Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1830-12-16

markets be opened for the agricultural pro.
ducts OF any country, and instantly the sub
Jects OF taxation will become common 10 il.
and al other countries similarly ~circumstan-
ced. But when In connection with this. The
improvement Of the State is regarded as The
sure means of producing unity Of feeling and
harmonious action between all parts Of the
community, its importance cannot be ones
toned, or ITS benefits be matter Of specula-
] ton.
In this government there is no want of
constitutional power over this subiect-a-
! gainst a similar exercise of power. on the
part OF the Federal Government. Virginia has
uniformly protested and wisely. Tie ex-
crcise OF such power by that government, has
been regarded, not only as unconstitutional,
out as deleterlous in the highest dcgrec-and
an attentive observation Of its effects, has
been attended with a thorough conviction of
"s disastrous tendency. II is a cause Of sin
cerc congrafulation, that the President should
have done much in the exercise Of his cons,;-
t%utional veto towards arresting this unfortn-
nate system. We may certainly hone. that
impelled by q devoted regard to the interests
OF the United States. manifested hy him up
on repeated occasion, be will persevere in
ttis course. until every vestige of this usur-
patton VIII be obllierated from the legislation
OF Congress. Ihe states are competent to
the improvement of their own domestic con-
duion, and The obligation which rests upon
them TO do so, IS high and impcrious.
From the numerous works which have
been brought TO public view, those in which
the State has become interested in part, or
undertaken to construct al her oirn expense
~justifies the public expectation that they will
be resumed and prosecuted to their Zeal
completion.
Although many works have been project
ed, highly beneficial to large nci~ghborhoods
and even the counties in which they may be
situated, yet thcre are few Of magnitude or
Importance sufficient to entitle them to The
character OF state improvements.
In considering this subject. the mind can
not fail to contemplate the great commercial
advantages which would be derived from the
completion Of those works already begun on
the James River. Heretofore this secnMaao
have been considered the first object, 461z vi
Importance enough TO Justify the General As
sembly 10 making it the exclusive property Of
the Commonwealth.
Ii then. private enterprise is prcvested
from carrying on this work, the obligation 10
finish il, beeemes much more strong on the
part OF the govern ment; and was its paviga-
lion rendeted equal 10 that of similar works
Of other states which are intended to serve
as channels for the Introduction Of produce
from the rich regions of the west, there can
not be a doubt, but that the exports from this
river, would be greatly Augmented.
This fine river is the natural cbaanci and
is the shortest and might be the easiest, chca-
pest and most certain ronte through wiach
tie ineAhaustible abundance produced from
the rich soil of the Western States esald find
its way TO the Atlantic,
To invite the agricultural products Of that
country TO their large cities, has been the
object of those vast expenditures encountered
by some Of our sister States; and were sue
cesses so attend their efforts that trade would
be cheaply acquired at the cost OF The add
tional millions: the products of The labor OF
three millions of people would then be secu-
red, with a certainty of their increasing so
long as the confede-acy existed.
The improvements put lpon this great
channel to the West, not less important in
the requirement of that commerce, than to
the trade Of the interior Of our own country,
have been constructed at an unreasonable
and unparalleled expense. This is deeply
10 be regreted-Bat it is nevertheless conf
IDENTITY believed, that by a judicious change
in the mode Of conducting this work, steam
tpat navigation could be accomplished TO
Lynehburg, for about the sufn OF SIS ifanGrsd
thousand dollars.
That part Of this improvement which forms
the road between Covington and kenawha,
was never we'll located, gra&uated or con
structed, but with the exception of a few
miles, which II viii be indi,pensably peces-
sary TO pave, no expenditure will be required,
other than to keep it in properrepair for some
time.
The road which lies between the Great
Falls of Kenawha and ChaTlestowp has not
been finished owing to the failure Of the con
tractors to comply with their engagements
The near approach of your session Undue
ed the James River Company to refrain from
~enterin 2 into new contracts until the subject
could be presented TO you.
The location OF tue residue Of this roaC
from Charleston to Sandy, does great credit
to the judgment and skill Of The PripcipalEn-
gineer, and will be a work which the State
may advert to with pleasure-Yet there IS in
the arrangement, growing out of the terms
Of the law, some defect as the comIDerciai
point on that frontier may be thrown beyond
the jurisdiction of tie State, and thus lose
many of the contemplated benefits. This
can readily be rcmedied by a new legislative
4 enactment.
The construction of the western part OF the
Turnpike has teen contracted for and IS IN
progress. NLessrs. Coflman. Royce and Chap
pell, the undertakers, had finished about SIX
teen miles of il early in October last. in a
manner highly satisfactory, and every ex-