National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1885-04-25

MR.. BLAINE's EXHAUSTIVE REVIEW.
The matter is discussed at length in
Hon. j. q. Blaine's Twenty Years Of
Congress-" The following is reproduced
from Mr. Blaine's second volume, pages
466 to 46S:
To the old state of Virginia the blow was
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 Il punitive measure. for the
christening OF Virginia, 1t cannot be defended.
Assuredly there was no ground for distressing
Virginia by penal enactments that did not
apply equally to every other state of the con
federacy. Common justice revolts at the So
lection Of one man for punishment from
eleven who have all been guilty of the same
ofiense. If 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 gen
erously made by the national government 10
many OF the states in rebellion. But Texas
was allowed 10 emerge from the contest with
out the forfeiture OF an acre, aud Congress SO
far from withdrawing the land grants by
which other southern states were TO be en-
riched, took pains TO renew them In the years
succeeding the war. Tho anatomy of Virginia
alone was disturbed. 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. Yir-
glnia owed large debt, held In great part by
lOJnl ClllEtnb Oh lnG nOftn unu Dy huDlOrtS oil
foreign countries. The burden was already as
heavy rs she could bear in her entirety and
dismemberment so crippled her that she could
not meet her obligations; The United States
might well have relieved Virginia, aud have
done Justice 10 her creditors BY making some
allowance for the division OF her territory.
| Regarding her only as entitled TO the rights
| Of public enemy so long as she waTred upon
| the Union, we may confidently maintain that
she Is entitled at least 10 AS Just and maguani-
nous treatment as tho national government
extends TO a foreign foe. In our war with
Mexico 1t became our Interest to acquire
| large part Of the territory owned by that re-
public. We had conquered her armies aud
were in possession OF her capital, She
was helpless, 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 negotiated, therefore, for the
| territory needed, and paid for II larger price
than would have been glvon BY any other ma.
| ton in the world. The American government
| went still further. Many of our citizens held
! largo claims against Mexico, and the failure
precipiiaied hostilitics. Our government, in
| addition 10 tho money consideration OF fifteen
millions Of dollars which we paid for terri.
| tory agreed 10 exOnerate Mexico from ali de.
| mands of our citizens, And TO pay them from
\ our own treasury. This supplementary agree
mont cost the national treasury nearly four
million dollars.
| IL the United States were willing 10 place
| mously placed Mexico after tho conquest of
| that republic sufficient allowance would be
| made TO hor to compensate ut least for that
| part of her public debt which might presump-
| lively be represented By the territory taken
| from her, lit be said IN answer to such sug-
gesIion that 1t would be fairer for West Virginia
TO assume the proportional obligation thiisindl.
Gated, the prompt rejOlnder isthat IN equity her
people are not held TO such obligation. The
public improvements for which the debt was
| In large part incurred had not been go far com
l'ploted as 10 benefit West Virginia when the
| civil war rbegan--lheir advantages being mainly
| confined to the tidewAter aud Piedmont sec.
lions of tho state There is Indeed neither
| moral nor legal responsibility resting upon
West Virginia for any part OF tho debt OF the
old stats,
In determining the relative obligations OF
the national government and Of the govern
| ment or West Virginia concerning the debt, IL
| Is OF the urst importance 20 remember that the
new state was not primarily organized and ad-
\ mlIied 70 tho Union for tho benefit OF her own
people, but In far larger degree for the benefit
| of tho people OF tho whole Union The organic
law Would not have beon strained, legal
| ilction8 would not have been invented, contra
| dlotOry theories would not have been indulged,
| iia great national Interest had not demanded
the creation oil West Virginia. II II had not
| been apparent that the organization OF West
J. Virginia was an ADVANTAGE TO tho legal leause--