Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1851-08-19

.agE Eastern messl,er-en this fsver ii he cnter-
tains the slightest apprehension Of such a
| results Whatever NAV have been the state
Of public sentiment ID the State twenty years
ago 10 regard to the delicate and dangerous
subject Of emancipation, that time has gone
| by and upon this point there is now no d.
sersity Of opinion either in the East or the
West. The pressure Of external influences
has driven US eompaetly together lhe
threatening demon of northern fanaticism has
caused every Nirginian, whether IN the East
or the Vest, to moveup shoulder to shoulder
and close ranks to meet the threatened dan
ger. On that point we are now, aud 1 am
gratifed to see it, cmphatlcally united Peo-
/ people.
In the second place, upon the subject OF
taxation, II recognizes the dd ratoreM prin-
ciple In modified form extending it SO far
AS the committee supposed could be done
without great Inconvenience to the tax payer,
and heavy expense to the State in assess.
ing the value Of the almost infinite variety of
property, which, under the unlimited appli-
cation Of the principle, would come under ITS
operation.
But this subject has already been so full
ly discussed By others, that pass from it to
Etho more important one appropriations for
internal improvements. And here the great
point aimed, is two fold first, to confirie the
application of the State resources, either in
money or credit, to what may be termed the
great arterial works which have or will have
an important and direct bearing upon the
prosperity and welfare of the State at large.
And secondly, to prohibit the State as far as
practicable, from engaging in any work, either
on the joint principle or otherwise, which
will not, when completed yield dividends e.
quivalent to the interest accruing ON the
debt contracted to make the work,
In effecting these objects and aims. | APP
prehed there are few members of this body
who arc unwilling to cooperate. Every one,
| doubt not is DESTROYS to cut up by the
roots the wretchcd system of log-rolling
which has already brought SO much discredit
ON the legislation of the State and which
threatens disasterous consequences as well to
the public morals as to the public credit
To consider in detail the provisions proposed
by the committee for accomplishing these ends
would necessarily lead me into a much wider
range of debate than would be proper at this
time. content myself, therefore, with sim
ply announcing for the present, the general
results sought to be effected; reserving for
the proper occasion, more minute and crit
zeal examination of this interesting and i'm
portant subject.
If these results can be attained, as ! am
satisfied they can, at least proximately they
furnish, in my humble judgement measure
and kind OF pro lection to property as COM
plcte as the nature of the case admits Of; and
vastly more effectual than, according to past
experience. can possibly be afforded by an
Eastern majority in the halls of legislation.
| now ask the attention Of the committee
for few moments to one or two concluding
reflections. My friend from Meclcnburg,
(Mr GooDE,) greatly to my surprise and re-
greet, spoke not only of the different races
found in the State. but also about war be-
tween the East and West. Sir, the word
grated harshly on my ears. War in the
family and among the children of one CON-
mon mother War! When and how to be
brought about ? VIII gentlemen en-
dorse the doctrine of the distinguished
gentleman from the city of Richmond,
(Mr. LYoNs.) who said that he would
rather see the State divided than that the
suffrage basis should become part ofour po-
litical system? Will that sentiment find
respoIc in this body. or in the Eastern com
munity What is the condition of things
Has the storm cloud which hung over the
Union short time since, filing the minds
of all rejecting men and pure prtriots with
the deepest anxiety for the safety of the
Union been wholly dispclled? Sir, this very
day my heart sank within me, upon learning
from one who knows, that in sister State of
this Union the gallant State of South Coro-
lima (and whatever may think Of her con-
duct now, at least, is not the time to speak
of her in terms of rcproach) there is cool,
deliberate, moody, determined, quiet but
firm and fixed resolve to sever this Union
The cloud is not dispelcd 1t yet hangs
in the horizon with all its angry por-
tents Secession is determined on. What
is to follow? Can any one even reasonably
hope that war will not be the result? And
if it does, who cannot see, that Virginia must
from her position, necessarily become involv-
ed in 1t, aud that not merely as part of the
Union, but in her separate and sovereign ca
pacity. And what time is this for our
Eastern friends not only to deny to our
Western brethren equality of political con-
dition, but to grayely discuss the subject of
war. not only between the North and the
South, but between Eastern and Western
Virginia. What a time, | ask, is this to
talk about dismembering the stateY To
ALLEVIATE and throw off the West, and that too
upon a subject the most delicate and DANCE
rous that can possibly arise? We know not
what will be the result We know not when
the storm may burst We know not but
that the great ruler of human events, the
God of Providence, in punishment of nation
al sins by us half forgotten, but by him reg
istered against us. may with stern justice de-
termine in this way to scourge us for those
sins What then, in this view of the case,
should be our course Ought we not to
draw together as brethren of common fam
lily and as such prepare to meet whatever
may befall us
But, again, the storm may come from the
opposite quarter The crusade of northern
fanaticism against Southern institutions may
assume an active form--rash counsels and
repeated provocations may bring about an
actual conflict of arms. Where will the