f the Union was aided by the addition
of another loyal commonwealth, and substantial justice was done to
the brave people of the new State who by their loyalty had earned
the right to be freed from the domination which had fretted them
and from the association which was uncongenial to them.

To the old State of Virginia the blow was a heavy one. In the
years following the war it added seriously to her financial
embarrassment, and it has in many ways obstructed her prosperity.
As a punitive measure, for the chastening of Virginia, it cannot
be defended. Assuredly there was no ground for distressing Virginia
by penal enactments that did not apply equally to every other State
of the Confederacy. Common justice revolts at the selection of
one man for punishment from eleven who have all been guilty of the
same offense. If punishment had been designed there was equal
reason for stripping Texas of her vast domain and for withdrawing
the numerous land grants which had been generously made by the
National Government to many of the States in rebellion. But Texas
was allowed to emerge from the contest without the forfeiture of
an acre, and Congress, so far from withdrawing the land grants by
which other Southern States were to be enriched, took pains to
renew them in the years succeeding the war. The autonomy of Virginia
alone was disturbed. Upon Virginia alone fell the penalty, which
if due to any was due to all.

THE PUBLIC DEBT OF VIRGINIA.

Another consideration is of great weight. An innocent third party
was involved. Virginia owed a large debt, held in great part by
loyal citizens of the North and by subjects of foreign countries.
The burden was already as heavy as she could bear in her entirety,
and dismemberment so crippled her that she could not meet her
obligations. The United States might well have relieved Virginia
and have done justice to her creditors by making some allowance
for the division of her territory. Regarding her only as entitled
to the rights of a public enemy so long as she warred upon the
Union, we may confidently maintain that she is entitled at least
to as just and magnanimous treatment as the National Government
extends to a foreign foe. In our war with Mexico it became our
interest to acquire a large part of the territory owned by that
republic. We had conquered her armies and were in possession of
her capital. She was helpless in ou