Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1907-08-09
The West virginia Debt.

! The Republican State Press of West
( Virginia smarting under public CEN
sure of the present State administra-
/ ton for the gross Encouragement, al
least, which has brought the people of
| the State face to face with debt, how
huge is yet to be determined, under
takes to criticise the Democratic posi-
tion on this vexed question in the past.
| The Legislative journals show that
early in the history of the State an eff
| fort was made in good faith to comply
with the terms Of the "Wheeling Ordi-
nan ce," and that subsequently, at least
one report was made showing that I'M
der its terms West Virginia was not Ii
| able.
1t is true that other accountings
would indicate different position, and
that the true one would appear to
hinge On the Interpretation of the Ian
guage of either the "Wheeling Ordi-
nance,u the State Constitution, or
both.
One phase of the question in the
pending newspaper discussion seems
to have been overlooked, and that is,
the obligation of the National Govern
ment to treat Virginia and West Vir-
ginia at least as well as she did Mexico
at the termination of the war with that
foreign power.
Ia recently published biography of
Henry A. Wise his position on this
| subject is defined as follows:
"Although he Favored the payment
of the old Virginia bonds, dollar for
dollar, Wise was probably the first to
recommend the petitioning of Congress
by the two States and their creditors,
to assume the debt of Virginia. The
/ Federal Government was, in fact, deep
ly in debt to Virginia, and in ceding
! the n Northwestern Territory-hers plen-
| did gift to the Union-she had stipu-
lated "that the necessary and reasons
BILE expenses incurred by this State in
subduing any British posts, or main
tanning forts or garrisons within and
for the defense, or in acquiring any
part of the territory SO ceded or relin-
pushed, shall be fully reimbursed by
the United States"
And in his history of the debt con-
roversy, Mr.. Roy all states in thi S con-
Injection.
"rhe United States Government ac-
cepted her grant with the express I'M
Outstanding that it would repay her
these expenses which would be very
large sum now"
Thejustice of Wiscs idea so COM
mended itself to Mr.. Blaine that he
subsequently became its earliest advo-
cate, land IN his Twenty Years of
Congress the latter has this to say on |
the beet.
"If the United States were willing |
to place Virginia on the basis on which |
they magapimouly placed Mexica af-
ter the conquest of that Republic, a
sufficient allowance would be made 10
her TO compensate at least for that part
of her public debt which might pre-
sumptivejy be represented by the ter
ritory taken from her. If it be said in
answer to lsuch suggestion that it
would be fairer for West Virginia tc
assume the proportional obligation
thus indicated, the prompt rejoinder
is that in equity her people are not
held in such obligation. The public |
Improvements for which the debt was
in large part incurred had not been SC
i far completed as to benefit West Viz
ginia when the civil war ,began-theiI
advantages being mainly confined to
| the Tide-W alter and Piedmont sections
of the State. There is indeed neither
moral nor legal responsibility resting
upon West Virginia for any part of the
oldiStale debt.
In determining the relative obliga
tions of the Nationa Government and
of the Government of West Virginia,
concerning the debt, it is of the iirsl
importance to remember that the new
State was notlorganized primarily and
admitted to the union for the benefit
of her own people, but in far larger de-
gree for the benefit of the people of tie
whole Union The organic law would
not have been strained, legal fictions
would not have beed invented, co, ira
dictory theories would mot have been
INDUCED, if great national interest
had not demanded the creation of West
Virginia. If it had not been apparent
thatthe organizati- of West Virgini