Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1851-05-06

pared 10 admit that this branch ofthe sub.
jeet is attended with greater difficulty and
embarrassment than the adoption OF any
mere system OF taxation. But the diff
culties are far from being insuperable--
They do not result from the want Of ade-
quste remedies 10 meet any conceivable
evil that can be suggested. but they re-
suit from the conflicting views of every
portion Of this State, without the slightest,
regard to an eastern or wesiern locality
and from the condition in which we now
find ourselves so far as the great internal
improvement interests of this Common
wealth is concerned. If we were like
North Carolina and some other States
which have never undertaken any works
OF internal improvement, either as part
ners or sole proprietors. OF il our situation
was like that of Maryland, which has now
nearly finished her grea, schemes Of in
,efnal communication, or like New York
which has airesdy completed be system,
the subjec, would De relieved of all diff
Guilty. But we have unfortunately expen.
ded too much Of our funds IN petty and
local Improvements 10 The neglect Of those
great arteries Of trade which alone are gor.
thy Of Stale patronage. These great
Channels Of commerce are upon our hands,
unfinished, with millions OF our money in.
vested in them, and il has, therefore, be-
come our imperative duly, as mere nat
Ter Of economy and finance, unless We in.
tend to sink all we have invested in these
enterprises, po. 10 destroy the policy, but
to seek 10 regulate il, and 10 guard ,ia fu-
lure from abuse. am no enemy to libe-
raj and enlightened system of internal i'm.
provements. iseek TO rescue such sys.
tenn from the weights which have hereto.
fire oppressed, il. ] wishto give 10 il di4
rec,ion from which great and practical
State results may flow.
In looking al the policy Of many Of the
States, situated as We are, and which have
in their constitutions sought to guard a.
gains, the very evils which have so iniu-
rioasly influenced our policy, we end
variety Of safeguards, which have been
found in practice 10 answer the purpose.
have already presented one scheme TO
this body myself, and my colleague, (Mr.
HUNTER, as chairman Of The COMMITTEES
on guarantees, has also presented yaaa-
bic series Of propositions for the considera-
ton OF the convention. The gentleman
from Loudoun, (Mr JANaEY) has indi
Gated those limitations upon this power,
whichin his judgement would be sufficien,
TO guard il from abuse, without destroying
the benefits which may flow from lis ex.
ercise. There is no difficulty in reaching
a correct conclusion on this subject. /
do not propose upon this occasion, for |
have not the strength to do so, TO 90 into
any examination Of the comparative mer.
its Of the several proposition now before
this body. II will be time enough to do
so when we have these limitations more
directly and Immediately under our con-
sideration. 1t is sufficient for me to be
able TO state that so far as the district which
| have the honor to represent is concerned
and, | believe, so far as the entire valley
is concerned--and so far as any expression
OF opinion has been heard from The entire
west on this floor, that there will be an al.
most unanimous concurrence Of opinion
in imposing such proper and wholesome
limitations upon that power as will etfec-
tually guard it from abuse. More than
this no one has right to demand.
Now, sir, il is conceded that these lin
,aiions will afford all the proper and ne
cessary projection against any abuse Of
taxing and approprialing powers of the
government; that in truth they afford an
efficient and certain protection where the
mixed basis principle affords none But
it is triumphanily asked, Quis custodu
custodies How will you protect the linz
iialions: How will you guarantee the
guarantees No sooner have you gov
ernment based upon white population
than you will oy means Of your majority
in the legislature call another convention
Of the people, and have all these limita.
lions rescinded, Sir, these fears are idle,
groundless, and manifest an extraordinary
want of knowledge Of the character OF the
western people, aud Of their sentiments
and interests. But kaow il is idle 10 rea.
son with gentlemen, who are so much IN
der the dominion of their fears as to an
nounce that their wa,chward are "suspi-
cion and dstrus,;" whose jealousies are so
vigildnt and corrodng as TO make them
even cistrustui OF their own cities, and
disposed by constitutional limitations TO
curtall them OF their proper representative
power, as they wish 10 do that Of the
western portion of this State. But Cor
my own part and so far as my own o.
?inions are concerned. feel no difficulty
10 protecting these guarantees by still fur
Their Limitations upon the powers Of the
General Assembly. ! should be willing
to adopt the suggestions contained in the
report OF the committee on guaran-
ties. which while they leave the con.
stiiuiion open for amendment upon all
other points, withhold these particular lin.
iiations, adopted as a sort OF compact be-
tween the east aud west, from any pow.
eI Of disturbance by the legislature. Or
| shall feel no hesitation in declaring that
if the constitution which We are now franz
shall modify the right Of suffage--make
the governor. circuit judges, and all coun-
" officers. elective by The people--piace
Just and wholesome Limitations on the
taxing and spppropriating powers Of the
government, IN all which reforms there is
a general concurrence Of opinion in this
body, and shall place representation upon
its true republican basis, that | viii most
cheerfully vote for provision to be inser.
ted in the constitution iorbidding the leg
islature to call any future convention of