Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-12-29
WE LOOK no THE PRESIDENT.

IT is TO be hoped President Mckinley
does not approve the course of the Trea-
sury officers in respect TO the claim pre-
scented by Governor Ty;er.
At present Virginia is put In the posi-
ton Of a debtor whose assets have been
attached. How outrageous, ungrateful,
and unjustifable this conduct is can best
be understood by those who are familiar
with the fact that of old, time and again,
Virginia freely lent her money and credit
10 the General Government. When these
United States were weak and poor this
Commonwealth frequently came to their
assistance.
Thus Virginia made great advances in
Abe war OF 1872 and, later for the cree
lion of the Federal buildings at Wash
ipgton. And TO this day our claims,
though acknowledged to be just, have
never been satisfied. For decade after
decade the Federal Government has been
indebted TO us in the sum OF hundreds of
thousands of dollars. and little has been
said shout 1t. but now when there is a
question of a little over 5000 due us the
sures TO enforce payment.
Instead of our being treated as a sol
vent and honest people. instead of our
being thanked for equippng and hurry
ing our regiments to the front, money due
US has been attached, as st were. In
short, this old State has been subjected
10 a sort of garnishee process. We are
1,r,r
Of the Union, but as a foreign State which
the United States distrusts And that,
too. when a correct statement Of the ac-
counts between US would show not that
Virginia owes the United States. bN that
the United States owe u.s.
It was at the request of the President
himself that Governor Tyler caused sup
plies Of clothing to be bought for our
troops at u time when the General Gov
eminent was unable to furnish them.
Comfortably with the arrangement be-
tween the Governor and the authorities
at Washington the bills in question We're
made out by the merchants against the
government. But in that shape they were
rejected at Washington. 1t was ruled that
they must be made out in the name OF
the State. There was no fund specially
applicable 10 such a purpose as this and
the legislature was not in session. There
fore. the Governor could 90 nothing else
but draw upon his contingent fund and
settle the bills. That he did. And now he
asks 10 be reimbursed.
The Governors contingent fund is very
small, anG its existence is necessary 10
the welfare Of the State Government yet
he sacrificed much OF it TO accommodate
the General Government
In view Of all these circumstances, espe-
cialiy IN view of the Presidents request
made in person TO the Governor. it is in
excusable that the Washington auShori-
ties should withhold this payment and
gibbet us as defaulters.
II IS true. as we have often said, that
the United States holds five or six hun
dred thousand dollars. face value, Of bonds
OF the old state Of Virginia In trust for
the Indian trust fund, but II is equally
true that the Federal Government is in
oebted 90 us In much larger sum than
that
Ii Governor Tyler Is 20 wait until the
accounts in question are squared he may
have 10 wait many. many years. for while
we are now and have been always ready
10 act, Congress is slow. And one of the
new questions that may be raised Is as
20 the creation OF the State Of West Nir-
ginia, and the part OF the old States
assets and liabilities that should be get
down TO her.
We hope the departmental officers who
have passed upon the Governors claim
are guiltiess Of any sinister design. bat,
at the least, they have taken a very I'M
terminate position. Hereafter when the