Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1884-02-25
The West Virginia ebi.
Richmond DISPATCH,


Is there any Democrat in the Virginia
legislature who was not elected upon the
Lynchburg platform? Are not all the
Democrats in that body bound by a solemn
pledge to stand by the provisions OF the
Riddleberger bill? Let us examine the
debt plank OF that platform, aud see. 1t
reads as follows:
1.-THE Democratic party accepts as 6naI
the recent settle ment OF the public debt
proI ounced constitutional by the courts VI
last resort, State and Federal, and Will OPP
pose all agitation of the question, or any
disturbance of that settlement by repeal or
otherwise"
That is an explicit pledge. 1t needs no
explanation. 1t leaves no roo n for doubt
Ali that Democratic member OF the Leg
islature has to do, or can do, 81 far as con
Germs this subject, is to read the Rtddleoer'
ger bill and learn how il disp )sed O. the
West Virginia debt. Well here is the bill
right before us. What says it as to the
West Virginia debt? Everywhere 1t as
sumes that West Virginia owes one-third-
no more auI no less-of the debt Of the
Iwo States a. 1t existed in 1863. We quoGe
from that bill (lawl as follows:
Where's to the end which this act com
Drehs nds, full statement OF the debt Is
ssenrial; and whereas the following has
nc en- carefully made up from the records
of the Second Auditors office OF the State,
It is con fidently submitted as presenting
rue state of the account between the State
md her creditors the account is as FOL
ovs:"
ginis was formally admitted into the Union
June 90, 1863. Tie property aud resources
of Virginia, upon which the above debt
bag been founded, were by this partition
of tie old State reduced, one third of her
territory and one fifth of her population
going to form West Virginia. This and
the consequences of war to her and her
people made loss of full $50O,0O0,0 900 OF
property, and her taxable values were re.
duced from $723, 100000 to 1886, OOO, 900, and
her annual revenues from over S,OOo,o0
to 81 0,O00,"
1865, July LIST. Two thirds of the above
debt, principal and interest, to this date, is
assumed as Virginias equitable portion, in
consideration of the PARTITION OF her terri
tory, population and resources, upoh the
well established principle that debt in such
cases follows territory"
~, For all balances of such indebted
| ness, constituting West Nirsi1ia's share VI
| IL I'D debt, y. inuiDAl ard interest, In the
| settlement of Virginia's equitable share as
aforesaid, the said Board OF Sinking Fund
| Commissioners shall issue certificate as
| follows:
The Commonwealth of Virginia has
this day discharged her equitable share Of
tbe Registered or coupon, as the case may
be- bond for -dollars, held by,
dated TIE - day of -, and num-
| bered -, leaving a balance of -
dollsrs, with interest from -, to be &C
| counted for by the State of West Virginia
without recourse upon this Common
wealth"
Could Language be palmer? How can
any Democrat go behind this record? How
| Justify himself to his constituents for rails.
;ng in any shape a question as to whether
| West Virginia owes more or less than the
| Riddlebergsr settlement assigns to her?