The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-02-23
The West Virginia Debt.

| Is there any Democrat in the Virginia
Legislature who was not elected upon the
Lynchburg platform2 Are not all the
Democrats In that body bound by solemn
pledge to stand by the provisions OF the
RIDpLYBERoER bill Let us examine the
debt plank of that platform, and see. 1t
reads rs follows:
.sThe Democratic party accepts as final
the recent settlement OF the public debt
pronounced constitutional by the courts OF
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 room for doubt.
All that Democratic member Of the Le-
gislature has to do, or can do, so far as con-
Germs this subject is to read the RIDDLE
BERGER bill and learn how it disposed OF
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 and no less--of the debt OF the
two States as it existed in 1863. We quote
from that bill Qaw) as follows:
"Whereas to the end which this act COM
prehends, full statement OF the debt is
essential; and whereas the following has
been carefully made up from the records
OF the Second Auditors office Of the State,
it is confidently submitted as presenting n
true state OF the account between the State
and her creditors-the account is as fol-
, lows:"
UiS6S, July LIST. The State Of West Vir-
ginia was formally admitted into the Union
June 90, 1868. The property and resources
OF Virginia, upon which the above debt
has been founded, were by this partition
OF the 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 S500,000,000 OF
property, and her taxable values were re-
duced from ST23 100000 to 1886 5000. 900,
and her annual revenues from over 4,O00,-
900 to $500, 1000"
| "1SG3, July LIST. Two thirds OF the
above debt, principal and interest, to this
date Is assumed as Virginia's equitable
portion, in consideration Of the partition
OF her territory. population, and resources.
upon the well-established principle that
debt In such cases follows territory"
"8. For all balances OF such indebted
ness, constituting West Virginia's share OF
the old debt, principal and interest," In the
settlement of Virginia's equitable share as
aforesaid, the said Board OF Sinking-Fund
Commissioners shall issue certificate as
| follows:
| "No. -.
| 1.-THE Commonwealth of Virginia has this dav
discharged her equitable share OF the Registered
| or coupons as the case may bel bond for - dol
/ lars, held by -, dated the - day OF -,
| and numbered -, leaving a balance of -
| dollars, with interest from -, 10 be accounted
for by the State Of West Virginia without recourse
upon this Commonwealth"
Could language be palmer? How can
any Democrat go behind this record ?
How justify himself to his constituents
for raising in any shape question as to
whether West Virginia owes more or less
than the RIDDLEBERGER settlement assigns
| to her?