The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-03-27

The West Virginia Debt.
We know all about the debt Of West
vlrrinis. We know the people Of that
aaate well. The best years Of our life
we're passed with them. We would not
Willingly do them any injustice; and we
ere couscicntiously confident that we have
never been guilty Of that wrong. We
know how those people regard the public
aebt Jointly owing by the two States Of
virginia and West Virginia. We know
that no public man in West Virginia
would dare to propose to pay even nve MIL
Mons, or twenty per cent, OF tho por-
ZION Of the debt owing by that State.
Our correspondents letter furnishes abun-
asnt evidence on that point. We cannot
understand how he can seriously propose
% ascertain the amount Of West Virginia's
liability in the manner suggested In "the
ordinance which created the State"-that
b 10 say, by agreeing beforehand that West
Virginia shall pay none Of the debt, or, at
most, million OF dollars! 1t would seem
70 be q waste Of time to discuss this UNI
lust and totally unacceptable proposition;
and we are sure that we speak for the all-
;thorities Of Virginia when We say they that
will never even so much as entertain that
proposition.
West virginia has no doubt been "al-
ways ready to meet Virginia and state this
socount, under the rule laid down by the
bogus convention which "created" that
State. But Virginia has never for one mo-
.nent considered that proposition anything
more or other than proposition that she
should pay all Of the debt Of the two States,
since "the balance" which would be found
70 be due by West Virginia would be next
10 nothing. OF course Virginia knows that
West Virginia bad stated the account and
ascertained this (no) balance" before she
incorporated the provision above quoted
into her Constitution.
Nevertheless, we deem It to be our duty
10 publish the letter Of "a Citizen OF West
Virginia." who Is entitled TO be heard
through our columns II he thinks we have
done injustice either to his State or to his
proposition for ascertaining how much Of
virginia's debt Of 1861 is Justly chargeable
10 her seeding daughter. We will add
only this remark, that II his "impartial
tribunal" shall decide that West Virginia
owes only one-tenth Of what Virginia as
signed to her in 1871, nobody can prevent
the creditors from asking Virginia to pay
the other nine-tepths-that is, over twenty
millions OF dolIars-in addition to the
twenty millions Of the debt which even
under the RIDDLEBERGER bill she has pro-
missed to pay.
The West Virginia Debt.
To the Editor Of the Dispatch:
I ask TO correct misapprehension
caused by your editorial OF the 18th.
Everybody has always admitted that
West Virginia owes part Of the anfe-bel- |
hm debt Of the old State. But when Vir-
ginia came to fund her debt in 1871 she
was embarrassed because the proposition
of West Virginia was undetermined. |
Hence Virginia saldto her creditors: owe
will give you new bond for two thirds of
each old bond, and a certificate for the
other third, which will be provided for in
accordance with such settlement as may be
had with West Virginia" 1t was assumed
that the new State would carry one third
OF the debt, because she contained one
third OF the territory which contracted it.. |
am ount OF her liability should be ascertain |
ed by stating the account required by the |
ordinance which created the State:
"The new State shall take upon itself a 1
Just proportion OF the public debt prior to
January /, 1861, to be ascertained by
to it all State expenditures within
The limits thereof and just proportion OF
the ordinary expenses OF the State govern
ment since any part OF the debt was con-
tracted, and deducting therefrom the
paid into the treasury from the |
counties included within the new State du-
ring the same period"
West Virginia has always been ready to
meet Virginia and state this account. She |
has always been ready to assume such bal
ance as may be found due to Virginia. But |
this controversy between two States must |
be settled by some tribunal Of recognized |
Immortality whose decision will satisfy all |
parties.
1t will be observed that West Virginia
owes Virginia and Virginia owes the ere
ditors-yiz., the certificate-holders are en-
titled TO receive whatever may be paid by |
West Virginia. Hence the certiicate-hold-
crs cooperate to authorize IN agent TO make |
such agreements az may be necessary to
bring about a settlement. They do not ask
any action that can possibly disturb what
has been done; they do not ask anything
that can possibly interfere with the plans
Of either the Rexdjusters or Funders. II
IL turns out that instead Of one third
West Virginia owes only one tenth Of the
ante-bellum debt, then they volunteer TO
release the other nine tenths. They will
accept whatever West Virginia chooses to
pay--they trust entirely to the honor and
good faith Of that State.
Such being the attitude of these credit
ors, since they offer to relieve Virginia OF
all responsibility, 1t passes ingenuity to
give reason why she should refuse the
settlement she has promised to make.
1t is unjust to the public men Of West |
Virginia to intimate they wish to avoid an
equitable" share Of the debt. There 10
not and never has been any man Of social.
political, or financial standing in the State |
who does not favor getting this mat, er
aAiriy settled. II Is well understood that |
our development is retarded because this
unsettled liability hangs over us, and our |
people are anxious to get rid OF 1t, BY |
appointing an agent to act for them the |
creditors give the matter shape to be ad |
@usted to the satisfaction Of all parties, aud
u Is hoped the Virginia press will not per-
mlt itself to be misiniormed.
A CfTIzEN OF WEST VIRGINIA.
-
How Much?
The Huntington Advertiser and the
Wheeling Re0iSfer have come In o,,r asejst-