Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1841-02-04
(From our Richmond Correspondent


3D. and yet not single contested election, of the
nine before the House, has been decided. Some
indeed have even yet been acted upon in the
Committee. The contestant from Foirfar has
abandoned the city in utter despair of any action
upon his case so in like manner have contestants
from other counties. | fear, however, that cases
enough will remain dam up The business and ar
the presen, winter. Could any of facts more
| emphatically condemn the existing system of decid-
! ing contested elections in that body' That every
/ House must be the Judge Of the election OF its
own members, is principle not only of the most
obvious proprie,y. bur Of constitutional regulation
| But could not some mode be adopted, such as that
which prevails under the Granville act in the
| English House Of Commons, and, az understand,
to some extern, in the Pennsylvania Legislature by
which these contests submitted to a committee,
chosen conformity by the parties litigant and the
House, and whose decision is made final Some
new plan must unquestionabIy be devised. The
expense 0; the present system is enormous and the
delay Of business ntoerable. Cases have occurred
this winter in which the exa mnaton Of single vo-
ters righ, to suffrage has cost the State upwards of
$500.
The Senate is now engaged upon the act "pre-
scribing the mode of asceraining the taxable prop
erty within the Commonwealth, and of collecting
the public Revenue" This bill consists Of 100 sec
,ions-is codihcaton, in fact Of all the laws upon
that subject, with such valuable amendments a.
time, the sage experience and consummate hnan.
cial ability Of our First Auditor james Z. Heath,
have suggested for our consideration. 1t is an i'm.
portant bill, and should pass into law at as early
day as practicable.
The New York controuersy' cxcites no little
interest here and has at length attracted the at
tention of the Senate. 1t yesterday referred
Select Committee That Virginia occupies inn
pregnabe ground in this controversy, will not be
denied by any constitutional lawyer south OF Mason
and Dixon. line. nor, presums, by any north Of
it who is not strongly tnctured with abolitionism.
Her right TO the fustives is clear, paipabe, incon-
uovertible. But what shall be her remedy, in case
the New York Legislature should sustain the views
Of Gov. Seward-aye. there's the rub" and up
on this subject. every you meet with has his
mode Of redress. For my own part, think if Gov
Seward persist. in his present course, and is
aimed by the General Assembly Of New York. thai
Virginia has of redress without herself
violating the Federal Constitution. 1t is casus
omissus" in the Legislation of Congress. What
remedy in fact she have. except through the in
terventon of Congress, She ha, Invested herself
Of the preroga,ive OF declaring war, and she ha.
surrendered to Congress the exclusive power Of
regulating her commence with New York. 1t is a
case that calls loudly for legislative action. The
South has a right to demand il, and can no, be-
lieve the North would refuse it. And what is the
plain remedy' To require ajudge of the Federal
Court upon the application of the executive, and
satisfactory proof of guilt, issue his warrant for
the ares, and detection of the fugitive The brief
limits of this letter do not permit 60 further
into this subject.
A resolution has again been sent from the House
of Delegates TO the Senate to proceed to the ecc-
ton Of a Senator TO succeed Mr.. Roane. This has
been made the order of the day for the lh of Feb
ruary. 1t will then be taken up and fully discuss
ed I entertain no hope that it will be ADOPTED, al
though there are some who regard it among the
possible events Of the session. The deter mined
fusal of the Administration party go into the cleo
ton Of Senator, is not be ascribed to the
pcrverseness and obstinancy of defeated party
it is with them an instinct of cslculation-the
suit of refined, but, as think, mistaken policy.
They are in very sad condition for keeping up
their party organization. Van has gone to the
tomb of the Capulets," and it will be too early to
commence a systematic assault upon the admins
| tralion Of Gen. Harrison. Yet they must have a
ralsing cry at the spring elections something to
rouse and organise them to the polls and this they
think is furnished 10 some extent by the election OF
a Senator. think my selfth whole calculations of
that party for future opposition are founded upon
false estimate of the views and feelings of the peo
pie, and upon erroneous anticipation Of the poll
cy OF the incoming Administration. believe the
county generally is tired Of agitation and excite
men,-I believe it is disposed to judge the admin
i.tration of Gen Harrison fairly and if found in
accordance with his Republican pledges, every at
tempt to organise systematic opposition to i, will
| be fruiiless and vain.
| Every day is showing more light upon the cramP
ed and embarrassed condition OF our Treasury, and
manfesting the proprie.y of the strictest economy
in our expenditures, and the necessity for increased
taxation to meet existing liabilities. Upon all
these points the repor, of the LIST Auditor, made
early in the session. is full, and contains the most
authentic information. The Governor, in mes
sage yesterday to the General Assembly, opened to
our view another fruitful source OF our pecuniary
responsbty-I mean the loans made by the State
to certain Railroad Companies, which have been
supposed to constitute available fund in the es-
innate of the necessary to pay the inter
est upon the public debt. Loans have been rsade
to five Of these companies, amounting in the ag
giegate to $3.50 900; the annual interest which