Winchester gazette. [volume] (Winchester, Va.) 18??-1826, 1822-09-21
gGe 8a5ette.
WINCHESTER.
SATURDAY., September 81, 1929.
lfuR. THE GAZETTE I
No. III.
TO THE PEOPLE oFvIRGlN1..


frepose confidence, few days since rematk-i
ed. ",hst tue structures in my last No. in r. 4
iation TO the representatives OF the nenp
are too general and illibersl."
II IS not my desire 10 incur the displea.
sure Of any Individual member of the l,egis.
lature--aor, TO Won nd the feelings fanny man
Of real merit. My ideas upon the subject
ere predIcsted wholly on the general pyinci
pie, that men are the creatures If the neres-
stiles under which they ire placed; ard that
sell interest, ?nd sell qualification is the
main spring and prime mover OF all our mo-
tives and actions. On what other p,incinIes
are we to account for the weakness and de-
praviiy of human nature? II, inGeed. our re.
representatives. are exempt irum the UNIVERSAL
fraiities OF human nature, them in truth the
censures thrown upon them in nv list No.
unmerited ard unjus': but when we re-,
bect that they are bu, men, subject TO all the
passions common to humanity, the conclusion
Is incontestsble thst they 100 nav he lei
from the paths of integrity and virtue, bv the
strong temptations of self interest and self,
qualification. l have lived long enough IN
become little acquainted with human cha,
rac'er, and have lonG since adopted the opin-
ion, that IL We wish 20 keep men honest we
r.ius,, &c r'iuch as practicable, keep ,empta,
ton out Of their way-"Lesd us not ;pt,
temptation, but deliver us from eyil.n Wa
the Wise and Pious prayer of him WHO WAS
perfection and truth ITSELF If this ne cor
rect doctrine, then, repeat, that The birb
wages our representatives receive. (a6d
which. by the by, they themselves have fixed
by their own vote,) in all human probability
may have powerful influence upon tbei,.
minds 10 remain 'caim and satisfied, with
the present seat of The government. There
are many ccgent reasons for this concIusion.
Richmond IS gay and fashionable city, az
bounding with all the luxuries and conve-
nieoces which can contribute to the pra,;6cs-
ton and amusement OF The most voluptuous
and exuavagsnt. Temperate and prudent men
can live plentifully and comfortably on their
four dollars day, and save something hands
some az the end OF the Session TO bring home
IN their pockets-the close and misetiv find
it u profitable business Add to this heir
four dollars for every twenty miles travelling
TO and returning from the seat Of Government.
snd many OF them would be SIS we'll satisfied
to let the seat of government remain where il
is.
am, however, sensible that there are tx.
ceptions 10 this general rule, and that we
have some representatives, whose minds soar
above these sordid and selfish considerations.
and at all times sre ready to pursue their du.
ty with steady and firm eye; fixed wholly ON
what they deem their country's soud.
1t was not my intention at the commences
menf OF TINS InVeEtigation to have entered
into dEquisition of exlraneous or abstract
questions; bot to confne myself to simple
and PLAN statement of facts. /, however,
owe 1t to my ;eilnw citizens, TO truth and
justice, and TO myself, TO vindcate the truth
of the positions advanced in my second numa
Der.
With these reflections shall proceed &c a
further investigation of the grievances Of
the western people.
From the peculiar geographical situation of
the present seat of government, many of the
western counties are entirely cut off from all
commercial intercourse with the metropolis -
and Ot course sre excluded from all The ads
vsntages arising from the expenditures Of the
public monies. The immense sums snnualJv
paid into the public Treasury by the western
people, in the shape of taxes, are expended
almost exclusively in and about The CITY OF
R';hmond, and probably not one dollar in an
hundred ever returns TO the people of the
counties 50 excluded, in the ordinary ro,ine
Of circulation. Hence it follows that our tex.
es hang IS dead weight upon us; we are com.
PEELED TO pay our full proportion of the ex.
penses OF the government, TO perform our
full proportion of military service, and other
public burthens, without participating
IN an equality of the advantages growing out
of the disbursements of the monies raid into
NO P"oiiC 'S"Su'S' . MS IejlOW CltlZerS, Is
state OF things which ought not to be sub
mitted to. IF could speak in voice OF
thunder, would conjure ny brethren Of the
Westto arouse from their lethargy, and de-
cisivcly demand a redress of their grievances.
To our Eastern brethren ] again appeal, and
conjure them TO reflect seriously and Impair.
tally OF this subject. II IS a question of vast
Importance to the well being cf our state
LIE it be remembered that in times of war
and danger, the aid and protection of the wess
tern citizens are greatly looked up TO. and
courted, by the people Of the East. What,
ask, would have been their situation in the
late war, f their western brethren bad not
flown to their assistance! That they would
have fallen an easy prey TO their more than sa-
vsge foes, that their boosted and ravoriie city
Of Richmond, with its proud and stately capit-
ol, armOry, aud other public buildings toge-
geIher with lis wealthy banks, would have
been plundered Drd laid in dust and asha
es, no rational being can doubt.
Remove the seat of guvcrnme CIT to a CEN
trail position ard It will Immediately become
the favorite and rsllying point of every sec.
Iioo OF the Republic, Like the sun IN the
Solsr System, il will shed IT'S light, and be-
6ign 'tiuence over all parts Of our state, and
at once, reconcile our ilcting snd j;scord-
ant opinions; on thus interes ing subject, Con.
tirue 1t at Richmond and l. will remain bore
OF contention and discord between the Eastern
and Western sections of the Commonwealth
The result Of which many Of us msy vet live
to deplore' My next Numb,r will appear ia
due time, THO'S. Jones
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A CARD.