Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1845-08-14

4EOtUftitfEidI "S~iHA $3.50 NAtN~ -
( have TO animate Us to promote 1t every
shade ofincentiye, from the ordinary cnes
of self love, neighborhood attachment,
State pride, and love Of ones tribe and
peculiar country, up to that higher and
more expanded patriotism, which the Rev
olution hallowed, the constitution CON-
mands, and Washington inculcated as his
last and best legacy TO his country.
These were.the original, excellent and suf-
ficient motives for our original movement
in this work; but occurrences in the pro-
gress OF this movement have invested the
whole affair to US with graver Importance.
We have been i'll used in this matter, and
are threatened with further ill-usage. IL
| am mistaken in this opinion, wish |
could be undeceived; for II is most painful
to me to entertain il. To be the subject
Of wrong and oppression from those
we love is one Of the most painful condi
iions to which man can be subjected
and "Who does not love his country can
love nothing" wrote one of the greatest
genus oil his age, under the bitterness of
voluntary exile. No strife can be SO pain
fuI as that with ones own citizens. it is
fully entitled 10 all the epitbets. bestowed
on civil war even by the more imperfect
civilization and phiantrophy Of antiquity,
which yet denounced il, as ''INFAUsTUM,"
"INFANDUM. "BELLUM SINE HosTE, -
uncomfortable, attended with no good aus
pices-a war without an enemy. May
we have divine authority for fore,elling
the fate of house divided against itself.
1t cannot stand. Woe! ihen--Woe unto
them who shall divide 1t! Mr.. Chairman,
is it we who are guilty because of the
beginning, or the continuance, or the in.
crease, if il must be, of this division? Let
us calmly and anxously deliberate upon
ths,--delberate upon il, under full sense
of the deep responsibility which attaches
to the ds,urbers ofthe harmony of States.
Now then, what are facts-the transpi-
red, and unalierable and indisputable facts
attending this CONTROVERSY Our Legs
lature introduced Railroad into one SIDE
of the valley of the Potomac at Harper's
Ferry, aud permitted tho construction for
ninety miles up the river. The benefit Of
the work to the country through which it
passed, or ever may pass is but subject
Of question or doubt in our Legislature.
Whatever may be thought by people of
limited education, or peculiar views, or
idiosincra.ic organization, there is no en-
lightened community upon earth which
does not esteem such works as among the
greatest improvements of this age Of use.
full invention and discovery. There are
disbelievers in their utility, as there are
dubelisvers in tho great truths Of astrono-
my, of morality, Of religion, of every
thing. The human mind seems to be as
infinite in It's varieties as its capacities, and
nothing meets alike the views of all. But
tho suffrage of mankind in favour OF Rail-.
roads is about as unanimous as il is in ia
YOUR Of any thing else. In our Legisla-
ture, at least, no question has been raised
about their usefulness. The constructors
of this work, crowned with success and
dispensing benefits, offered 10 extend it al
their own cost through Virginia to the
Ohio river; and the inhabitants OF that
par, Of the territory through which it was
proposed to pass, pettioned the General
Assembly to accept this offer for their
sakes; for tina: some such work was es-
sential to their prosperity, and if they
lost this opportunity of procuring it,
they could not foresee the recurrence Of
another.
Now-was there any thing unreasona-
Bile in this request On the contrary was
it nat their duty to make ii? Why, what
is it for which many Of the very persons
who opposed this petition are chiefly ba.
ming the people of Virginia. Is il not
apathy,--dsgraceful ara criminal apa.
thy 10 the improvement of the noble realm
in which their lot is cast Is not the i'm
provement of the territory it occupies es
:eened one of the calls of civilization; the
sacred responsibilities of civilized men ?
Had the people of N. West Virginia neg.
looted this occasion 10 promote the i'm
provement OF their country. would they
not have been guilty Of barbarous indlf-
ference to high duty of patriotism, and
humanity event Certainly they would,
and therefore their petition, was not only
reasonable, but commendable; and their eff
forts to promote its success were il accor-
dance with their highest duties. There
fore no one can blame the North Western
Virgnians for that movement of theirs,
which may be esteemed the beginning Of
that which now agltates US.
Mr.. Chairman, does it become us to
submit quietly to such fate? Is not it
our solemn duty, not only to ourselves
but 10 the Commonwealth, to resist it,
Ought we to consent to have such peo-
Pile and such a territory sacrificed to a
dozen RIchmonds,8 or any quantity Of
bitches into the bargain that dozen such
could Gigl Ands the sentiment is open.
ly avowed, that the vast territory stretch
ing from here to the Ohio through a width
of hundred miles, should be sacrl6cedto
one Improvement. You think ii impossi.
Bile; but here is the proof of it, and will
read it to you.
SIN conformity TO the request OF the
Northwestern Rail Road Convention,
which was recently in session at Clarks-
burg, we copy their spirited Preamble
and Resolutions this morning. This Con.
venIIon was called in consequence of the