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

ourselyes,--viz., the wrong application OF
correct principle. Now il is certainly
true, that "ihe major interests Of State
are not to be sacrificed to the minor" as
is alleged by the Lyuchburg virgiuian.
But how will that establish proposition
the writer is contending fort Let US try
1t IN the syIogostc form. That writer
would state it IN this way. The major
interests of the State are not to be sacTlfl-
ced to the minor. The James River i'm
ptoyemenl is the major interest Of the
ced TO any other. This sounds pretty
well; and has have no doubt all the har-
mony oftruih, IN the ears of those exclu-
sively devoted to that interest. Lot US
now vary the form OF thu syllegIsm lit
de, but perfectly retaining its substance.
Thus--the minor Interests Of the Stale are
10 be sacrificed 10 the major. A II the in
terests Of Virginia are minor TO the James
River interests, therefore all must be
sacrificed to it. This does not sound so
we!l--A murmer of dissent 10 il would
rise from every hill and valley of the com.
monwealth not embraced within that
James River interest sought TO oe made
so absorbing. You see, Mr.. Chairman,
how phrases can be juggled with-how
easily propositions substantially the same
can be made to assume contradictory as.
poets, and how equally necessary II is that
principle should be correctly applied, as
that il should be correct in itself, ii we
would make it true guide to sound con-
illusions. If the one under discussion is
applicable to justify what certainly seems
to be hard" in the fate with VIII Ich we
are threatened, il may with equal force
be used TO justify all the expressions It has
been so long used to viudcate, satisfacto-
rly enough TO the oppressors but never
yet TO the oppressed. How readily would
it justify the partition Of Poland, which
is reg 4rdes by history as the great nation
al crime of Europe. Thus--The major
interests Of Europe are not to be sacrifi-
ced to the minor-The Interests Of the
par,ition:Dg powers are the major interests
Of Europe compared with the interests of
Poland, and must be promoted whatever
it may cost her. So, too, how easy it
would have been to justify by the same
mode of reasoning, all the aggressons of
the mother country, which brought on
our Revolution. For her interests she
might well allege were tho major inter-
ests of the empire, and the minor inter-
ests OF the Colonies should give way to
them. There is no tyrant in the world
vino would ask for the admission by his
subjects of any other principle than that,
sanction his acts, and to command their
obedience if you would only let him be
the Judge OF what are the major interests
Of the State. Mr.. Chairman had thought,
that in the country, we have been deliver.
ed from all such contrivances Of oppres-
sion--l had thought they had been shiver.
ed by the sword Of the revolution, and
that we held our condition of safety and
our means of pursuing happiness by
more certain tenure than could ever be
afforded by the varying decisions ofn.
terested judges upon what they might deem
the major and the minor interests Of So
ciety. thought that we had recognized
such things as natural rights, unalienable
and Fever TO be sacrificed to any expedi-
ency whatever be it majo or minor; for
that their sacred maintenance was the
maximum interest of mankind. As this
cannot be denied, but is truth as dear to
our opponents as 20 ourselves, they can
only maintain their position by denying
that we have any right to what they re-
fuse us; and they will perhaps disdainful.
ly ask--whether acts incorporation are
among the natural rights Of mankind?
Now, however triumphant they may
think this defence OF their conduct, it is
easily overthrown. Every enumeration
Of human rights, must be of ends not
means, as the latter are infinite and vary
with the progress of society. Among
those ends and aims of existence,
which are recognized by US as natural
rights, is the improvement of ourconditon
and the pursuit of happiness. Falcities
of transportation are absolutely essential
to that Improvement and pursuit. And
these facilities are relative. What an.
swered the exigencies of one age or
country become, in progress of improve
ment, utterly inadequate to those ofanotA-
er. Therefore it is the facility which is
lHdt oCSoDCo itiC cSsSH-
tial to an end, whose enjoyment is nat
ural right; and being so, becomes indenti-
fed with that right. Try the question
under discussion by that principle, and
see the result. Here is a large portion
Of the Commonwealth, embracing in ex-
tent nearly quarter of its territory and
a region wholly mountainous, and Who'll.
ly destitute ofthose great facilities oftrans.
poriaton, which have become State ne
cessities. Tha. they are so cannot be
doubted; for no country without them
can maintain any agricultural, CONNER.
cial or manufacturing competition with
those which have them; but its best pop
ulation must desert it, and the abandoned
remnant degenerate into Migrants of the
wild thickening around them. The Gov.
ernor Of the Commonwealth last winter
announced from his station and under the
solemn obligation of its responsibilities,
that such was the destiny which emmi.
nently threatened trans-Alleghanian Vr-
ginia. Now is not it among the natu.
raj rights Of those people to have the full
an,ov,pant nc Ill the mpanS thav nan rom.