Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1844-12-19

tdke 10 OtneF ctateS tnat HVlURs tbinhHs
and acting power, which, of oil others, u
is the most enrichng TO receive and the
most ruinous TO spare.
II is under the profoundest conviction
that this result is inevitable, in some gres.
ter or less degree, unless il is prevented
5y the wise and energetic action ofthe leg
islature, that deem il my duty TO call up
on you earnestly to begin that action now.
Whether it be thought wisest al first to
attempt little or much let something, al
least, bs begun. Let some actual anc
useful step be taken, and taken as an ear.
arst Of what il to follow. Let the PEG
pie of our unimproved and distant sections
b. made TO understand and TO feel that
they are not to be ablndoned that the
policy Of internal improvement, which is
% vital to iham, is to be The permanent
policy of the state, and that it will be
prosecuted with such vigor as to furnish
a guarantee, upon the one hand, mat
something eifectual will b. done, and at
the same time with such prudence as to
project the State, on the other hand,
agains, all the dangers Of excessive in
Movement.
Should other councils prevail, and the
policy OF postponement be resolved upon,
as the true and wise policy for the case,
there is reason to fear tina, permanent
decline will have set in upon US; that
year after year we shall be called upon
to mourn over a population and a prop
erty still shrinking; over sectional
jealousy still growing stronger and deep.
er; over beloved aod venerated com.
monwealth dropping more an more IN.
der the hand Of her improyident sons, and
descending in destiny still lowering
from point to point Of feebleness TO decay
In the last and worst extremity, howev
er, to which such policy may lead, We
may hope, it is true, for some partial re
covery, through the population Of other
places pouring 10 upon US to take tn,
lands and the homes that they have beer
rendered cheap by the discouragamen'
or deseration Of the owners. Welcome
and especially then as such an access on
wonld be, there nre yet no people upor
earth whose labours or whose presence
Virginia should ever have occasion &
want in exchange for her own. There
are to her, at least, no sons like her owr
sons, and long may the soil which leed
them. and the sovereignty which defends
it, continue in their hands and in the hands
of their children.
Without undertaking, in this connec
ton, to enumerate the many works of de-
cIded importance. to which the public aic
might be. extended, | suggest, respectful
ly, that that aid seems to be most urgent
Iy demanded for the completion OF the
turnpike between Stanton and Parkers
burg; for tho improvement Of that be
tween Staunlon and Scotlsvile for the
construction Of railroad or Macadlm
izsd road from suitable point on James
river to the Tennessee line, and for the
continuation, in some form or other, Of
the James river and kanawha imptov
m"nt.
Tbs condition, and the claims for as
distance from the State, OF the Sco,tsvlle
and Stuanton and Stuanton and Parkers.
burg turnpkes, having Sen Set forth
WIN aaEu ouu Ny TIC
Board Of public works in Their annual re-
port, beg leave to refer thu Legislature
10 il for all necessary Information abou,
them and b recommend that the recon-
men ia,ions OF tho Board be carried into
effect.
Tine construction Of road from the
James RIVER to Tennessee, passing
through the southwe stern counties, and
connecting their intecuur-e aud trade, to-
gsther with III. intercourse AMI trade, as
far as possible, Of the neighhoring States
with the routes Of the James river and the
Valley, has beea brought before the Log,
issture so repeatedly, and urged upon it
with such imposing weight Of statistical
and other Arguments by other executives;
by conventions Of the people interested ;
by committees of your own body, and by
engineers in your service, that scarcely d
worI is necessary to be now said, in or
der TO point out either its necessity or its
value. Let the grounds ofts value land
tina. value constitutes in part its necessity
a so) let these be reviewed, and eEtire
confidence will be extended to the opin.
loa that Of the larger improvements here.
toiore projected in the State, and yet to
bs made, there is no one whose efficiency
in creating as well as accommodating
both trade and travel, would be more
useiully, Immediately and more extern
sivrly felt than this one. There is no
other which would bs supported at pres
ent, or at all times, by a deuser popula-
ton, by richer country, or by larger OF
surer accessions of both commerce and
revenue from abroad. Connecting ad-
vantsgeously with eastern Tennessee, and
through it with adjacent portions OF other
States, it would be the nearest and hes.
of all their inland avenues to the Allan.
tic markets, and these markets must ne.
cessariiy be- either Baltimore, Richmond
or Norfork. lfthe first, then the commerce
of these productive communities, carried
from end to end of our territory, would
profit VI, at least, to the amount of the
expenditure required for its transporta.
ton through the State. But il TO Rich
mond or Norfork, in addition to the same
profit, il would contribute essentially &c
increase the capital and commercial i'm
portance Of these cities, and aid them &c
become what they ought 10 be, large anc
prosperous southern marts Tor sale anC