Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1845-01-23
GOVERNORS SPECIAL MESSAGE.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
December, ioII


December, lsil.
herewith communicate 'ihe proceed
ines of the convention held in Ciarks
burg" ID October last, which have been
Forwarded by order Of that body With the
reques, that would lay lhsm before
yours. This | now do, and with The
greater pleasure from the conviction long
enterained tina, the line OF improvement,
OF Of commercial connexion with tie At
lpntic, which these proceedings, taken 10
th ir general aspecf, recommended as the
best for the North Western portion Of the
Stale which IT'S geographical situation
will admit OF, and IS such, also, as prac-
ideally 10 involve no injury to the interest
OF any other portion. That no such nju-
ry IS involved, am well aware is not the
universal opninn upon this subject, the
necessary eff CT, as Il Is someilmt sop
posed, &c establishing this coLnexlen be-
ng the transfer 10 tue capital cf another
State OF the trade which wouli, be brought
otter the completion Of the James River
and kaDawha Improvement to The capital
of our own. Whether this effect would
or eouli not follow the establishment
through our own territory IF The connex.
ION proposed, i IS perfectly manlt' 81 tha,
i IS sn 81 CT which does not ne essarily
depend upon any legislation OF ours, but
5 one, which II It follows al all viii as
certainly 10 so without our legislation as
win it. There are many poIrts upon
the ONO River and upon some Of is nav
gable aud improved tributaries, not be-
Ioug1ng to US, from which the rounexion
with Baltimore is oaiy less eligible than
through he limits Of our own State, and
from which, therefore, the apprehenced
Influence. whHever II be, upon the oper-
an rs 0f our cenrl Iiue VII jus, as GER
toinly aud as el'-etu ly take pace as
from any where else.
As long as the great coptals Of Phia-
delpbia and Baltimore are accessible to
the trade Of tie Ohio from pinsburg and
Brownsville BY tines Of Improvement
which facilitate aud cheaper transporter
ton TO The utmost, 50 long viii all gisla-
tive restraints upon the use OF our territo-
nv with view 10 arrest thst traie or to
keep it in reserve for the contingent con-
pletlon Of the James River aud Kanawha
Improvement, be utterly unavailrg -
Were this Improvement even completely
finished and IN full ope alton, il would not
be possible for il TO afford a rate Of trans
porteti0D, or other commercial induce-
ments, so much better for the Northwes-
tern trade than could be afforded to 4 by
the Philadelphia and Baltimore lines as to
ou,bid them in the rivalry for il unless,
indeed, it would be a: seasons Of the year
when these upper lines would De rendered
unspproachable by drought or ice, and IN
that case II would become an auxiliary
with them and not competitor.
Ii this view is correct, the exclusion
from our limits of the Improvement pro
posed would be worthless as a measure Of
protection and could operate only as one
of much and gtaturtous evil. 1t would
not only drive from our people resources
serviceable alike to them and 10 those
contributing, but would, in fact condemn
one portion oil the State 10 legislative OBJ.
struc,ion upon the nero peradventure,
and that a mistaken peradvenlure too, OF
its improvement interfering with another,
and would thus lnfllct an act OF positive
injustice the more grevious because un-
accompanied by the hope even of equiv
elenl advantage. No legislative expodi-
ents which we can adopt will ever render
the city Of Baltimore less near or less ne.
cessary as market Tor the North west.
ern anG some of the valley couqties Of the
State.
Such, indeed, is lis eminent value as a
commercial metropolis to them and such
the relative importance Of those produc-
tive portions to the State at large, that,
The in,eres, of Virginia in the growth, the
power and prosperity Of that city, is on.
ly inferior to her interests 10 the kindred
growth and condition OF Richmond and
Norfolk.
Without entering al al into the CUES.
ton whether Parkersburg or Wheeling
or any other point is the best terminating
one for the contemplated Railway from
Baltimore 10 the Ohio River, but regard
ing that connection itself as being in the
highest degree valuable 10 the CONNER.
cial interests OF the Northwestern coun-
ties Of the State, submit, most respect.
fully, recommendation in lis behalf
JAMES M'DOWELL
To me honorable the Speaker of The
House Of Delegates.
The Hon. SAMUEL CuLToN, at present
n member OF the House OF Representatives.