Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1845-06-19
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MARTINSBURG, VIRGINIA.
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THURSDAY, JUNE III, lS4o.
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THE CIAxaEsBUEG CONVENTION.
We laid The full proceedings Of the Rail Road
Convention, recently held a. Clarksburg before the
readers Of the Gszst,s las, week, sHd hope they
have been carefully perused by the people Of Bsrks'
ley. The csowdsd state % our columns last week
prevented Us from accompanying them with such
comments as we desired, snd We therefore take an
opportunity nor. to express some Of our views upon
a subject which mus, be interesting TO the people
Of the whole Commonwealth.
We have always been aud stiil ere decidedly in
favor Of granting the right 81 nay to the Baltimore
and Ohio Rail Road through our territory to Par
ksIsourg. We con see no rational and substantial
reason for opposition 10 il, BY any section OF inc
State, and we had hoped that the application made
10 the last Legislature would have INST with success
We have heard much discussion upon The SUBJECT
and with all due respect TO our brethren oil the
Press 10 Richmond and some othsr portions OF the
State we must sag that we have not heard one SIN
sls valid and substantial argument, based upon an
against IT, Itdoes indeed seem "strapge-passing
strange" that the Legislature OF such State as
Virginia should refuse the passage Of such Road
a. tho B. g. o. II. Road through. her territory
when it would be done without costing the State
one dollar. Yet such is the case-and another
appeal is now to be made to the Legislature to Sc,
aside the folly Of her past legislation, and to act to
her people as becomes tho enlightened guardians oil
the public good.
1t Is perfectly manifest to our minds, that the
whole opposition to the extension Of this Rail Road
through our territory is sectional and se!fsh TO the
last degree. There 10 not man in the State, we
care not in what section Of it he resides, who i'
capable of contemplating the subject at oil, but
must admit tho right of the people in tho North
Western portion of the Stale to demand Of the
Legislature the means Of opening up their country
and developing the sast resources Of wealth every
where scattered around and about them. This de-
msnd the people have right to make, and tits the
duty of the Legislature to obey. If at all consistent
with tho cspabili,y of the State to act in the pres'
sea- but donbiy 80 when the revenue of the State 10
not desired, but mere right or privilege asked
which 10 not to cost her Jingle brass Jarthing
Such has been the request Of North Western Viz
snia to the Legislature Of the State, but they have
denied them The privilege pursuing their "inalien
able rights, and have announced to tho people vir
tualy and substantially that Government 10 not es'
sablshed for tho mutual benefit of all It's citizens
and that ~ portion of the people may be interdict-
cd by their Government from the right OF improv-
ing their condition and country by their own means
This action of the Legislature caused the assem-
bling of the Convention at Clarksburg. Their pro-
seedinps are now before the State, and breathe a
spirit Of earnest determination which must COM
mand the attention of the Legislature. Now we
approve most heartily the objects OF the Clarksburg
Convention, and though we cannot give our hearty
assent exactly to the tone and temper OF some oil
the resolutions passed by yet we can readily ex
cuse little Of their wrath under the gross inJuA-
,ice inflicted upon them. The question, and the
naked question, in our humble judgment, for the
Legislature to consider, s:-have these people the
right to ask of the Legislature the pr'rlIsges con
templsted in the Clarksburg Conyention1 lfthey
haye-and who can doubt it-then it Is the duty OF
the Legislature to gran, them the privilege regard
Iess OF any considerations Of local and sect.onh
character. The Richmond Times has given con-
adorable discussion 10 the subject, but We nus'
beg leave to say that it is 'wsyed In its opposition
TO the North W estern portion Of the State by con-
alterations Of purely local and sectional charac'
,er-having the prosperity Of Richmond constantly
in i,s eve. But the dreams Of the Times over the
commercial greatness of Richmond are as chimeri-
cal ~ Mr.. Calhouns over the greatness OF Charles
,on Even admit the full and entire completion o
the James River and Ksnawha improvement. and
1t will be utterly impossible to command the West
ern trade and travel for Richmond; and as to open
ing market for North-Wss tern Virginia, and de-
veloping iss vast resources of Agricultural and Min
sral wealth, it is utterly out Of the question, and
we will venture to say. has never as much as enter
cd into the head ofany practical man acquainted
with the geography of the country. But admit
that il would. and still that does not justify the
Legislature in denying the right to any portion OF
the people to construct Road with their own
means, through their own territory, and in theiI
own way The Importance Of this Road to the
North Western part of the State, is admitted by all
but the sectional opposition of Eastern Virginia
prescribes certain route for it along the borders
Of the State, aud says it must take that or none
in this they are joined by certain other portion II
the Northwest, Immediately interested and con-
eerned in having the passage of it BY their own
door, and the Western terminus Of it at Wheeling
Hare then are two sections Of the opposition com
ing together and acting together, but upon totally
diaeren, views and principles. They deny all aid
and participation in the benefits of the Road to the
interior, and act like the "dog in the manger III
We can't, you shGn't. 1t is perfectly well aseer-
tanned tina, the Rail Road Company will never ae'
cod, IN ,be provisions of the bill passed by our
la., Legislature, and the work must stop where IT
i. a, Cumberland, unless the Legislature will allow
an, o.ople Of the Northwest to construct a Road
through the State to tap the Baltimore and ONO
Road at or near Cumberland. viii the Legisa-
ture deny this right and act Of justice to the PeoPlei
We hope not. We cannot for one moment see how
sectional or selfish opposition can be made to bear
upon this Just demand of the people of the North
West. 1t cannot indeed be supposed that tue
Legislature of the boasted State of Virginia VIII