Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1886-01-22

wAsulxoroS, Jan uary 10, 1885.

the SeVeral pdTttcS III iutCIcSt W oiihs
forward the question of pure right in
yolved in the debt matters, that il to
say the bonded debt, of Virginia and
West Virginia. It Is now plainly seen,
as the writer of these humble lines
placed before the public eye long ago,
that the act Of force whereby the terri.
tory now known rs West Virginia was
rent from the old State must be simply
paid for by somebody, and that the
somebody clearly must be the party
which exerted the force, and found, or
was presumed to find its interest in do
ing so. The portion of the old debt
about which would have
pertained to what is now West Virginia
the new State refuses to pay, upon sew
eral grounds indeed, but this one seems
to be sufficient that West Virginia rs a
State never contracted 1t, and that If
old Virginia chose to indulge herself in
the game of secession she must take :he
consequences and "pay the piper" The
actual disagreement was, however, the
act of the United States for national
purposes, and being so, the United States
is the party which should pay.
Judge William NJ. Merrick, of Mary
land, was Judge in our District Court
at the beginning of the war. He was
decidedly Southern in feeling and to
get rid of him the court was reorgan-
lied. Last year he was appointed to
fill vacancy caused by the retirement
of Judge Wiley, and is now on the
bench. Some Doubt is felt about his
confirmation by the Senate, and it would
seem justly, for party sentiment is pref
ty strong in that body. Judge Merrick
was holding judgeship in Maryland
at the time he sought his present posi-
ton, with the attendant risk of non-con-
tirmatiOn.
A run-mad proposition is put forward
in the State Legislature of New York to
grant a pension to every soldier and
sailor i'm the late war who was hOnorably
discharged.
Congress is to be applied to for an act
to permit the construction of railroad
bridge across the Kill-van Kull between
Staten Island and the main land of New
Jersey, AS that State is not willing. This
is is to afford way to New York bar
Dor to the b. 81 o. Railroad and other
railroad companies that may wish to
use the same.
Head-Sachem John Kelly is said by
his friends to be in no such unsanitary
condition as the newspapers have been
representing him.
Senator Edmunds, of Vermont, seems
to be greatly disgruntled with Mr..
Cleveland aud his administration. On
more than one or two occasions OF late
he has resorted to sneers, sarcasm and
bitter expressions generally, with no
apparent good reason. Yesterday the
fishery question was up in the Senate
and he found great deal of fault with
the President because of a temporary ar
rangement with the Canadian authori-
ties made In the recess of Congress last
summer. Mr.. E. is sometimes called
st. Jerome, from his supposed personal
likeness to that very able but crusty
and crabbed-tempered monk. He seems
disposed to carry the likeness all
through--except as to the monkery.
If we are to have tariff struggle this
Congress it will be hot and bitter.
On Thursday, the 2lst, the Queen is
booked TO open Parliament in person.
It is supposed the speech from the
throne will ask for repressive measures
against the imperious rule Of the Ma
tional League, which practically eclipses
the power of the Government. A mon
ster meeting was held yesterday in Bel
fast to protest against the sway of
"fiome Rule" and it is not to be doubt
ed that such meetings have great effect
in England, which will hardly hand
over the loyalists Of Ulster TO the tender
mercies of their inveterate religious and
political foes. TO all talk about repres-
sive measures through Parliamentary
enactments, the Home Rulers answer
"dynamite." But this brings the strug-
gle to very simple issue, and spirit
must be aroused that even the threat Of
dynamite will not suppress. Oh, that
the Southern Irish could but learn the
lesson SO admirably taught By the peo-
pie of our South!
We are having our own local or mu-
nicipal troubles. Our District Commits
sioners threw bom6shell last week
into the Board of School Trustees,
claiming their Qhe CommissionersO
right to choose the $50 teachers, jani-
tors. &C., of our public schools. This is
warmly contested, and Congress will
have to still the tempest. Our Commits
sioners certainly show a strong penchant
for all the power and patronage they
can lay hold upon. Our government
here is the reverse Of Republican or
Democratic.
The cold snap of last week carried our
thermometer lower than the REGISTER
tells of. We went down 10 s and even
10 below zero. Now it is raining.
Street DECENTRALIZATION is risky mat
ter. Numerous falls OH the glazed side
walks and streets with more or less Sc
rious consequences are reported.
Yours, sc. JADIs.