West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1893-12-14

Such being the case, the inquiry
under the ordinance and consutu.
tional enactments Hereunder is
What was the bonded debt of Vir.
ginia prior to January, 1861, how
much was contributed by the coun-
ties now composing West virinia.
and how much was expended within
the limits Of tho territory of West
Virginia /?
The funded debt of Virginia on
January the lst, 1861. was s3l, 77S,-
S67.32. The amount contributed
by West Virginia after deduct,ng
her proportion of the expense of
the State Government was 80, ,s92, !.
10000. The expenditures within
West Virginia from 1922 (Which
date Of first issue of bonds in Vir-
ginia) to January 1st, 1861, was
80, 1866, ,929.29. Leaving surplus Of
contribution over expenditures Of
1925, ,070.7l.
Thus it is seen that according to
the Ordinance prescribing the con-
ditlons of settlement between Vir-
ginia and West Virginia, that West
Virginia is not indebted to Virginia
but on the contrary, West Virgin
las contribution is more than one
half million dollars in excess of the
expenditures within her limits.
This statement of the case is abso
lutely defensible at law, and ut the
same time perfectly just.
Such being the case, without any
regard to the fact OF the ordinance
settling the principles Of paymcnt,
and without regard to tEe fact that
about thirty millions of this debt
has been expended in Virginia,
making heI one Of the seats OF vast
commerce whilst Western Virginia
sat in the shade OF hor eternal for
csts and in the silence of her unde.
veloped mountains. Virginia IN
1871, assigned to West Virginia
one.third of her debt.
This action was IN the teeth OF
the Ordinance which provided that
the proportion of the debt to be as
suned by West Virginia under the
certain conditions therein above set
out should be that part prior to
January the first, 1861. The legis-
lature OF Virginia after compound
ding the debt several times, proper
toned it as Of July, 1871, making
the whole debt and interest s45,.
71S,l12.23, and set aside to West
Virginia SIS, 239. 370.7 which with
interest would make the colossal
sum of thirty five millions as West
Virginia's DEBT.
This was done without agreement
or settlement with West Virginia,
and, as you see, not alone was the
Ordinance absolutely governing the
settlement ignored, out the ordi-
nary and general rules of equity in
such cages were disregarded.
A plain statement without argu-
mentation will illustrate this posi-.
tion
In a settlement and division OF
any property by equity an assign
ment Of liability or property by
equity an assignments Of liability or
property based upon acreage and
population will not obtain. This
is what has been arbitrarily done
by Virginia. This whole debt was
created to build institutions, con.
struct railroads, canals, and turn
pixies. deepen harbors and improve
navigation. In other words this
expenditure was not for general
good. but rather for local benefit.
The bulk Of these improvements in
West Virginia arising from the ex.
pendi'ure Of public moneys consis-
ted Of one or two turnpike roads
and an iucom ptpfo Tuaono AsvIuuo
whilst Virgiuia was covered With
splendid turnpikes, crossed with
canals and railroads, With her har-
bors improved and navigable rivers
decpened, and millions Of the pub
lie funds we're lavished UPON her
public buildings and institutions.
Thon when the expenditure Of these
public moneys for these purposes
had caused grand cities 20 rise, and