Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1832-01-12
Tas Azls rr 80
MARTINsBURG. JAsvARr IL, lssa.


twenty one, to whom the whole subject Of
slavery, in all its aspects, has been referred,
met it appears for the frsttine on that morn
ing That is incompsrably the most vital
and absorbing question which can occupy the
deliberations of the General Assembly, this
winter or at any future period. AL look
to the course of the Committee and Of the
Legislature upon that subject with intense
anxiety and solicitude.
We perceive frem the Wing that our de-
tegate, Mr. Faulkner, shortly after the Com
mttee was organised, introduced a resolu-
ton recommending the gradual Emancipation
Of the sioses Of TIE Commonwealth, but guard
ing in his scheme the rights of the present
proprietsrs Of slaves, TO the slaUes in being or
ecutence. This plan VIC confess. heartily e.
licits eur appreciation: nsr can we perceive
any just or well founded sbjeciions to its pre-
priety or feasibility. The right Of property is
thus recognised and held sacred, while the
great and glorious objects If an ultimate and
prospective freedom of the country from the
curse Of slavery is with rational probability
aimed at
We take occasion to assure Mr.. Faulkner
that in the course which he has taken upon
this question, he will be fully sustained by
his constituents. And that the people Of
Berkeley are willing to make any just aud
proper sacrifice to accomplish an object so
desirable.
The following is extracted from the Wing
OF the I'd Of January:
The following resolution was to day sub
mtted in the Select Committee by MIR Faux
ner. and laid on the table We publish it
for the purpose of apprising the Pu bic, that
there ciA be Legislative action on the great
question which SO deepl, concerns and en-
cages all, and with a hope that it may slim
nlate other counties 10 follow the example Of
Loudoun and Albeu,arle, and call public
meetings for the purpose of ascertainiog the
will Of the people. and instructing their DE
lesates:
Resolved, as the sense oil this Committee,
that they adopt ana recommend to the con
sideration Of the House, scheme for the
gradaai emancipation Of the slaves of the
Commonwealth; which scheme, however.
shall steadily keep in view the rights of the
present proprietors of slaves, to The siarss
nous IN. esse, or an adequate compensation
for their loss.
Internal improvements. question in
which the West-the tchole Vest is so deep
ly concerned has net yet been brought be
fore the General Assembly. We understand
that the Committee to whom the subject has
been referred, is earnestly engaged in..prepar.
ing scheme commensurate with the wants
and anticipations Of the State. We have
not heard the details ofthe system-but learn
that its features will be grand, liberal and
comprehensive To what extent, the claims
of the Potomac country will be regarded we
have no opportunities Of Judging. But this
we ,cil! sag. in the language Of genteman
who then represented this county in the
Charlottesville Internal Improvement tonven.
ton, and no,c represents it in the Genera
Assembly
THAT no System Of Internal Improve
pent, founded upon expensive calculations
and protesting to be general 10 its character
can be deemed at all practicable in Virginia
which does not unite in its con currence the
three great leading interests of the State, the
Potomac, the James and the Roanoke For
the interests of any single one OF the above
streams and certainly OF any two, united
with the influence Of those who are opposed
to all kind of Improvement will be sufficient
to defeat any sfheme. The gross misman
agement and prefuse expenditure of public
money upon the James have already render.
ed the further prosecution of expensive im
provements upon that river extremely unpo
pular in many parts of the State She ha;
besides natural enemy fierce and lnfiexi
bic to encounter in the Roanoke with
what face can she now pretend TO call fol
the CO operation of the Potomac district
fembracing twenty TIVE counties) after bel
insulting rejection Of their moderate de
mand? Thus beset by enemies, the fr'eod'
of that stream will perceive from the oppo
sition srrayed against it, the necessity Of
more coociliatory spirit, of more ditfnsiv'
benevolence and enlarged policy, and oil
& sess arregating claim to the exclusive pa
treaage Of the Commonwealth
Berkeley Justices "A letter from Rich
4 saond informs US that the neminat,sa of th
magistrates for the county of Berkeley. ha
u been before ths Exccu:lve-but the actor
q of the Executive postponed for more forms
and kgal return Of their nominations by th