Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1815-02-02


was anaihiated. Embargoes. restrictions.
and the rapacity OF revenue officers, had
completed its destruction The various OBJ
jects for the employment Of productive la
Dor, in the branches Of business dependent
on commerce have disappeared The fish
cries have shared its fate Manufactures.
which government has protested an inten-
ton to favor and 20 cherish, as an indemni-
~ for the failure of these branches Of bust
ness arc doomed TO struggle in their in
fancy with taxes and distractions, which
cannot fail most seriously to affect their
growth. TIE specie is withdrawn from cir
culation The landed interest, the last to-
feel these burdens, must prepare to be-
come their principal support, as all other
sources of revenue must be exhausted. In
der these circumstances, taxes, of des-
cription and amount unprecedented in this
country, are in train of imposition, the
burden of which must fall with the heavi.
est pressure upon the States east of The po-
tomac. The amount of these taxes for tho
ensuing year, cannot be estimated at less
than five millions of dollars upon the New
England States, and the expenses Of the
last year for defence, in Massachusetts a.
lone, approaches to one million OF dollars.
From these facts, it is almost superiiuous
to state the irresistible inference that these
Stat es have no capacity of dcfra wing tho
expense requisite for their own protection,
and at the same time, of discharging tho
demands of the national treasury.
The last inquiry, what course of conduct
ought to be adopted by the aggrieved
States, is in high degree momentous--
When great and brave people shall feel
themselves deserted by their government,
and reduced to the necessity either of SUBJ
mission to foreign enemy, or ofappropri-
ating to their own use, those means of de-
fence which are indispensable to selfpre-
servation, they cannot consent to wait pas
sivc spectators ofapproaching ruin, which it
is in their power to avert, and to resign the
last remnant of their industrious earnings,
to be dissipated in support of measures des-
tructive OF the best interests of the nation
This convention will not trust themselves
TO express their conviction OF the catastre-
phe to which such state of things iucyfsa-
bly, tends Conscious Of their high respon-
sibility to God and their country, solicit
Gus for the continuance of the Union, as
well as the sovereignty of the states, unwil-
ling to furnish obstacles to peace--rcsolute
never to submit to foreign enemy, and
| confding in the Divine care and protection,
they will, until the last hope shall be ex-
! tingushed endeayor to avert such conse-
| quences,
| With this view they suggest an arrange.
ment which may at once be consistent
with the honor and interest of the national
government, and the security Of these
states. This it viii not be difficult to con
clude, if that government should be so dis
posed BY the terms of it these states
might be allowed to assume their own de-
fence By the militia or other troops. A
reasonable portion, also, of the taxes raised
in each state, might be paid into its trea-
sury. and credited to the United States,
but to be appropriated to the defence Of
such state, to be accounted for with the
| u. States. No doubt is entertained that
! by such an arrangement, this portion OF
| the country could be defended with great
| effect. and in a mode more consistent with
economy, and the public convenience, than
am which has been practised.
Should an application for these purposes,
made to Congress by the State Legislature,
be attended with success, and should peace
1 upon Just tefu,c a appear W Dc ENTHUSIASTICALLY
the people would stand together for the
common defence, until change Of admin
istration, or of disposition in the enemy.
should facilitate the occurrence of that
suspicious event. 1t would be inespedient
for this Convention to diminish the hope
of a successful issue to such an application,
by recommending upon superstition of .
contrary event, Interior proceedings. Nor
is it indeed within their province in . state
of things SO solemn and trying as may then.
| arise the Legislatures of the states, or
conventions of the whole people, or dele
gates appointed by them for the express
purpose in another convention, must act as
such urgent circumstances may then re-
| quire.
But the duty incumbent on this conven-
ton will not have been performed without
exhibiting some general view of such
measures as they deem essential to secure
| a. .s..:,,,, .aa5vcf ralance intn difficulties