Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1885-11-05
From ne Cincinnati Enquirer.
VEST TIRG MA FINANCES.
ltfempf 10 Place the state ina the Hands
ora WaII-Street Syndicate.

The NEST interesting semi political sub
iect TO the citizens of West Virginia is the
one vital and important fact of the revival
of the Virginia ante bellum debt question.
For several wears an influence has been at
work in the State manipulating plan to
bring about the payment OF this alleged
debt
A brief explanation here will be sufficient
" Ineligible 70 the general reader: At the
time of the division Of the State, or rather
the segregation of West Virginia, the old
State owed . very heavy debt Virginia
claimed that the proportion owed by West
Virginia was about So 100000 for which
she demanded payment. The Legislature
of West Virginia, iH 1871, sent commits
sion. consisting II General John }. Jackson,
lions. 4. Campbell aud Jonathan NJ. Ben
nett. To settle with the mother State, claim
ing however, that West Nirginia's propoi-
ton was less than 81 GOO coo. Upon this
basis the old State refused TO settle, and the
commission returned and made Us report.
The next year the creditors OF Virginia
comprised with the old State and surrender
"a che old bonds. accepting new bonds tor
two thirds ai the debt owed mi a ceIi iiicite
tor the other third, the condition OF this GER
tifcate being that Virginia was not TO pay
the remaining third until she obtained a
satisfactory settlement with West Virginia.
The result of this management was tnat
the creditors OF Virginia released her from
the payment of one-third of the debt, a
mounting 10 SIS. 100000 forever, unless she
should afterward assume it by accepting a
settlement from Wet Virginia, and as 1t
has never been claimed that West Virginia
could owe any thing near that amount of
the debt Virginia, of course, has never since
asked a settlement with West Virginia, and
these certificates issued by Virginia, depen-
dent upon and PAYABLE after a satisfactory
settlement with West Virginia, are still out
standing. and known rs the "WeSt Nirgi ia
certificates but, in fact, are the certificates
of Virginia. Since that time the debt ques-
tion between the two States and the holders
of the certificates has lain partially dormant
rhe holders of the certificates, however,
have not given up the hope of getting some
thing from West Virginia, Is the following
shows I'm 1883. at Richmond, Va, during
the session of the Legislature, a lobby head
ed by James Nj. Mason, of West Virginia,
an agent of the certiticate-hOlders, with 9TH
ers, tried t. get bill through the Legisla-
ture "a authorize a suit be brought IN the
supreme Court Of the United States to COM
pei West Virginia to pay the Sl5,OOOOOO OF
certificates then in the hand OF number OF
spectators, as no suit could be brought a
rSnst West Virginia except in the name of
Virginia. The old State, however, being
rid of that portion of the debt until a settle
ment WAS made with West Virginia, declin-
el 20 pass the bill, fearing she might bring
Che debt back upon herself
About a year ago Mr. Mason, who had
been "a member of the Tax Commission of
1854. started newspaper called the West
Virginia Democrat at Charlestown, Jeffer-
son county, West Virginia. He and his pa
per have been kickers from way back, OPP
posing about every thing in the way of Inn
Dloyements and fayoring everything that
would put surplus amount of money in the
treasury. He was, aud understand still is,
the agent auG attorney Tor the syndicate OF
certificate holders. Through the West Nir
giuia Democrat arguments of the most spe
ci0u> nature nave been issued 10 misiead
public opinion and silence adverse criticism:
processing opposition 20 mOnOpOlists, and
fighting Camden's reelection TO the Senate;
managed by ~hreWdnesS and cunning, clad
lu fluent language. and with arguments
which, on their lace, looked plausible and
true, tGerc can ue no doubt their effect has
been % q considerable extent dangerous, TO
say the least. The effort To carry oct the
end in view d, been well managed, and
cunning head and mind has been at the
helm The paper has been circulated gra-
tutously throughout, the State like patent
medicine circular, full of -pecouS promises
10 cure all political diseases. 1t has sown
d.scord and discussion, but covered its al
legged ultimate aim with a cunning and
shrewlne>s worthy a better cause.