The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-09-27
AR Rlaine,s Proposition.

The Wheeling fNNthtJofsctF o"!' I" wv
No, understand Mr.. BLAISE's proposition
IN regard to the public debt Of Virginia as
we understand IL; but, after reading the
Intelliqcncer's explanation. we cannot per-
ceiyc any real difference between its posi-
ton and ours. We said that Virginia
could not possibly derive any benefit from
the proposition; because she years ago
turned over one third Of the debt to West
Virginia for payment. The InscHt9encer
says: "Nay; Virginia specified IN the
bonds which She issued to her creditors for
the deferred portion OF her debt (West
yirginia's alleged portion) that she would
nav them after settlement With West Nir-
giria, thereby becoming liable TO the cred
itors for the whole Of the debt irrespective
OF the part OF Il that West Virginia might
be found TO owe on settlement"
This is very amusing to us here in Viz
cinia. There is not man in this State OF
any party, so far as we know, who has any
idea Of paving one dime Of that portion OF
the public debt assigned to West Virginia
under the funding act Of 1871. When Nlr-
ginia pays any portion OF that sum, all the
men in the United States who took the bene-
fit of the last bankrupt law will have paid
Off all they now owe 10 their despolied Gre
ditors. There is no way that we know OF
70 make Virginia pay ii, or even to make
her come TO settlement with West Nir-
cjnia-that is. to ascertain what portion she
owes. if any, Of the sum turned over to her
daughter for payment.
In view of the fact that the Virginia
Jegislature last winter "clininated a
large portion Of the debt she owes under
The funding act Of 1871, it is really ludi-
crous 10 find so intelligent q gentleman rs
the editor OF the Wheeling Intelll9encer IN
dulging in the idle talk TO which we have
hereinbciore referred as to Virginia's liabili-
~ for any portion of the sum she has by
law. or in the form Of law, turned over TO
West Virginia.
We conclude that there is no real differ
ence between the lateHigeaceT'S view and
ours. We still hold that Virginia cannot
possibly be benefited by the adoption OF
Mr.. BLAIxE's proposition. because not a
man within her borders is willing to pay
any portion of her discarded debt, and
there is no way to make her pay any por-
ton Of il. Whatever, therefore, the Cen
eral Government might pay would be paid
for West Virginia, not for Virginia. The
Infeaiqcnccr dissents only so far as to hold
that il is Virginia's debt which would thus
he paid. This is matter Of no moment.
Whether hers or not, she will never pay
cent of it,
We again quote Mr.. BLAINE:
REPORTER: "Do you think West Vir-
einia ought TO pay share OF the debit"
Mr.. BLAINE: "Under all the circum-
stances do not, nor do believe there is Il
state in the Union situated as West Nir-
oinia Is that would assume any portion OF
the Virginia debt. You must remember
that we did not erect the State Of West
Virginia to oblIge its inhabitants. We did
il as a war measure for the benefit OF the
whole Union, and the State OF Virginia
bore the costly sacrifice alone. 1t Is not,
in INV Judgment, fair or right that Virginia
alone should be made the victim for the
sins OF the dead Confederacy.'
Clearly. Mr.. BLAINE cOntemplates pay
inc no part Of the debt except what ought
to be paid by the General Government be-
cause West Virginia was cut off from Viz
pinia as n war measure. Mr.. BLAINE is
no stranger in Richmond, nor in Virginia,
nor in West Virginia as to that matter, and
knows exactly what he is talking about.
The Inteligencer says:
.She TVirginia] ought therefore to be
very thankful in case the Federal Govern
ment steps in and assumes this liability,
thereby taking of her shoulders debt
that West Virginia never acknowledged as
TO its full amount, and that Virginia is
bound for to its full amount. This is where
the advantages Of Mr.. Blaine's proposition
comes in for the State OF Virginia"
Not bit OF it. We've nothing to do
with it. We have washed our hands of
that much Of the debt, and won't be
obliged to Mr.. BLAINE nor to anybody else
who proposes to get UNCLE SAM to pay il
for West Virginia.
p. :. We begin to doubt whether Nir
ginia will pay even the twenty millions
left after turning over fifteen millions &c
West Virginia in 1871, and eliminating .
thirteen millions OF the remainder in 1882