Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1886-06-26
FROM WASHINGTON.
rspesisl Correspondence of the Ae1a. GAZETTE
WASHINGTON. D. c., June 26, 1856.

1
development of the mining and manulac'
|uring interests of Virginia, made an able
and Interesting argument before sub.com-
mittee of the House judiciary committee
this morning in favor of tho appointment OF
q Congressional committee to enquire lnto
the relation, if any, that exists between the
federal Government and Virginia respect
ING the public debt Of the latter. MT. Far
sons argument rested chiefly upon the toi-
lowing points: That the Government di'
yided the State for war purposes; that tne
debit was due to foreign and Union creditors;
that the division of the State destroy ed one
third of the taxable valuation of the State;
that when the State was divided it was with
the provision that West Virginia should as
sume its share of the debt; that this provis-
ion can not be ayailed of because there IS
no court to hear and no power to enforce,
and it can be repealed by West Virginia;
that the debt was contracted for WORKS OF
internal Improvement, which are now val
ueless to the creditors; that Virginia has
maid on works of internal improvement and
interest seventy millions of dollars, and that
since the war she has paid ss interest on
her debt fifteen millions. In conclusion
Col Parsons said if Congress should reject
this appeal for right, it would be proper for
Virginia to appeal to the whole financial
world and ask division of condemnation
The Colonel's argument will be printed by
order of the committee. Congressman Bra
DIV was present and attempted to bring par
tisanism into the case by asking that Gov.
Lees letter on the coupon question DC put
on record. Mr.. Tucker, as chairman OF the
committee, and hailing from Virginia, and
being democrat, felt natural delicacy in
Directing to Mr.. Brady's proposition, but
Mr.. Taylor, an Ohio republican, having no
such feeling, "sat down" heavily upon
General Mahone's captain, so that the rec
ord in the case will be clear of politics. MIR.
TAYLOR was much impressed with the argu.
ment, and from what he said it was implied
that he thinks tho Government is at least
responsible for portion of the debt. Mr..
Tucker told the GAZETTE's correspondent
there was more in Col. Parsons argument
than he had supposed there would be In IT,
so much that he intended to consult with
the other democrats in the delegation as TO
the ACCESSIBILITY of pushing the Colonel's re-
quest FOR committee Of enquiry at this ses'
sion Col. Parsons, with whom the GA
zETTE's correspondent also talked alter the
committee adjourned, said the amount OF
the bonds issued by Virginia under the act
of 1871 was larger, owing to the war ano
subsequent accumulated interest, even
with tho cne-third oil for West Virginia,
than the whole debt of 1861. He
also said that the claim of West Virginia
that she owed none of the debt because none
of the money was spent within her limits,
was groudless, and that in one case alone,
that of the C. & o. r. r., fifteen millions
had been spent for that State, and the whole
expenditure for the James River and
Kanawha Canal was for the benefit of West
Virginia. He also said that republican
member of tho Congressional committee
that framed the bill for the division of Vir-
pinia has told him that the Government
having injured the security upon which the
bonds of Virginia were issued is bound to
repair that injury.
An attempt was made in the House to-
day to amend the sundry civil bill by pro-
yiding for the redemption Of the trade dol
lar, but it was ruled out on point OF order.
Why similar point was not made on the
amendment providing for silver certificates
of small denominations can not be told.
When the bill for restoring General tltZ'
John Porter to his rank in the army was re-
turned from the Senate to the House this
morning it was Kissed on the republican,
but appauded on the dem ocratic side.
Heretofore the contract for supplying the
navy with tobacco has been almost invail-
ably given to New Workers, because the ex-
pert who made the award was from that
city. This year the expert was selected in
Baltimore; consequently, Richmond got her
share.
The House to-day adopted the conference
report on the bill giving tha employees in
the Government printing Office fifteen days
holiday every year, with full pay. MIR.
Reagan opposed it for the reason that he
does not think it right to pay people far
work they don't do. The conference re-
port on the bill providing that all the sub
sidzed railroads shall have their land grants
surveyed and patented SO as 70 be liable to
taxation was also adopted. Thu House
then resumed the consideration Of the sun
dry civil bill.
The House Committee to inquire as to
whether any ex-member Of the House had
abused the privileges of that body by acting
as agent for any bill before Congress, had
before them this morning Mr.. l.. d. NJ.
Sweat, an ex-member from Maine, who &C.
knowedged that he is interested in bills
before Congress, and has spoken to men,
bers in reference to those bills on The
floor Of the House. But still, Vie
said, he did not think he had abused his
privilege, though he is admitted to the
floor with the express understanding that
he is to do nothing of the kind.
The conference committee on tho question
of stopping expenditures on those portions
of the Potomac flats to which the Govern
menL's title is not clear, will inspect the flats
next Tuesday morning.
General Mahone's State committee Of
Virginia met in the room of the SEN
ate committee on public buildings and
grounds to-day, 10 receive instructions
from the General concerning his next
campaign, and to fix the time and place
for holding his congressional conventions.
Quite number of the committee, compris
ing some of his lieutenants from all parts Of
the State. we're present, but as the room
was locked on the inside and guarded on
the outside by colored man, mono of the
proceedings had transpired up to two
o'clock.
When the sundry civil bin was in committee,
Mr.. Cabell of Virginia, succeeded in having the
appropriation for spies and informers in the in