Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1826-12-14

to us rlSuttui exercise, that the General
Government cannot, even for the great
and essential object Of national defence,
neither under the ,rar-niaking po,osr nor
any OTHER, occupy a foot of land on
which to erect the most necessary forti-
hcation, without the previous explicit
authority and sanction of the State
wherein the work is to be erected,--
Vain and idle, Indeed, was this restric-
ton, If that same Government has a
perfect right to enter upon the soil Of
State, whatsoever and wheresoever it
may please to take possession of the
same, convert II to its own use and pur.
poses, and render subject not only the
property, but the persons of the Peo-
pie to the jurisdiction of its courts: for
il would seem to follow, that the right to
create, imposed the obligation to pre-
serve, and this duty would sGalI for the
imposition of regulations, tiS eiolation
or disregard of which ought Of conse-
quence to render amenabe TO punish
ment the offending individual. One u
surpation always begets another and
another, until at last the original form
of Government is lost, and liberty ex-
lists only in the records of the past
Virginia has ever been found exciting
her influence against the exercise OF
this alarming power. Her motives can
not be misunderstood by her sister States.
Her wants are as great as theirs can we'll
be. Possessing surface of territory
larger than almost any other State in
the Union, the moity of whch is distin-
guished by its irregularities, she would
find many inducements in accepting, ia
the form Of Internal improvements, the
Iargesses of the General Government
But she will not surrender voluntarily her
Constitutional rights. She believes that
liberty can only be preserved by Uphold
ing the Federative principle; and she
regards consolidation as the greatest Of
evils,
but, the maintenance of these prin
cipIes devolves high duty on the Legis-
lature. A parental care is demanded at
its hands, aud the wants of the state
sheald be supplied by that care. Cher
ish the People aud improve the country
let the citizens be taught to look only
to this Government for aid towards the
Improvement OF his condition, with the
certainty that where it is deserved, It will
De bestowed, SO far as the means OF the
State will allow. Then will be furnish
ed another guarantee of his fidelity to
the Constitution and formidable breast.
work be provided against The encroach-
ments of the Federal Government. All
local prejudces should give way before
this great work. The country below
Underwater requires, It's true, but little
at the hands Ut the Government, bat
ii will be too well convinced of its own
interests tor what is interesting to one
part must be interesting to the other part
of the State, since it is the common pro-
perry Of all, aot to extend helping
hand ~ more distant portions, requiring
aud loudly calling for aid. Ii wa also
regard the advances which 1t may thus
make from the public chest lie the light
OF loans, yielding, when judicioasly
made, an interest On the expenditure,
and holding out the certainty OF uitlm-
ate reimbursement While 4 deprecate
an i'll directed enthusiasm, as having
done more mischief in the world than
almost every thing else, 1 cannot tai TO
invoke that spirIt OF iiberality, winch,
when well regulated is productive only
Of benefit.
Works are already in progress, of
great benefit and importance to the
state. The Dismal Swamp Canal, con-
nected with the Improvement OF the
Roanoke river, opens the prospect OF
extensive utility, presenting an ,mpro-
we'd navigation Ut upwards of four hun
bred miles This canal, when it shall
have been so enlarged as to enable the
vessels navigating Albemarle Sound to
pass through it with facility, will open
new prospects on Norfolk, our princi-
pal seaport town, and will offer immense
to the citizens of North
Carolina and Virginia. This State has
eyermore cherished this improvement,
as is fully testified not only by her SUBJ
scriptions to its stock anu that of the
Roanoke Company, but by loans effect
ed with the Canal Company; and it can
not therefore, fail to be a subject of
much regret that she shoald be depri-
we'd, by the interposition Of the General
Government, of the honor of having
completed it, when il required but the
mere finishing hand"