. and does
not own or control it. To be sure, it took
advantage of the dissatisfaction of its people
to aid them in wrestling it from Virginia. but
that was done in time of war and even under
color of compliance with the requirements OF
the constitution. The act has stood the test
of judicial scrutiny of more or less value, and
has been declared sufficiently lawful for all
practical purposes, although old Mr.. Justice
Grier used to say there was no such state as
West Virginia. In fact, Virginia does moi
suffer much, as the territory yields but little
revenue and as Virginia has no idea of ever
paying her debts. In point Of real suffering
South Carolina has lost at least two dollars tc
Virginia's one. Virginia had but few slaves
South Carolina had vast slave population
aud, reckoned in dollars, they were worth
great deal more than the whole of West Vir
ginia at the outbreak of the rebellion. II you
begin by paying Virginia because she los
land, how can you help paying South Caro-
lima, which lost much more in the serfs APP
purtenant to land To be sure, payment fol-
slaves is prohibited, but bonds might be is
sued or money paid to Southern states with
out naming slaves and Democratic ascen
dency-which may come at any time-oan al
ter the constitution at the bidding of the
, Southern states, which would provide fifteen
votes to begin with. Let us not open the door
p to these imaginary equities by paying the
: state debt Of Virginia, which in fact we have
no permission under the constitution to do.
J.N.B.