Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1915-08-26
The Way Out.

are few authorities whose opinion
we value more highly than that
of the Poet-Editor of the ST.
Mary's Oracle-takes issue with
us on the Virginia Debt" situa-7
ton, claiming that the recent
decree of the Supreme Court is
not verdict.
What else it may be we are at
a layman's loss to understand,
since that august tribunal has,
without circumlocution, given us
to understand that if we under
take to resist its order, way will
be found to enforce it.
If we had at the outset, denied
the jurisdiction of the Court to
pass in judgement on the case, on
ground that the Federal Courts
could not nullify the Constitution
Of a sovereign state, whether such
contention be tenable orsnot, then
the question OF States rights
would have been squarely brought
up.
But since we joined issue with
Virginia in the Supreme Court
and by every legal means our
counsel could evolve, endeavored
to combat her claims, it would
look as if, because we were the
losers, we wanted to "renege."
If the opinion of the Court had
been favorable to us would not
West Virginia have stood on it
as a final and conclusive DISPOSE
tion of the controversy
A vast amount of misinforma-
ton has existed as to the matter
and many an honest West Vir-
gilman has been misled thereby.
When we remember that during
our first term in the Senate we
offered a resolution to the effect
that the State owed no debt and
would refuse to consider the sub
ject, we can easily understand
how those who have not had oc-
casion, in line with their legisla-
tive duties or otherwise, to study
the case from its inception, could
easily be misled.
We did not then know these
facts.
When in 1871 West Virginia
by Commissioners duly appointed
tried in Richmond to ascertain
from Virginia the exact status
of the account, as required under
the terms of our constitution, the
Virginia authorities did not, as
. has been SO often alleged SLAM
the door in their faces" and re.
fuse to meet us in an amicable
effort of settlement.
Governor Walker informed oul
Commission that the authority
the Legislature of Virginia had
given him had expired by limita'
ton.
Thereupon the Commission pro
ceeded to gather all information
available from the Virginia
archives to which they could gee
access, which process was greatly
facilitated by the fact that iona
than Bennett, one of Our Com
rnissioners, had been Virginia ;:
State Auditor before the separa
ton, and was therefore familiar
with the fiscal affairs of the OLE
State.
The finding of our Commission
reported to the Legislature, wa
that we owed Virginia about !;
million dollars.
Then something happened
which has done more. to obscur,
the issue and mislead homes
West Virginians than any on
other occurrence in the history Q
the case.
In 1873 a report emanated from
the Senate Finance COMMITTEE
that. after investigation, it wa
found that not only did we ow
nothing to Virginia but tina
Virginia owed us the sum o
about half million dollars.
From that time on most Yves
Virginians believed that thi
report" was made in good faitl
and represented the true statu
of the account.
In fact however-and we baS
the statement on information de
rived from some of the Eide
statesmen" who are conversan
with the history of that time an,
the true inwardness of things
the report was issued, NOT as
result of any investigation. blu