National Republican., 1882-12-06
A I,old sChcmc.

"A SCIGllt Ia eNlul " bC Oll lOOu liiblHE tSi
millions of dollars from the National Treasury
as free gift to certain enterprising individu-
ais. "Thc wise it call convey" The parties
do not pretend to have any claim whatever
upon the United States. They have never
given or loaned it anything. They have rem
dered it no service They do not own the
claim of anybody else. They are not highway
robbers, for they donot propose to waylay any
government messenger with bonds or funds
in his hands. They do not propose to get
their ten millions by the risky process
"burgling." Their plan is to seek the appro-
priation Of that amount by Congress and to
have it paid to persons who can produce GER
tiflcateso of the State of Virginia declaring the
State of West Virginia to he indebted to the
holders thereof in the amounts therein named.
These certificates were not issued by the Re-
adjuster government, but by the HoLLADAY
government, under the far-famcd McCUL-
LoCH bill, passed by the einterest-compounding
dcbt-incrcasing funder bourbons. They de-
clared onc-third Of the State debt of Virginia
fully discharged by these dishonored drafts on
West Virginia. The latter State says she
knows nothing about them and will pay moth
ing. To speak plainly, West Virginia fairly owes
ten millions of the debt of old Virginia, con-
tracted before the division, and fatty repudi-
ates it. The reader can well imagine how
easily a small syndicate could secure these re-
pudiatcd certificates for song. Indeed their
.orginal holders would readily give up ninety
dollars in every hundred to any enterprising
lobbyists who would undertake the job, of
having them benevolently paid out of the
Treasury of the United States And why
not? Section 8 of article of the constitu-
tion, under which West Virginia was admitted
into the Union in 1862, reads as follows:
An equitable proportion of the public debt Of
the Commonwealth of Virginia prior to the list
day of January, 1861, shall be assumed by this
State; and the legislature shall ascertain thesame
as soon rs may be practicable, and provide for the
liquidation thereof by sinking fund sufficient To
pay the aCcruing interest, and redeem the princi-
pal within thirty. four years.
This plain provision has up to this day been
wholly disrcgardcd, and the creditors of Vir-
ginia find themselves unable to persuade West
Virginia to pay any portion of the debt OF
which the old State has just agreed to pay two
thirds. Is it strange that the holders of re.
pudiatcd State claims should accept an invita-
tion to make q raid on the United States
treasury, when the invitation is extended by
Il great statesman whose fair fame has never
been sullicd by any association with the Vir
ginians who are called readjusters?
The tcn-million bill is said to be already
framed and ready for presentation in con
grcss. The projectors are little uncertain a.
to whether it should como from the republi
can or the democratic side. There will be Mt
bribery, of course, unless it be bribery to give
away worthless certificates, which the success
of the raid would make worth par. Tht
scheme would not be formidable had it no
the Endorsement in advance, accompanied
with vigorous argument, of one who hal
twice been snatched from the jaws Of th'
Presidency. As to who would get the tel
millions-well, that would depend on who ha
gobbled mp the most of the certificates ISSUED
against West Virginia. Let us hope that this
modest sum will not be dished out hastily
and that if the haul must be made it may b.
attended with as little scandal rs possible.