The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1884-06-19
Old Virginia 8 Equity.
THE SECRET HISTORY OF THE OLD DOMIN-
IONS DISPLACEMENT.


was made complete. Mr.. Blaine shows
that the ACKNOWLEDGMENT of Virginia was
due to the necessities of war, and that but
for the action of President Lincoln and
his Cabinet Congress would never have
admitted the loyal people of Western Viz
ginia into the Union as a sovereign state.
In concluding his chapter on this subject
Mr.. Blaine offers a suggestion in relation
to the settlement of the debt OF Virginia
that, If not entirely novel, is presented in
the most forcible light. Had not this
chapter been written over a year ago,
others than the Virginia Bourbons, doubt
less, would proclaim it bid fOl Demo-
cratic votes in the Old Dominion. Mr..
Blaine says. si,fz4 sflaR 'tesl'Ei
heavy one. In the years following the war it
added seriously to her financial embarrass-
ment. and 1t has in many ways obstructed her
prosperity. AS primitive measure Tor the
Christening Of Virginia. it cannot be defended.
Assuredly there was no ground for distressing
Gy eh d,a
eracy. Common justice revOlts at the selection
Of one man for punishment from eleven who
have all been guilty Of the same offence. II
punishment had been designed there was equal
reason for stripping Texas of her vast domain
and for Withdrawing the numerous land grants
which had been generously made by the Nation-
al Government to many of the states in rebel
ion. 414 al
0ub l6XdB WIS allOW0O 10 emerge HON Li16
contest without the forfeiture of an acre, and
grants, BY which other Southern states were to
years succeeding the war. The autonomy Of
Virginia alone was disturbed. Upon Virginia
alone fell the penalty, which If due to any was
Another consideration is OF great weight. An
innocent third party. was involved. Virginia
owed large debt, held In great part by loyal
citizens of the North and by subjects of foreign
countries The burden was already as heavy as
she could bear In her entirety, and dismember-
her obligations The United init States might Well
have relieYed Virginia and have done Justice
the division Of her territory, Regarding her
only as entitled to the rights of public enemy
SO long a. she warred upon the Union. we may
least to as just and magnanimous treatment
our interest to acaurs large part Of The tsrr
tory owned by the Republic. Wehad conquered
her armies and were In possession OF her capi-
But the high sense OF Justice which has al
ways distinguished the United States in her
pubic P9ilcies would not permit the despoil-
menu oI mexico. We negotiated, therefore, for
the territory needed, and paid for 1t a larger
price than would have been given by any other
The American Government went still further.
Many OF our citizens held large claims against
Mexico , and the failure TO pay them had been
Our Government, In addition to the money
consideration Of Sl5,0O0,O00 which we paid for
demands Of our citizens. and to nav them from
our own Treasury This supplementary agree
msnt cost the National Government nearly
II the United states were willing to place vir-
ginia on the basis on which they nagnani-
mously placed Mexico after the conquest of
that Republic. sufficient allowance would be
made to her to compensate at least for that part
OF her public debt which might presumptively
be represented by the territory taken from her
LII IL D0 said In tn a IN
1t would be fairer for West Vagina to assume
the proportional obligation thus Indicated the
prompt fejOin6r 1s that in equity her people are
not held to such obligation.
The public improvements for which the debt
~ large part nad not been so far
civil war began-their advantages being mainly
confined TO the tide water and Piedmont sec
tionsOf the state There Is indeed, neither moral
nor legal responsibility resting upon West Vir-
ginia for any part Of the debt OF the old state.
In determining the relative obligations Of Ma
tional government and OF the Government of
West Virginia, concerning the debt it Is OF the
first Importance to remember that the new
to the Union for the Denefit Of her own people,
but In far larger degree for the beneft of the
whole Union The organic law would not have
been strained, legal hctiOns would not have
lbeen Invented, contradictory theories would
not have been indulged liza great national in
forest had not demanded the creation OF West
Virginia; If 1t had not been apparent that the
organization OF West Virginia was an advantage
II the border state policy Of Mr.. Lincoln. so
rigidiy adhered to throughout the contest had
not required this link for the completion Of its
involved would never have had the slightest al
tention from the Congress of the United States
Strong and equitable as was the case of West
virginia, irritating and undesirable as her rela-
lions to the older state might be, advantageous
to the people as the new government might
selves have offered sufficient inducement to en-
gage the attention OF Congress for an hour at
that critical period. They. would have been
Nf1Rn ftOxNV
indifference by which all great legislative bodies
prove how easy 1t Is to endure the misery of
West Virginia. indeed. got only what was equi-
taDiy due, and what she was entitled to claim
by the natural right Of self-goyernment. The
war brought good fortune to her as coflspicu-
ously as It brought ill-fortune to the older state
from which she was wrenched, n
West virginia Is TO be cOngfatulat ed, and her
creditable career and untirng enterprise since
she assumed the responsibilities of self-govern-
shs an
ginia Is relieved from the odinm of having been
statestfor the punishment that struck at once
against her prosperity and against her pride of
/ Nor should 1t be forgotten that the state of
Virginia before the war might well be regarded
as creditor and not the debtor Of the National
Government. One Of her earliest acts OF pa
triotisIh, as an independent state, was the ces-
sion to the Federal, Government OF her superb
domain ON the North end Of the Ohio River,
|
millions Of dollars have been paid into the ma
tional treasury, :. A suggestive contrast is pre-
ginia and the condition Of Texas and Florida.
II was the aggressive disunionism of the two
latte statss which aided powerfully to direct
But for the urgency Of the seven original Con-
federate States. in which Texas and Florida
been able to hold the state firm In the national
allegiance. Since the war Texas has Travelled
hsr pSDe %hes
with little difiiculty as was found In dividing
prosperity and secured rapid DEVELOPMENT
from resources of land which the National Gov
ernment had generously given her before the
war. and Of which she was not deprived for her
acts of rebellion.
True-hearted Americans rejoice in the pros
perity Df these states which adOrn the Southern
borderofthe Republic; but they cannot help
seeing with regret how differently the ancient
commonwealth of Virginia has Jared at the
hands Of the National Government. II the hurt
to Virginia were OF a general character which
could NOT be specified or defined, her cause
absas I1,e But 81 max h
fortunately = the detriment OF her public
credit can be stated with substantial precision
and can pc traced directly to her despoilment
That took from her the power to pay her debt.
II the harm resulting therefrom were confined
to the state and to the holders of her securities
the National Government might the more easily
disregard the equities Of the case. But Virgin
las embarrassment ia of widespread concern,
ouu iuJuIiOuniy huoCCs tu0 circuit OF Otn6r
states. ...,... 1li3i
Nor can 1t be said THAT the precedent Of aid
Ing Virginia could be quoted for aid to every
state that might get into financial trouble. II
could be quoted only for the case--which will
perhaps, never again Occur-where the National
Govefnment shall strip the state OF large and
valuable part Of her territory, and thus take
from her the ability to meet her obligations.
The precedent might then be quoted, and should
be unhesitatingly followed. u hs 'ti3i 4 lll~
In the formal and necessarily austere admin
straton OF public affairs there Ia little room for
the interpretation of sentiment. Yet sentiment
has Its place Wa stimulate tn q ardor of patri-
otfsm by the mere display of flag, which has
no material force. and typifes the glory OF the
nation. We stir the ambition of the living by
rearipg costly monuments to the heroic dead.
~ may surely be pardOned IL Americans shall
feel deep personal interest in the good name
and good fortune of state SO closely identified
with the only renOwn of the Republics state
with whose soils mingled the dust ofithose to
whom all states and all generations are debtors
the Father of his Country, the author of the
Declatation OF Independence. the chief projec-
tor OF the National Constitution. --
The Massachusetts boilers will do well
to heed the words of a CONGREGATIONAL