Evening star., 1915-07-11
DEBT CONTROVERSY 'WAGED
BY STATES A HALF CENTURY,

their allegiance to the United States
These steps were taken before the
voters of Virginia had ratified the Sc
cess1On ordinance adopted. by the con-
vention. There was no doubt but that
the majority of the voters would ratify
-
After the publication of the ordinance
or secession and other steps taken by
the virginia authorities under war
rant OF the convention, the citizens of
virginia then living within the present
boundaries of West Virginia Instituted
movement to restore the govern
mental relations of Virginia to the
United States. The people of northwest
Virginia called a convention, known as
Journing on the 10Th of May 1t adopt
ed resolution That in the event of
the ordinance Of secession being rati-
hed by vote, we recommend to the
people or the counties here represented
and all others disposed to cooperate
with US to appoint on the 4th day of
June, 1861. delegates to a general con-
Ventfon to meet on the 11th of that
month at such place as may be desig-
mated by the committee hereinafter
provided, to devise such measures and
to take such action as the safety and
welfare of the people they represent
may demand. each county to appoint a
number OF representatives to said con- =
vention equal to double the number to
which 1t will be entitled in the next
house of delegates to be elected on the
2Sd instant by the counties referred to,
to the next general assembly of Vir-
ginia. and who concur in the views of
this convention, to be entitled to seats
in the convention as members thereof. -
The second convention of the people
of northwestern Virginia adopted an
ordinance for the reorganization of the
state government of Virginia. 1t ad-
5ourned to meet on the first Tuesday in
August. 1861. in the city Of Wheeling.
1851. and provided by ordinance Tor
the formation Of new state out of the
territory now constituting West Vir-
ginia and for the call of a convention.
to which delegates should be elected,
for the formation of a constitution for
the new state. That convention as
sembled November rs, 1861, and ad-
journed February 1s, 1862. A schedule
was attached to this proposed constitu-
tion providing for an election to take
the sense OF the people on the question
OF ratification. The election was held
April 8. 1852. and the constitution was
ratified. May 13. 1852. the general as
sembly Of Virginia. according to the
brief Of West Virginia IN this great
case, passed an act giving the assent
Of Virginia to the formation and erec-
tion Of the proposed new state, and
April 20. 1853, a proclamation was
made by the President of the United
States reciting the act of Congress ap-
proved December 81, 1852, by which the
state of West Virginia was declared to
be one Of the United States of America.
The constitution Of the new state, or
the then proposed state. which the peo-
pie of northwestern Virginia ratified in
April, 1862. contained this:
AN equitable proportion Of the pub
lie debt Of the commonwealth of Vir-
ginia prior to the first day Of January
In the year one thousand eight hundred
and sixty-one. shall be assumed by this
state. and the legislature shall ascer-
tain the same as soon as may be prac-
ticable. and provide for the liquidation
thereof. by sinking fund suficient to
pay the accrutng interest and redeem
the principal within thirty-four years"
Between the years 1855 and 1872 at
tempts were made at different times by
the public authorities Of both Virginia
and West Virginia to ascertain their
contributive proportions of the com
mon liability for the Virginia public
debt. but all such attempts were in
effectual.
From the close of the civil war the
dispute between Virginia and her or
spring. West Virginia, has gone or in
one phase or another. until it became
perhaps the most celebrated Of Ameri-
can legal controversies.