National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1885-04-25
rUHL1o DOMAIN oEDED BY THE STATE OF VIRGINIA

II the bordcr.state policy OF Mr.. Lincoln, So
rigidly adhered to throughout the contest had
not required this link for the completion OF its
ShainIthe wishes Of the people most directly
involved would mover have had tho slightest
attention nom tho Congress of the United
states. Strong and equitable as was the case
OF West Virginia, irritating and undesirable as
her relations TO the oidor state might be, ad-
vantagcous TO the people rs the now govern
ment might prove, these considerations would
not of themselves have offered sufficient in.
ducements to engage the attention OF Congress
for an hour at that critical period. They would
havo been bruShed aside and dlsregarded with
that cool indifference by which all great legis.
lativo bodies provo how oasy 1t Is to endure
the misery OF other people. West Virginia In;
deed got only what was cquitably due, and
what she was entitled TO claim by the natural
right OF sclfgovcrnmont. The war brought
good fortune to hor as conspiouously as II
which she was wronched West Virginia Is to
be congratulated, and her credit
able career and untiring enterprise since
she assumed the responsibilities OF self.goy.
ernmcnt show how we'll she deserved tho
boon. But the wounds inflicted on the mother
state by her separation will never be healed
until Virginia Is relieved from the Odium OF
having been specially selected from the eleven
Mt once against her prosperity and against her
pride of empire
Nor should It be forgotten that the state of
Virginia before the war might well be regarded
as the creditor and not the debtor of the ma
tional government. One of her earliest acts of
patriotism rs an independent state was the ces-
sion to tho general government OF her superb
domain on the north side OF the Ohio river
from the sale of which more than sl00,000,0 900
have been paid into the national treasury. A
suggestive contrast Is presented to-day between
I3e condition Of Virginia and the condition OF
dlsunonlsm of the two latter states which
aided powerfully In dragging Virginia
int TG6ell9n Rgl for The urgency q the seven
| aud Florida were numbered, Virginia loyalists
would have been able to hold their state firm
| in her national allegiance. Since the war
Texas has travelled the highway TO wealth and
power, founded on the ownership of her pub
| lie lands, of which the national government
could have deprived her with as little din.
| nulry MS was found in dividing Virginia.
| Florida has likewise enjoyed general pros
, perity and secured rapid development from
the resources of land which the national gov
ernment had generously given her before the
| war ana of which she was not deprived for her
acts ofrcbellion. Truo-hearted Americans re-
Ioice in the prosperity Of these states which
adorn the southern border of the republic, but
they cannot holp seeing, and seeing with re,
| gret, how differently the ancient common
| wealth of Virginia has Jared at the hands OF
| the national government.
| If the hurt of Virginia were OF general
character, which could not bo specified, her
| case might be passed over with the plea oi
| ddmnum dbsqne injurtd. But, unfortunately
or IL may be fortunately-the detriment to her
public credit can be stated with substantial
| precision, and can be traced directly to her
despoilment. That took from her the power
| 10 pay her debt. II the harm resulting there
| from were confined to the state and to the
holders of her securities the national govern
ment might the more easily disregard the
| equities of the case. But Virginia. embarrass
| ment is OF widespread concern, and injuriously
| affects the public credit of other states. MOI
| can 1t be said that the precedent OF aiding Vir
| gina 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 government shall strip the state
| Of large and valuable part of her territory
and thus take from her the ability to meet hei
| obligations. The precedent might then bt
quoted, and should be unhestatingly fol
| lowed. In the formal and necessarily allstert
administration of public affairs there Is little
room for the Interpolation of sentiment. Yet
sentiment has its place. We stimulate the
ardor of patriotism by tho mere display OF a
flag, which has no material force. but which
| is emblematlc of all material force aud
| typifes the glory of the nation. We stil
| the ambition OF the living by rearing
costly monuments to the heroic dead
| II may surely be pardoned II Ameri
cans shall feel deep personal interes
in the good name and good fortune Of stat,
so closely identified with the early renown o
| the republic-a state with whose soil is min
gled the dust Of those to whom all states anC
all generations are debtors-the father of hi
country, the author of the declaration OF in
dependence, the chief protector OF the ma
tional constitution.