Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-03-11

and.when capital has unlocked our noun
taiIlksard exhibited to thesIfsss, Cd tH
world diHssgaluable deposits hidden therean
it will Be but few years until the hum .
industry, and the smoke of hundreds$o
mills and factories bill brighten our hlli
and valleys and largely increase onr iInPor
tance and prosperity as State
Men of capital want to know Iust
what their investments will return them
IL is not sufficient to say to them, w
have one of the richest mineral States in
the Union" they want to know the facts
upon which the assertion is based. A geo.
logical survey of the State, in connection
with railroads, will do more toward direct
ing the investment of capital in our dlrec-
ton than any other outlay we could make.
II we wish our country developed, made
rich and prosperous by enterprise and CAPT
tai from home and abroad, We should give
reliable information as to its
Unknown and Vast Resources.
The mineral resources of no section OF our
country are fully known, and never will be
until complete geological survey is made.
Some may say the survey will be very
expensive. Even if that were so, the
return for the outlay would be very
large. | made some remarks in the
Senate in February, 1881, in favor OF a
geological survey of all the States by the
Government, and | then said, and | am
more firmly fixed in the opinion now. that
a good, careful and complete geological sur
yey Of Virginia and West Virginia will
show more mineral resources than all
Europe. There is a great future for the
two virginias, and it is g. mere matter OF
development to make them populous and
wealthy.
You referred to this State having no
debt of it's own contracting. Is ii true
that steps are about to be taken by Virginia
TO sue this State for what may be found
due from her on the Virginia State debt?
] have been credibly informed that there
is bill now being prepared to bring the
debt question before the Supreme Court
of the United States for adjudication. For
my part, am unqualifedly in favor of pay
ing our Just and equitable proportion of
the debt of Virginia, whenever that pro
portion shall be determined. No people,
State, or Nation can prosper with taint
even of repudiation hanging over them,
nor can they afford to ignore Just debt. or
to plead the statute of limitations. West
Nirginia's record on tire debt
question is good. She has met Virginia
fully half way in her efforts to ascertain
what proportion, il airy, she should pay.
In February, 1866. she responded to res
olutiOn passed 10y the Virginia Legislature,
AMI appointed commissioners to act with
those from Virginia to ascertain the in
debtedneSs OF the State, but nothing was
accomplished. In 1870, on my motion.
commissioners were again appointed, but
nothing done. Again, in l%1, on my mo-
tion, commissioners were appointed from
this State and proceeded to Richmond. but
found no one to treat with them officially.
A. a result, nothing has been settled. Our
commissioner however, in their er pDH'
report, estimated that We owed Virginia
nearly 81 ,0UO, 900; so il seems that We may
owe some portion of the Indebtedness, and
whatever that portion is, ! am in favsr OF
paying it. After carefully examining the
debates in Congress in 1862, on the adms-
sion of West Virginia as State, | do not
believe the bill would ever have passed but
for the clause in the State Constitution,
providing for the payment of just and
equitable proportion Of this debt. In fact,
this was conceded at the time OF the passage
OF the bill. believe it would be
The Proper and Right Thing.
and place us right before the world, fOr the
present Legislature to pass a resolution .ex-
pressing its willingness to meet Virginia
and adjust the debt between the two States
Town none, nor have any interest in any
of the bonds of Virginia, or what are
called the deferred or West Virginia certiti-
Gates, but have an interest in the welfare,
prosperity and good name nf our State; i;
and although when the debt is determined
| shall, in common with others, have to
pay my proportion of taxes on what prop
erty may own, yet believe it will greatly
advance the value OF that and all other
property in the State 10 10 so. have seen
and heard enough of what the people out
side of the state think OF us with refer
ence to the charge of repudiation, and |
think il would he good deal better that
we all fairly and squarely meet the queS-
tion and pay our equitable and just pro-
portion OF what little We may be found to
owe than to have the slightest stain of dis
honor or reputation on our fair escutch-
con. The state would then be free from
suspicion, and we could point with pride
to our States financial record
West Virginia and the Tariff.
Will the tariff question be agitated in
Congress this session?
OF course it will be agitated. 1t will
always he a subject of debate and contro-
verSy. do not think, however, there will
be any material changes in the tariff rates,
at least none that will affect the interests
and industries of this State. West Virginia
is NATURAL Y interested in fair and just
tariff We cannot, and ought not to, have
what is called free trade, while we have to
raise money to pay the principal and inter
est Of our National debt, n also for the
general support of the Government. 1t Is
far better that we should raise this revenue
by an equitable tariff than by direct taxa
tiOn upon the people.