Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1884-03-11
AcARp.


The persistent efforts of certain newspapers
to deceive the public by publishing falsehoods
about my views and purposes touching the
debt induces this card. These falschoods enl-
mating from few unprincipled and malicious
men, are propag0ted in the face of the fact
that long previous to their publication I circn-
lated several hundred pamphlets giving all the
information in my possession:
II have always believed that West Virginia
would be greatly benefited by adjusting her
share of the debt incurred before the old State
was divided. believe that an unasccrtained
and unsettled liability hurts worse than q fixed
debt many times greater than the amount we
actually owe.
Q. have always maintained that our share
must be ascertained by stating the account re-
CURED by the Ordinance which created West
Virginia.
8. have always insisted that VIC were not
responsible for and would never recognize any
obligation on account of the Cso-called) West
virginia Certificates. l am as determined as
any man not to assume any part of the fifteen
millions set aside for US by Virginia. and the
persons who cay that am seeking to fasten
this debt on my State are incorporating me
knowingly, maliciOusly, and without excuse.
q. When first consulted some four years ago
by these creditors, told them to pursue fair,
open. manly and above-board policy. avoiding
any alliance with that class of men who succeed
by decciVing the people and by tricking them
out OF their votes. Hence: the utmost.publicity
has been given to everything connected with
this movement to bring about settlement be-
tween Virginia and West Virginia Nearly
eighteen months ago full explanation of it
was published in the Wheeling InteLiJencer' and
nothing, that 1rds true, has appeared since in
any paper which was not published by me.
5. In order to induce Virginia to settle with
West Virginia, the certificate holders propose
to release her from all liability. If it turns out
that West Virginia owes more than she can
conveniently carry, then my clients propose to
accept whatever she chooses to pay. Hence,
the creditors have co-Opcratcd to authorize an
OsFa fO Pa1n riY,io ny,l 20
promise with West Virginia. Nobody expects
to saddle our State with an unfair debt. My
object is to remove the impression that we owe
fifteen millions, and if am instrumental in
doing this, will receive the thanks of every
sensible citizen. There arc only two ways to
determine how much West Virginia owes to
INSTRUMENTATION or submission of the
controversy to the Supreme Court, and have
always advocated an arbitration.
9. With mcndacity without precedent in
newspaper enterprise, the statement is made
represent syndicate who purchased certifi-
Gates for few cents. This gross falschOod has
fourthS of those represented IN this movement
received their certificates when they funded
under the act of 1871, and, except two small
holders, do not know of q single person CO.
operating therein. who purchased certificates
on speculation. There is no syndicate OF COM
bination of capital; the holders deposit their
certificates with stakeholder, and each de-
positOr agrees to contribute his pro rata to the
expenses OF the movement: which expenses
consists of my fec, the compensation Of the
stakeholder and the cost of acQUOinting tho
public with the facts.
Z. As sample of the unfounlcd and unpro-
vO1cd falsehOOds that are being published,
call attention to the statement that. He
(Mason) is drawing pay as Tax Commissioner.
while he is employed about this debt business"
This falsehoOd is Mt once exposed by either of
two facts: (D Under the law q member of the
Commission can draw pay only for the number
of days he is actually employed on the Commits
sion; and (2) the records of the Auditors office
show that have presented only one account.
flor $3.50 which was itemiZed, and included
the cost of books, printing, stationery, travel
ling expenses and per diem only for the number
of days was absent from home and employed
exclusively about the Commission. The truth
is, spent the greater part of each day for three
months in my office, studying how to equnliZc
taxation, for which time I expected no other
compensation than the satisfaction of knowing
that had performed the duty entrusted to me
in such manner as would merit the approval Of
intelligent and fair-minded men. The report
of the Commission will speak for itself: it has
been delayed to gather the statistics necessary
to guide our judgments; when it is published I
think the people will find that we have tried to
do our duty Sithout fear or favor. and, in the
meantime, an inquiry made to any county clerk
or asscssessor will give some evidence of the
| extent of my correspondence and of the labor
we have undergone to qualify ourselves to deal
inteilgcntiy with the problems committed to IFS.
l hope our people will not be miscd and de-
ceived by the fuisChoods of q few INSCRIPTIONS.
malicious and trcachcrous men. IhOld myself
always ready to answer any question about
either the Tax Commission or about the debt.
| Ny conduct as Commissioner to cqu0lize taxa
! ton would he the same, If had never heard of
the debt, and my conduct counsel for these
creditors would be the same if I had never
heard of the Commission the two employments
arc distinct and cannot conflict.
]. NJ. MASON,
CharIpStOWn w Va