Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1836-11-10
A PETITION

Az Nv NObCI uUGG,
the General Assembly of Virginia:
Your memorialists, citizens Of that
portion OF the county Of Berkeley, w.
mig east of the North Mountain, and
within the limits proposed for a new
county, in a petition presented at this
session to your honorable body repre-.
sent
That they are utterly opposed to any
DIVISION OF Berkeley county, because
ITS territory is already of that convc-
RIent size, that there is no individual in
1t, who a not breakfast at home, ride
to the court house, transact his bust.
ness and return home at night in good
time if so inclined. The idea of divi.
ding a county already so small seems
to them preposterous. 1t would be a
wanton increase Of the labors of our
adlclary, whose whole time would be
;aken up in opening and adjourning
courts, in which there could be but lit
Ire business, and must fina..i!y lsad to in.
efeaslng the general burdens, by M
ofsaslng the number Of our judges. 1t
would greatly increase the county tax
es, by compelling them to support such
anumber of petty county officers, who
would be more profitably employed for
the public, by gaining an honest and
!aborious livelihood by the sweat of
their brow, rather than procuring a
Scanty living, from the hard earned
gains ofthe farmer and mechanic be-
SIDES the necessity of erecting so many
more public buildings, than are neces-
sary for the administration of public
Justice.
In the present instance, should the
court, house ofthe new county be pla-
ced at Hedgesville, (where we under-
stand the petitioners desire and expect
the seat Of justice of the two coun-
lies would be but seven miles apart,
and that the best road in the county !;
aud should the courthouse be placed
10 a situation more central to the terri
'0ry of the new county, still would they
DSht ibiiCo apart
Nor would your memorialists find
any compensation for their increased
BURDENS, by any increased facilities of
nansactlng their county business
some of them would be more distant
rom their courthouse, even if placed
d Hedgesville, than they are at pre-.
sent-and none of them are now so
Instant as to render the change a mat
Ter OF any moment to them. But whilst
nedgesvllle is but three miles from the
fotomac river, at one end ofthe county,
us more than twenty miles from that
P'rt OF the proposed new county bor-
aeflng on Frederick. They can scarce
y suppose, therefore, that this would
We the place ultimately selected for the
seat of justice, but after a few years OF
contention and striGe-perhaps after the
expenses of erecting their public build.
'ngs had been incurred--they do not
aoubt the seat of justice would be re.
moved to a more convenient position,
as has been done in several other coun-
lies, to the disturbance of the people
and the nc small annoyance of the Lee
e%lslature. Then would every one Of
your memorialists, have a much great.
Ct distance than now, to go to theiI
court. house, over much worse roads,
with the addition of a mountain, anc
creek to cross, which is not unfrequent.
y too deep to ford.
Your memorialists are, themselves
Perfectly satisfied with their present
Connection with the county of Berke.
ley, and see no reason why they should
be compelled, against their wills, tc
bear all the burdens, and inconvenien
'es of a new organization ofthe coun'
", merely to crafty a few discontent'
ed spirits, or an equally small number
Of Interested individuals, seeking petty
Offices, rather than resorting to labo
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