Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1912-01-23
Hon. J. Hop " Gods on the Virginia
Debt.
Hon. ]. Hop Woods, of Philippi,
writes a strong letter to the Wheeling
Register as follows.


Hon. ]. Hop Woods, of Philippi,
writes strong letter to the Wheeling
Register, as follows.
Sir:-Ihe acute condition oil the s,uit
of Virginia vs.. West Virginia. as dis
closed by the opinion of the supreme
court, just delivered, upon the motion
of Virginia for judgment ought. it seems
to me. to set West Virginians to serious
thinking.
1t is idle to speculate upon what the
supreme court can or cannot do, to
enforce any decree it may cutter, if any
in behalf of Virginia against West Vir-
ginia. sovereign state. 1t should be
remembered that in disDosirg of the
demurrer the court in sub~ttnce stated
that the suit not TO be de alt with as
an ordinary suit between personal
| litigants. If this be true it may be of
little credit to West Virginia even
admitting the legal inabilityof the court,
as il ordinances. to enforce its decree,
to have herself held up to public gaze as
contemptuous litigaut and repudia-
ZIONIST. Besides, suppose. while we are
in the realm Of speculation that the SUI
preme court should there after refuse to
hear West Virginia asa litigant. or under
Section ", of Article ", of the
constitution, Congress should refuse to
guarantee to West Virginia, '.republi-
can form of government, " how could she
complain in that court?
Speculation but leads into labyrinth
of CONT slon and controversy, Itshou.d
not be INDUCED in. especially SO near the
day of Judgment. Nor should imputa-
ton as to want of disposition or integri-
ty IN the executive department be made.
Some, though not all, of the skill and
acumen of the profession, lies outside of
the Attorney Generals Office aud his as
sociates, bnt it may fairly be presumed
that they are equal to the occasion, it is
not criticism that should be made, but
ready assistance that should be rendered.
Why not, IN advance of legislation year
hence. and before political conditions
make men skurry for advantage. have the
" Board of Public Works" which, with
Others, is composed of the Governor and
Attorney General, convene and author
ize the Governor and Attorney General
TO call IN council, at public expeuee, say
three representative Republicans and
three representative Democrats, of we'll
known ability, experience and conserva-
tism, who. together with the governor
and attorney general. shall be called the
Debt Commission or other suitable
name, have power to act, and together
formulate, with VIrginia's attorneys OF
representatives i'll the suit, a decree. to
be entered by consent? 1t must come to
this in the end. if not worse,
Can anyone doubt that if such COM
mission were formed, its action reported
to the Legislature at the next regular, or
at an extraordinary session, that its re
port would not be approved and the com
mission paid? Especially if the commits
sion, embracing the governor and at
torney general and such men, for in
stance, as Hon. John w. Mason, of Fair
mont, Hon. George E. Price of Charles
ton, Hon, John ]. Davis, of Clarksburg
hon. Joseph M. Sanders. of Bluefeld,
Hon. John I. McGraw, of Grafton, and
Hon. Reese Blizzard, of Petersburg,
were selected
Let no man suppose that inaction will |
transfer responsibility, or avert justice
When this load tails. it will fall on all |
alike, Let us be up and doing. The
Philistines are upon u.s."
]. HOP. WooDs.