Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1833-02-07
MONDaF, FEBRUaRY 4, 1893.
Eriract Of a letter from one Of the Delegates
Of this county.
RICHMOND, January 81. 1883.

Bridge over Back Creek, SC. sc. has
oq,ssd the House of Delegates and will be
corc las in the course of few days
4 Having with the co operation of my worthy
and esteemed colleague, discharged my duty
in presenting the petition and procuring the
massage of this bill, in obedience 10 the ex-
pressed desire of the people OF Berkeley, ]
hone shan not be accused of arrogance for
saving, that nothing but their positive wishes
could have induced me to support ant apPii-
cation Of the kind. For ana, and always
have been, upon principle Of public policy,
onposed to lotteries. view them as .pe
yes of gambling which the law ought not 10
encourage as calculated to sap the founda-
ton OF public morals, and TO impair the in.
dustry, enterprise and sobriety of the COM
munity. They have now become part of
settled legislation OF Virginia, and if the PEG
pie of Berkeley county desire lottery, they
are As much entitled TO it, as any other part
Of the Commonwealth. But it may even
well become them, noW, alter they have OBJ
alned The legal authority, to consider whe-
fther it would not be infinitely better to con-
siruct Bridge over Back Creek, and gradai-
ate the North Mountain by tax levied upon
the real and personal property of the cou lily,
than 10 foster in the bosom of its society, a
principle, SO vitality destructive and PERM
ci9us would myself rather pay four times
/ the amount of my assessment, than to see
our citizens become the victims of that eager.
| gambling, specializing feeling, which the
prevalence Of lotteries in any community
very shortly and certainly engenders. itpar-
s.rses indus;ry-stimulate vicc-fosiers idle
nc.. and gives an improper direction TO cap
kl If YOU have ever travelled up The Valley
! Of vi sinia, yen will have seen its pornicious
/ effects in all the little villages situated upon
/ The public road from Winchester TO Staunton
believe could satisfactorily demons trate,
| hat the erection Of Bridge, &c. by the
loitery Just passed, will cost the people of
Berkeley county ten times more money, than
will he required for its construction To be
sure ii may be said the tax will be cofunfa-
/ hlq paid-that is no consideration with
salesman, for the tax will be paid mainly by
hose who have least interest in the work It
selr-and by those who are least able to con-
| l,,I,,Jo 10 concfruntiOn
The subdivision of counties into small ter
htoiios incapable Of afording the materials
. for the n, oper administration ofits justice and
police--the system Of precinct elections and
' Of lotteries, have justly been regarded as the
three most fatal steps which have marked the
legislation of Virginia. They are crying
sormties and the people should be made
awake TO their consequences. They engen-
der disease in the body politic-dlfiicult OF
cure and unhappy in their effects. The good
old county of Berkeley has heretofore main
famed an eny.able freedom from OF them
1t may well become her citizens TO pause and
reflect before they irresocably sanction the
Introduction of any one OF them.
hone my fellow citizens of Berkeley will
pardon the freedom with which have ez
pressed myself upon this suhject;-as their
representative felt it TO be my duty TO give
full effect TO their wishes-but surely it can
not deprive me of the liberty of expressing
nv opinions freely and fully of those mea-
s,ro: which have been made the reluetant
IN. ruue,t Of accomplishing. No man de-
serves TO be the representative of treemen'
uh, ;s not rxepared, at all times. and at any
.ac,,r;ce 10 express his opinions freely and
,,Aly upon every subject which may concern
the interests and happiness Of the people
We have closed the debate on Federal he
latiops and more equal and well contested
STRUGGLE have never witnessed, upon any
occasion. Neither party can boast decl
ded victory. It is true, the rGect'o" oil tue
report of the Committee OF 81, miSo' Oe
de.med a defeat TO the UFra State right par
ty-hut they raIhed-retnrned to the charge
and we were content TO compromise an'
make A dyq,v battle Of it confess to yo'
thai reason and sound policy were not tn
only weapons which gave strength and ener
ey to our -ea1se; -unsustained by the poPu