Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1884-06-27
Old Virginia's Equity.
THE SECRET HISTORY OF THE OLD
DoMINIoN's DIsSIEMBERMENT.
Especial Dispatch to the Philadelphia Press.I

Especial Dispatch to the Philadelphia Pressl
WASHINGTON, June 15.-One of
the most interesting chapters OF
Mr.. Blaine's "Twenty Years in
Congress" relates to the creation of
the State of West Virginia, by
which act the chain of border states
between the Union and Confeder-
ate States was made complete. Mr..
Blaine shows that the dismember-
ment of Virginia was due to the
necessities of war, and that but for
the action ofPresident Lincoln and
his Cabinet Congress would never
have admitted the loyal people of
Western Virginia into the Union
as a sovereign state. In conclud-
ing his chapter on this subject MIR.
Blaine offers suggestion in rela-
ton to the settlement of the debt
of Virginia that, if not entirely no
vel, is presented in the most forci-
BILE light. Had not this chapter
been written over year ago, 9th
ers than the Virginia Bourbons,
doubtless, would proclaim it a bid
for Democratic votes in the Old
Dominion. Mr.. Blaine says:
To the old State Of Virginia the
blow was a heavy one. In the years
following the war it added serious
" to her financial embarrassment,
and it has in many ways INSTRUCTED
her prosperity AS a primitive
measure for the Christening Of Vir-
ginia, it cannot be defended. AS
Suredly there was no ground for
distressing Virginia by penal en-
acments that did not apply equally
to every other state of the Confed-
eracy. Common justice revolts at
the selection of one man for punish
ment from eleven who have all been
guilty of the same offence. If pun
ishment had been designed there
was equal reason for stripping Tex
as of her vast domain and for with
drawing the numerous land grants
which had been generously made
by the National Government to
many of the states in rebellion.
But Texas was allowed to emerge
from the contest without the for
fixture of an acre, and Congress, so
far from withdrawing the land
grants, by which other Southern
States we're to be enriched, took
pains to renew them in the years
succeeding the war. The autono'
my of Virginia alone was disturb
ed. Upon Virginia alone fell the
penalty, which if due to any was
due to all.
Another consideration is of great
weight. An innocent third party
was involved. Virginia owed a
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
ACKNOWLEDGMENT so crippled her
that she could not meet her obi
cations. The United States might
we'll have relieved Virginia and
have done justice to her creditors
by making some allowance for the
division of her territory. Regard
ing her only as entitled to therlghts
of public enemy so long as she
varied upon the Union, we may
confidently maintain that she is
entitled at least to as just and
maguanimous treatment as the Ma
tional Government extends to a
foreign foe. In our war with Mex
leo it became our interest to acquire
a large part of the territory owned
by the Republic. We had conquer
ed her armies and were in posses
sion of her capital. She was help
less in our hands.
But the high sense of justice
which has always distinguished the
United States in her public policies
would not permit the despoilment
of Mexico. We negotiate, there
fore, for the territory needed, and
paid forit a larger price than would
have been given by any other ma
ton in the world.
The American Government went
still further. Many of our citizens
held large claims against Mexico
and the failure to pay them had
been one of the causes that precipi-
tated hostilities. Our Government
| in addition to the money consider.
alton of $50, 100000, which we paid
for territory, agreed to exonerate
Mexico from all demands OF our
citizens, and to pay them from ouI
own Treasury. This supplement,
tary agreement cost the National
Government nearly 1000, 900.
If the United States were willing
to place Virginia on the basis on
which they magnanimously placed
Mexico after the conquest Of that
Republic, a sufficient allowance
would be made to her to compen
safe at least for that part of hel
public debt which might presump-
lively be represented by the terri
tory taken from her. If it be said
in answer to such a suggestion
that it would be fairer for West
Virginia to assume the proportion
al obligation thus indicated, the
prompt rejoiner is that in equity
her people are not held to such Cd
legation. =,
The public improvements tol
which the debt was in a large par
Incurred had not been so far com