Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1846-04-09
To The Editor Of The .1fartinsB,ae Gasetfe

SIR-it IS eminendy proper, upon 50 grave
4 matter, as aproposed change in the Consntu-
tion Of the State that your readers should have
an opportunity to hear both sides Of the ques-
ton. For this purpose request YOU to pub
fish IN your paper OF the 9Th Of April, the fol-
lowing extracts from the speech Of Valentine
w. Soutball. Esq, delivered in the House Of
Delegates on the 9th of February last
ANTi-CONNENWONIST.
The gentleman from Botetour has Just said
;hat he opposed the bill reroued bv the Select
Committee proposing an organization Of a con
yeut'on on what Is called the mixed basis,
should the people declare in favor ola conyen-
ton on the ground already expressed by the
gentleman from Wythc that he came here
for common Justice and for relief from the OPP
preston of the majority in this HouSe-a ma
iority, as the gentlemen was pleased TO inti-
mate, who refused appropriations for internal
mproyanent-whom turned a deaf ear to the
claims Of tie West, and who were insensible
to the just demands of The people in that Por-
ton OF the commonwealth
A declaration Of this sort, Mr. S. said, came
with an i'll grace from the quarter it did. lie
had ever stood on that floor as the advocate Of
a prudent and rational system Of internal I'M
proveuent With a constituency whose hbe-
raj and enlightened views as to State policy
gave to their delegates here a reasonable dis
cretion upon the subject, without lettering their
minds and teing their hands on questions OF
general and public interest, he had, during his
legislative course, looking, as he trusted be did,
in the 'scbarge of his duties. 10 his own PEG
pie, and to the commonwealth at large, gone
for those measures Of internal Improvement
which he thought best calculated TO advance
the common interests Of a common country.
He had endeavored to impress similar views
upon the extreme Eastern gentlemen. He
was satisfied that the agitation of the question
OF State Convention, was occaS!oned solely
By thissubject ofiniernal improvement There
might be, here and there, in the opinion Of
somc, defects, real or imaginary, IN the existing
constitution but these, alone, would never be
sufficient 10 overthrow it-would never induce,
Mr. $. Thought. a prudent and rejecting peo-
pie to upun the Sociafa to innoyate upon,
or to reform il. He had, therefore, AT this aud
previous sessions, urged upon Underwater gen
jemcn. to whom the Creator had been most
homtiful il blessing with broad rivers and
uaVioable streams, TO vote reasonable appTO-
priatons 10 our Western brethern, to aid them
IN overcoming their mountains, and finding an
avenue to the East with the wealth which IS
now locked from us by impossible barIers-to
do more: to bring US closer together-to make
us more homogeneous-lo strengthen the bands
that unite US, and to form us IN interest, what
we are politically, one people--the same and
indivisible twas therefore, Mr.. S. said, with
no little surprise, that he heard the gentleman
from Botetourt,-who had Just taken his seat,
charging upon the majority OF this House,
upon the Eastern portion Of the State. oppres-
sion Of the West--oppTession Of the West IN
refusing appropriations to internal improve
ment, abiding, as MIR. S. supposed, to the de-
feat on Saturday last, OF the James River and
kanawha BILL Sir, with what justice IS this
allegation made2 If the gentleman viii but
look among his own household, if he viii but
Turn his eye to his western ranks, he will there
see who It was that inflicted the injury upon
him-that gave the blow which dashed his
hopes, and caused his lamentations and whilst
the gentleman utters his wailing, and pours
forth his regrets At the loss Of a measure which
be had so much at heart, he cannot say the
East did III No sir; when the time had come,
when enough Eastern gentlemen stood forward,
10 aid the Westin Obtaining a greatand desirable
improvement, Just as il is about TO enter the
bosom Of the Valley, to gladden. the hearts, and
10 realize, to a great extent, the hopes OF our
brethren there, Its approach Is forbidden, and
lis progress arrested BY the vote Of some tlgen-
n. one members frontbe ifest a vote disastrous