Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1845-09-25

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and unused strip Of River along Writings
Neck--which never has been used, and
never can subserve the wants OF her eIii-
zens. This modest appropriation Of the
whole River Coast Of the County, is me-
cessafily made 10 include within the new
limits the garden spot Of Berkeley--tak-
inn ID the rich lands OF the River and the
falling walers--wIth all the River mills
il the County. To any impartial mind,
the gross and papsble inju tice Of this
needs no illustration and inea pursuing
the consideration, as geographical cues.
non, the following results are produced:--
a compact, oblong County, about twenty
five or thirty miles long by about twenty
wide = is transformed niotw irreguisrly-
shaped territories, inierIockiDg each other
generally about eight or ten miles vide
sna 25 miles long from end to end
the County Seats, as'tinsburg and
HedpesvllIe, seven miles apa:t-ant each
one not more than four miles from the
County lines, respectively, IN some places;
while they are twenty miles dlstapt and
more from the remote ends of these Coon-
ties--tbe two, shaped like tuo boots, The
foo, OF each one resting over the top Of the
other. This is NJ attempt 10 rdIcule the
plan. Let any one o. your Honorable
body mark out the limits as stated IN the
notice. and he will see that by no other
description can the shSpe of the two be
more aptly described and thus while the
citizens oil the New County, from the
River near Honey wood Mills and from
their Southern County line, will have but
three or four miles 10 tfayelto their Cnun.
ty Seat, the citizens from the South West
corner Of their County will have to travel
a bad road for more than twenty--and so
Maf,insburg will be but -four miles from
the then Northern boundary oj Berkeley,
while the worthy citizen from the zoe OF
the boot, on Brush Creek, must travel
twenty, crossing Mountains and Mountain
streams.
Blu, this is not the most serious objection
10 this strange project. Il Is, IN an eco
nomcaI aud social point oil view, that IT
appears most Objectionable.
We have already greet causes Of com
pIalnt--in the amount which we have to
pay in poor rates and County levies.--
We Aave already good Couri- House
Gaol, Poor House and land attached TO
il, some Bridges butt aud all,h County
edi6ees acluJing excellent Clerks ODI-
ces, paid Tor and sufficient for our wants
land yet such has been the emigration
from our County to the attractive Western
County, aud 10 such moderate limits has
our County been already confined by
two previous divisions OF it--ihat we feel
as burden often, the taxas imposed for
County purposes. Do those who advo.
cate this splitting in two Of our venerable
old County consider what It VIII cost them
TO buld a Court. House, Jail, Clerks OF
fees, Poor.II ouse--and meet the annual
expenditure indispensable for Clerks Sher'
ifs, JsiIors, Attorneys for the Common
wealth, Assessors and officers for the poor!
and 10 what end--(or what supposed re
sultng good Is it not manifest that the
larger the County the lighter the burden
The larger the community The more res.
peciabIe the County town The more
respectable all classes oil those citizens
who compose the towns What has been
The ell.ct If small Counties IN this State,
bat to sprinkle The State over with patty
villages, where tho professional men, the
merchants and the mechanics are neceS
sally what their meagre opportunities
make them? Let them compare the RS
ing cites Of the adjoining State, Mary
land. (who has preserved her large Coun-
ties and thus fostered her towns with
the villages oil Virgnia-her towns sta
tionary-her territory cut up INTO small
Counties, with diversity of interest, feel
ing, and trade.
How often i. has happened, that the
exercise of this (in our oplnonl ru'nous
policy, has been dictated by personal
pique--the disappointed ambition OF some
two or three persons desiring the small
Offices of the Counties, or the soaring
ambition of those who aspire to be Clerks,
Sherifis, and Attornies for the Common
wealth and the like. it would be hard to
say. but curious TO know. Your memo
rlasts 10 saving this, mean no imputatlon
upon the movers in this scheme-because
lney choose 10 make no Cldi &c W ''hP'"P'
er motives, where they do not know that
such exist, but they choose to allnde to
the possibility of some such motives, be-
cause such have operated banefully IN
other similar projects, though unknown
to your Honorable body; and because
they cannot, with all their reflection, con-
ceve of any sound and good reasons ioi
pressing measure fraughtswth nothing
but injury to both sections Of the County
thus sough, to be divided.
In signing this memorial, your petition.
ers have. IN separate columns, designated
those of us who reside in the proposed
New County, and those who live in the
smaller and more unfortunate par; which
is to be excided from the more fortunate
New County which is to have the best
lands and all the River boundary.
STATUE OF MIR. CLAY.
Wa ara authorised nv the Assistant