Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1886-01-29
virginia and West virginia.

When the United States government
created the State of West Virginia out
of the territory of the State of Virginia,
no provision was made for the payment
of any portion of the bonded indebted
ness of the latter. The act was consum-
mated while rhe great civil war was
raging. 1t was war measure to all in
tents and purposes-as much so as eman-
cipation--and utterly unjustifiable on
any other grounds.
When peace came and Virginia was
at length restored to her normal rela-
tions to the Federal Union, she found
herself fcarfully impoverished by the
long struggle and loaded with the old
debt, augmented by heavy arrearages of
interest. But while the ante.war debt
stared her in the face, large portion OF
the territory on which that debt was
lien has disappeared. The land was
gone-gone into the new State of West
virginia-and had not carried with it
any intention or legal obligation to pay
its share of the debt
Virginia, in her earlier and happier
DAYS, gave to the Union the lands out
of which the States of the great north
west-the most magnificent region on
which the sun shihes-have been crea-
ted. The Virginia of the old time was
magnificent commonwealth-bra pa
triotic, magnanimous. In going into
The war Of the rebellion she sinned no
more than other States-much less, in
fact, than some of them, for she was
dragged in against the wish Of a major
ity of her people. Nor should 1t be for
gotten i'm this connection that Virginia
bore a grand part in the war for the in
dependence of the colonies, and that she
contributed more than her quota of the
great men who shaped the destinies
Of the young republic. For all that this
nation enjoys to-day independence,
for the best known form of government,
for love of liberty, for detestation of
tyranny we are indebted to Virginia as
much AS to Massachusetts.
Why should Virginia be more severe
ly punished than South Carolina for the
part she bore in our national trouble
quarter century ago? Why should she,
without compensation, be despoiled of
a large portion of her territory? And
by what principle of equity could Con-
gress tear her in twain and leave one
part only to struggle with the debt of
the whole?
Virginia has decided that she will not
pay West Virginia's part of The debt.
There is no power to compel payment.
A State is sovereign in its own affairs.
But the whole debt ought to be paid,
and the power which tore West Vir-
ginia away from the Old Dominion is
morally bound to see that the claim OH
the soil thus disposed of is equtably adj
justed.
The country can afford justice to Vir-
ginia. 1t cannot afford injustice in any
case at any time. The government
ought to pay for the lands out of which
i. created the State of West Virginia.
At another time we shall present this
question more in detail, and accompa-
MED by good deal of pertinent histo-
rical information. Meantime we ask
the lawmakers in the capitol to exam
inc the subject with conscientious care.
One act of justice might right TWO or
three great wrongs.
Virginia has asked no reparatiOn Of
the great injustice inflicted upon her,
but has submitted in proud silence. Yet
her declination to demand that which is
right should not prevent Congress from
doing all that equity requires. National
Republican.