Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1823-01-09
From The Baltimore .aaserican.

GEsrLENES.-l lately passed owe
the great National Road, made acros
the lofty and extensive range of noun
tains, which nature seems to have inter
posed between the Eastern and Western
States, as a wall of separation, through
which this road is, as it were, the gate
OF communication; and was asfonished
to ind 1t 10 state ofrapid dilapidation,
IN many places almost impossible, and
the public mail often seriously interrupt
ted. On enquiring into the cause of this
uaaccountable neglect on the part of the
government OF this splendid monument
OF national wisdom, which it had cost
nearly two millions to construct, aud
which Us worth the whole amount every
year to the people of the west in the
transportation Of their goods alone,
was told II was entirely attributable TO
the policy of Radicals, )" who, under the
pretext OF economy, were prostrating
and destroying all the useful and impor.
tant establishments ofthe country. This,
! soon discovered, was the suggestion OF
shrewd politician, with view to ex-
cite the Indignation Of the western peo-
pie, to whom this road is all important,
against certain men and measures to
which he was himself politically opposed.
The situation of the country, it true,
with large national debt, requires re
trenchment and economy wherever It
can be adopted without prejudice TO the
pubic interest; but that any set of poll
ticians would, for the sake Of few thou
sand dollars, consign to destruction one
OF the most valuable, and permanently
useful public work, that the government
ever can erect, is too absurd for u mo.
ment's credenoe. 1t would be such
shameful waste ofpubic money, and dis
regard OF public interest, such an act of
political suicide as no men in their senses
could be guilty of. For my own part |
am led to believe that the only difficulty
which has heretofore existed. las been, as
to the power of Congress and not as to
the policy of preserving this important
work. At the last session of Congress,
the President, entertaining constitution
al doubts the powers Of Congress to
adopt the plan then proposed, rejected
the bill. lie has however in his late mes
sage recommended an appropriation,
which being the only alternative. at pre-
sent lett will no doubt be promptly a
dopted by Congress. 1t is an act Of
sheer justice due to the west, great and
growing section of our republic, which
will be cheerfully accorded by the North
and the South, leaving no grounds for
invidious determinations, already at
tempted, to influence the Vest with re.
spect to future political events.
1t has also been ilsinuated that New.
York and Pennsylvania, Influenced by
local and selfish views, would oppose
the executive recommendation, with a
view TO destroy the road, and embarrass
the executive by again adopting the plan
which he has already rejected This
suggestion does injustice to the repre-
sentatiyes OF these two great states, who
will never descend from the high ground
they occupy to an act, for which they
would be ashamed to avow the motive.
Being the representatives of a nation,
and not neighborhood, they will act
accordingly.
The above remarks were elected by a
notice Of the subject, | have just observ
ed, in the National lntelligencer. The
sentiments there expressed are worthy
of the able and enlightened editors OIL
that truly national paper for which they
are entitled to the gratitude of the ma
ton, and will, at least, receive the
thanks of THE WEST.
December so, 1892.