The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1914-07-09


portion OF the Democratic press of NV
district I'm reference to the action oil
my predecessor, Hon. j. NJ Hamilton.
In regard To this debt While the case
was pending in the Supreme Court.
Where II still Ponds, and before tina;
Court had rendered any Judgment
against West Virginia, which il has
not yet done, Mr.. Hamilton introduced
n resolution I'm Congress which showed
on Its face that the owing Of such a
debt was recognized"
You Will observe that this gentle.
man not only takes advantage of his
position as a member of Congress 10
speak against private citizen OF his
district, but that he misstates the case
In material point. and plainly en-.
oeavors to leave impression that my
resolution was offered before the
opinion OF the Supreme Court fix.
ing the amount of West Virginia 5
share of the liability was rendered
l nave heretofore stated that that
opinion was pronounced, published
and circulated throughout this state
weeks before | had even been a
member OF Congress, and long before
the resolution referred to was intro
duced. Nor did | by that resolution.
or otherwise, then or at any other
time, acknowledge the business of
the debt, but on the contrary had
claimed from the year 1910, down to
and including the date of the reso-
luton, and after that time, and still
do claim with James G.. Blaine, that
West Virginia is neither morally or
legally bound for one dollar of that
money. Judge Moss did not i'm that
speech refer to a fact, which he well
knew, that / had been for more than
a year, as member of the Commits.
sion appointed by the Governor. en-
ueaVoring with what slight ability
possess, to get that opinion re-opened
so that certain credits, claimed by
THIS state, might be allowed in reduc-
ton OF the amount found And |
now state that at the very hour he
was speaking. the Chief Justice of
the United States was preparing an
opinion, handed down a day or two
later, which operates to reopen the
matter, and allow us to file credits
amounting to more than four millions
or dollars. In this speech the Judge
seems to indicate that i'm his belief
the state was in no particular danger
Wnen my resolution was introduced
precisely the same state of affairs ex-
listed when | introduced that reso-
luton as existed down to the time of
the rendition OF this last opinion on
the 9Th of the present month. | take
II that the Governor of West Virginia
who has been faithfully laboring with
this Commission, and even when the
commission was not In session to ge'
this matter re-opened, and the able
counsel of the Commission, two of
them residing in the Judges own city.
and the Commission itself headed by
an able 1urist, Will not be greatly
eiated when they find that all this time
they have been fighting what Judge
Moss will have you to believe to be a
myth.
Originated An Assault.
In the making Of that speech the
Judge seems to have ignored me ne
ale OF his constituents had the
risht 10 expect that my Congressman
would, ii eed should arise. defend
me from attack, rather than origin.
ate himself an assault against me.
He says the introduction OF the reso-
luton was decided mistake TO-
which he attempts TO give his reason
They are the same in substance as
those which ! have already answered
as coming from the news paper and
viii not now repeat them | Will,
however, say that If that resolution
was defect e either as to form or
substance, it was the solemn duty Of
the Judge 20 prepare and Introduce
better che, and he neglected to
perform his duties as We'll aa his
premise IN falling so 10 do Re had
sQiemnly told the people Ct this dis.
trict that in the evOnt q. his election
he would We attention q that very
matter; lie was under no obligations
To criticize the Supposed mistakes OF
his predecessor and certainly much
less to impugn In the manner which
he did. the only effort eve: made ian
Congress to relieve the people i. Om
the situation confronting them. lie
criticized the speech which / made
pnan this resolution. fursetiul. 10
doubt. OF the existence Of letter
which now take lreat pleasure I'm
reading 20 ynu The Judges commen-
dationa gre az acceptable 90 me as his
criticisms are Oijactlla.,s
'IafHerslurg w. Va.
May s. 1912.
Hon. John NJ. lia-Lton,
House of Representatives,
Washington. ID c.
Dear Mr. Hamilton:
II desire TO thank gen for a copy
lf your speech ON the Vir-ina Debt
question. and to CorEl u.ate YOU
upon same. had previously read tho
speech iu the nCHsD.p r here and
was impress td w.l tie force OF the
argument hope ID WIZ bear GOOD
fruit
with kind regards, / ROMAN.
Yours sincerely.
"HUNrEN II MOSS. Jr"