Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1825-12-15

4 WFri2D dTthicS. iuT tUc itDtuOtAOu Ol
American Manufactures, commonly
called the tariff law; and those direct
! ing surveys Of routes Tor Roads and
| Canals, preparatory to general sys-
] TEN Of internal Improvement Ihave
ever been of opinion that all RESTRICTION
on commerce, with perhaps some few
exceptions, further than s1ch as are
necessary Tor tie just purposes OF rev
enue, are erroneous in principle. The
system adopted would, according TO
this principle, be WRONG, even il all
the States Were SO silnated as TO be
borne upon in an equal manncr - lis
| operation. Bot IN their actual 81 .,ic7
it is more wrong, oecause one gEcal
portion ct the union is taxed, which tax
operates rs a premium to another per-
ticn. This is believed bf The Southern
planter and farmer, and our mercantile
people generally 10 be The eiIec. OF this
law; and, believing this, they will not
be satisfied with it, never have
thought that under a correct constrUc
ton of the Constitution, Congress pos.
! sessed powers to expend the revenues
OF the United States III constructing
/ Roads and Canals; but believe that
the advocates Of the DeaSure have been
sedhced. by the importance of the end,
| to overlook the correctness OF the
mean; The present House of Re
personalities is fresh from the people,
and The able and lunIinous discussion
which .o0k place in The last Congress
on these subjects, have thrown blaze
OF light on them, a better opportunity
for an impartial decision exists now
than a, any preceding period. | would
therefore recommend that OUT Sena-
tors We instructed, and our Represen-
tatives requested, to take an early OPP
poftunity of bringing these subjects
before Congress- 1 am well acquaint
ed with the fact tha. the peosle of the
United States are divided INTO two
great parties on these questions; one
strongly in favor of, the other as strong
| ly opposed TO them; and have no
doubt but tho freinds are as honest in
their opinions as the enemies Il is a
difference Of opinion OF great subjects,
and when fully heard sGd fairly decid-
ed, the minority, which ever way il
may be will ne better satisfied
Shortly after the adjournment OF she
last Legislature, the James River Com
pany, in pursuance OF the act passed
Tor that purpose, advertised that they
would receive, until certain day, pro
po:als for a loan Of 100000, for the
purpose Of prosecuting the James Rv
er Canal and the Kanawa Road and
! Navigation II was found, on exam
iniRg The different propositions made
by The bidders for the loan, that that
made by the Bank of Virginia was
most advantageous, which was conse
qucntIy acceded 10 by the board, and
"a contract entered into with the Bank
officers for lending the aforesaid sum
OF 100000 at an interest of 9 per
cent per annum, with premium to
the State of the half of one per cent
on the amount, making the sum of
$1,000 The terms OF this loan are
l believe, the most favorable on which
loan for public purpose has been eff
fected by the state within any recent
period. The particular state of The
works will be made known in detail
by the annual reports of the commis
! sioners. | feel at some loss what to
say or recommend OH the subject Of
: this important work, of which the
Slate is sole proprietor. Should the
Canal stop at Naiden's Adventure
FaIis,t which point it is completed.
little will have been gained for the
: money expended, except in having
carried it far enough 10 enable the
large boats to transport the article of
Goals, as amof opinion that the boats
now used in navigating the river will
not shift their lading at Maiden's AID
venture, but will continue Oh to Rich
mond.
Should the independent Canal be
continued to Lynchhnrg, or even to
Columbia at The junction of the two
branches of the river, il would pro
duce, l think, different result; and by
reducing freight considerably, would
jp,tify the Legislature in establishing
such tariff OF toll. as would soon pay
he interest of the money expended on
the work. | recommend this view of
the subject to the early and serious at