Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1847-03-11

III COMMERCIAL prosperity was dSeIlUs1 lew
days since, BY the mcrnbe. from HARRISON, %
the Tariff 1916. Mr.. : asc,ibed il 70 very diff
ferrnt causes. Prior to the Revolution, Charles
Ton and Norfolk were the largest importing
towns in the u. States The commercial in
tercourse was then principally with the AiedI-
,erranean, and the ports South OF Europc---and
the great line OF navigation. across the Attain
tic, was South Of the Chesapeake. Hence
those cities were the principal importing places.
Since the Revolution The trade has been going
North, because skill in navigation had dIscoy-
cred route one-ihIfd shorter. For that reason
frs, Philadelphia, and then New York, and
now Boston, became the great importing towns
Of the Union. They were IN The line Of the
great highway for the trade with Europe
BESIDES, TIE foreign trade row was principally
with the Norihsn RI ports Of Europe. These
causes have operated TO charge tie locality OF
tue great depots Of foreign commerce IN the
United States, aud would ultimately make
boston The greatest conmefeisl city ia Amer
ica. Richmond could never be great COM
ulcrciaI city, because the channel OF trade was
ID the Northern route 10 Europe. RIO de ia.
nero must become greater city IN South
America, because of the commerce TO that
quarter OF the weird, aud il was a stopping
place Tor commerce with the Pacific. Lon
don is abe great commercial emporium Of the
world because abe is on the line Of the COM
p1eree Of the world For the same reason
I anton is the first commercial CITY OF Asia
Independent OF the consideration that Rich
niond was not IN the line OF trade, before des-
cfibed, there were barriers IN the way OF reach
lag IL from the Northwest that could not be
overcome, and forced the commerce from that
quarter OF the State IN ditierent direction.
MIR SrEPHESsos would present another
view he considered most worthy the deliberate
consideration OF the Legislature. ii WAS this
that II both the great projected wo1ks--ue
central line, aud Baltimore and OHIO Railroad
were constructed 10 the Ohio, there was ample
Trade, ample commerce 10 employ them both.
Had gentlemen looked at the population OF the
great Valley OF the Mississippi la 1890 il
amounted only 10 100, 0UU, aud now il was
nearly half the population oiihe United States
being upwards Of 6,uU0,OOo- The popnla-
ton had doubled in ~ Years. When the Bal
umore Company was chartered IN II the
whole population ol tie Valley was little
more ihan 4,W0,00N. The company then
regarded that population and the trade ltcould
supply as sufficient TO justify their enterprise OF
constructing lhcr fuad to tie Ohio. Ii was
now more dian doubled Mir CALHous III
has report To the senate last w.nlrr, estimated
that III twenty yeats the population would be
2J,UW,OUUl hen As 10 TIE commerce OF that
vast country. II had exhibited no less surpri.
sng iuCre;tsr In lSi1 the usde Of the Mis-
ssslppi and trIbutaries amounted TO 600 tons,
and now II amounts 10 HE aggregate Of lbu,
UUU tons. Then there were few fiat boats
employed upon thai lnlghty stream Oh " hose
bosom now Hoai nne hundred steamboats, ac-
lively employed III The extensive commerce
which has grown up IN that ieeInins valley
I'he whole export trade Of the United States
amounts TO about 100000, $50, IN value while
the commerce o. tire Mississippi valley is estl-
mated at $500, 600, Ct0-three tunes as great as
the entire export trade oil the United States
east your eye, SAID MIR. =. from the Lakes 10
tho high lands between Texas aad Arkansas,
aud from the submits OF tie Ai!cghanies 10
the tops Of the stony nlountalns-whIch IN
cludcS the great baslR known as the valley Of
the Mlssisslppl-embracmg an area OF about
100000 square ulles, aud capable OF sus-
tanning population oil ovcra hundred inil-
hons OF proplc--a country which. whether we
consider the variety ol It's climate, the richness
OF is productions, the boundless extent oil It's
,ralres, the MAJESTY OF Its MYERS or the LOTT
ness of It's mountains, n. Yer has had us equal
AN empire more powerful than lone IN The
zenith OF her glotl. he nind OF man can
not tOrct.ll the mighty Gesl,ny OF that country,
OF estimate the influence II was Yet 10 eAeit
over The policy aud laws ai iiie American con
nnent And can II be possible, SAID MIR. S.
that the poor boon we ash s>Io be denied US.
because the improvement we propose, VIII
take small share OF The vasl commerce OF this
great Valley " hoover lives 80 Years. will
nee the black horse naversing the IncS OF I'M,
proveneut through the passes OF the noun
talns from various ponts--bcarlne their tens
OF thousands OF passengers, aud millions oil
tons OF freight TO then destined ports. There
would be trade enough ior ail--Iof every pro-
Iected improvement from the Ono, whether
st Fishing Creek al " hechng. al Parkers-
burg, or Guyandous. ] he nind IS lost I'D con
rrmpatng the mighty county beyond the Al
ltshanles. a statesman looking al II, would
see that the Improvements proceed, would
hc wholly inadequate To the transportation oil
the extensive commerce afiorced by that re-
gion. Mr. STEPHENSON begged the House not
to test this question by the ephemeral wants
Of the day, tut with reference To those expand
ed views which ought ever 10 characterize ths
legislation Of a great State.
/, being after o'clock, Mr.. SrEFHENsoS
gave way for a motion by Mr. EhcY. Tor the
adjournment OF the House, winch prevailing.
th' liouS" adjourned.
FRrpAY, January %.
All O'Clock the House resumed the consld
Grafton Of the bIi Incorporating the Potomac
and OHIO Railroad CcAlaUt. Mr. S1LPHEs'
sos being entitled to the hor7. proceeded with
ms remarks IN continuation.
Mr.. STEPHENSON saI1 when the House ad
lourned Yesterday ne had been addressing an
aIgumeut 10 the trends OF the ccnuai line, 10
obvla;e lhetr objection that Tie proposed road
would interfere with the interests ., thai line.
How ter be had succeeded, II was not Tor HIM
- say; they must be the judges. In his own
mind, from the reflection ne mad gwen TO the
subject, he Vas convinced that no such injury
a, that apprtAended would tnsue. lie mad
nearly concluded what he had 10 say on that
branch Of his subject when the House adjourn
Cd. He would add enc solitary remark on
tins point nov, and pass 10 another part ot,he
discussion. lie had assumed in his argument
tina, there coad be no competition between
the companies, aud he predicaied his opinion
on the increase Of population and trade Of the
West. Judging from that increase, he had
assumed that the trade would be ample for all
The works which should reach the ONO River.
lie would state fact in reference to the in