The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1912-04-25
If Any Part West Virginia
Owes as An Actual
War Claim.
MAKES HIS SPEECH
Before the House Committee
on Judiciary on the
Subject.

A'ongreHsMap Jonn VI. Hamilton to
day spoke for more than an hour
before the House committee on ju-
dietary in support OF his resolution
prividing that the United States
shall pay any portion of the debt OF
Virginia for which West Virginia
may be held liable. Mr.. Hamilton
bases his resolution upon the prop
osition that the formation of West
Virginia was war measure accom-
plished for thu benefit of the United
States, West Virginia being in ef-
feet conquered territory; and the
further proposition that the United
States government has invariably
paid for all territory acquired
either in war or peace and has as
sumed the debts and obligations OF
all territories so acquired.
1t was expected that Judge Thorn
as I. stealey. OF Petersburg, would
be present at the hearing to testify
from his personal recollection as to
what transpired at the time West
Virginia was created. But. Judge
stealey is combined to his bed and
was unable to be at the hearing.
He wrote Mrt Hamilton, however,
explaining his absence and saying:
''Aiy personal familiarity with
the steps taken for the formation or
the state. andfth reasons that led
TO its admission, leave in my mind
no question as to the correctness OF
your position hat it was a war
measure. whileymy faith in your sue
cessfully securl Ing for West Virginia
this act of ID stice prompts me to
readiness to rknder all possible as
sistance."
Mr.. Hamnton's speech was a COM
lprehensive review of the events lead
ing up to and connected with the
formation OF West Virginia during
the Civil war and Of the events con-
nected with the purchase or other
acquisition OF territory by the
United States. 1t showed great re-
search and familiarity of history on
the part of Mr.. Hamilton and proved
very instructive and interesting even
to those who had no interest in the
relations between Virginia and
West Virginia.
Mr.. Hamilton asserted that 1t will
not be seriously contended by any
one that there was any warrant in
the constitution of the United States
or the state of Virginia for the
formation of the new state. He held
that West Virginia was created en-
tirely as a matter of necessity and
for the Strengthening of the Union
cause in the Civil war, and not by
any constitutional or legal right.
Mr.. Hamilton went fully into the
history OF the formation Of the state.
the events leading up to it, the
debates in Congress upon the subject
and the attitude of the most promi-
nent men in public life at that time.
He showed that the so-calied RE
stored Government OF Virginia, :"
which gave its consent to the for
nation of West Virginia, was not
the real state OF Virginia and that
les than one-hasf of the voting
strenth Of West Virginia at that
time voted in favor OF the admission
of the new state.
Mr.. Hamilton showed from the
records OF the proceedings of Con-
gress that when the bill admitting
West Virginia came up for consider
alton it was opposed and declared
to be unconstitutional by many OF
the ablest representatives in Con-
gress, among whom were Mr.. Con-
way, of Kansas; Mr.. Crittenden, OF
Kentucky; Mr.. Dawes, OF sfassachu-
setts; and Roscoe Conkling. Of New
lCrE. Ihaddeus stevens, at that
time chairman OF the ways and
means committee and majority
leader of the House, supported the
hill. Mr.. Hamilton quoted a portion
of his speech advocating the passage
OF the bill. in which he said: Il
do not desire to be understood as
being deiuded by the idea that we
are admitting this state in pursuance
OF any provision Of the constitution.
l find no such provision which JUS
titles It." Again he said 1T Is but
mockery in my Judgment to tell me
that the legislature of Virginia has
ever consented to this division"
He closed his address by saying.
= say then that We may admit
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