Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1886-02-18
from ne Winchester Times.
The West Ffrginia Certificate Blu.


Hunton is the ,nowledged attorney, hides
an inevitable q, -eQuence of disaster and
dishonor 10 the state beneath the speclous
DISCUSSES in which 1t Is dressed by ITS paid
advocate. We do not blame Gen. Hunton.
He Is simply attorney making the best
of a case IN ord, 20 earn fee paid by his
clients. but til resentatves OF the peo-
pie must be he., a stern accountability
whether they err through ignorance or III
tention. The syndicate holding the west
Virginia certificates have an attorney IN
the field, but who is to speak for the people
Every legislator is duty bound to be the at
torney for the people and to see to 1t that
the Commonwealth suffers no wrong. Es-
peciaily should the peoples guardians be
ivnx-eyed when q speculative syndicate de-
mands a favor, for verify though they often
come in sleeps clothing, inwardly they are
rayening wolves.
The proposition is to compel West Viz
cinia to a settlement by lnsttuting an ac-
lion in the Supreme Court of the United
States. The incentives held out as Undue
inr this action on the part of Virginia are
/. The certificate holders, or rathera part
of them. are to discharge Virginia Of any
charge or responsibility which may be last
ened upon her by q Supreme Court decision.
. That 1t will turn out that west VIZ
GINA owes Virginia something estimated
by am interested broker at Sl5,UOO,VUO.
g. The generous and yirtuous satisfaction
which must accrue TO the State IN making
West Virginia pay her debts
The smallest reflection on the subject
conyiuccs any fair man that this bill hides
a pitlall of inlamy aud woe to the state
which would make the funding bill OF II
seem patriotic and honest by comparison:
LIST. All of the certificate holders do not
release the State from liability. 1t the
state of Virginia should consent to such
an action in the Supreme Court with West
Virginia the action would be equivalent to
au action oil accounts bet yeen two partners.
The Cour. settles the obligations OF each
and one partner cannot say to the other,
''You pay your debt, but won't pay mine.
The Court would ascertain the proportion
of the obligations of each and IN accordance
with such ascertainment would bind each
partner by decree.
Such am action would therefore necesSi-
tate an inquiry into the whole debt Of Nir-
ginia. a commissioner would be appoint
ed bv the Court to ascertain the whole debt
of Virginia before the creation of West
Virginia. aud proceed according to a rule
already announced and hereinafter discuss
ed To- apporuon the indebtedness between
the States.
IL will be remembered that this Court is
hostile and parti,an-Jhat they have tram
pied upon every constitutional guarantee by
which che autonomy oi the States was in
tended t1 be preserved. Il need not be
doubted but that they will find means by
nice constructions and artificial distinctions
10 weave around Virginia the chains OF
their authority This Court would IN no
ease ascertain the share OF Virginia to be
less than the amount recited in the funding
bin of II for the Court has already held
that act binding and would therefore hold
Virginia to be estopped from claiming any
less amount. This would add more than
ten millions o. dollars TO the debt as ascer-
tanned by the Riddleberger bill.
But the Court could aud perhaps would
20 beyond that and run up the debt from
live % ten millions more, and after having
SD ascertained aud so decrecd trust the
Court for finding ways and means TO en-
force its DEGREES. We are. IN fine, asked 10
pat cur head IN the lions mouth for the
benefit OF few SPECTATORS Uod Ioroid
ID. Ii Is simply preposterous to claim
chat West Virginia owes us anything. She
owes us nothing, but the probability is that
ou settlement 10y the supreme Court we
would owe West Virginia sometnihg' an, ana
IL is very significant TACT 'na' 'he "eN
g7rgDi1 D.m0cr0i Jim Ma>0n's organ, in
siuuates that such may oe 'he case us a fta-
son why West Virginia shouia agree 10 'ue
action. Thus the friends OF the measure
de,uie irginia with tine nope that West
Virginia may be compelled To- pay her some
thing, and In Nest Virginia they claim
that the balance will oe The other way.
Tie plan of the appointment OF the debt
would be this: Virginia Is To- be charged
UIlu al tine dcot consumed WITHIN her zen.
rtory. She VIII also be- charged with 4Ii
,le taxes collected from tine counties now
comprising West Virginia and credited Win
"a fair proportion of the expenses OF Govern
meut In aud for those counties.
West Virginia will be charged with the
proportion %. the debt expended within her
territory aud her iair proportion OF govern
mental expenses and credited with The TAX
es paid bv her.
II is very easy 90 see then which state
will come out of the little end OF the horn.
Nearly all OF the pubic debt was expended
n Nl.glnlai V5ry il ne IN w est irSIn'"'
mucn less IMAM ole'''''I" o' IT, Poin@l.S'
Again, 1t is q dispu'5,0 question: VI ln'e.-
national law Whe'heI IiS'"'"' "' ."e pau
emit state, held by lue supreme court 10