Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1851-04-29
VOL. 52.-NO. O..

other States north, west and south Of US ?
We are told, il is because OF the diver
sity--ihc antagonism Of interests between
the different seclions OF this S,a,e---ihai
whist nomInaily we are one people. ex.
ternslly so far as our relations 10 The fede-
raj government aud 10 our sister States
are concerned. we are one people--yet.
when we come TO look into our domestic
condition. we see such discoTdant and
heterogeneous mass OF elements combn-
ed onder one government. as TO render IL
unsafe TO trust The con,ro! OF its interests
TO a majority Of those constituting the peo.
pie Of this State, have been both anus
ed and amazed at the extravagance OF Ian.
gusge, in which gentlemen have thought
proper to indulge on this branch Of the
subject. The calm and philosophical gen.
tlemsn from The city OF Richmond Mr..
Incredibly tells US, that there is not TO ba
found 'isader Tie san people whose in
teresis are so dIssimilar as those Of the
different sections Of this State. The gen.
lleman from Goochland (Mr. Leake) has
ascertaned 10 his own satisfaction, not
only that there is this diversity OF interests,
but that there is an equal diversity in the
character Of the people. The gentleman
from Rockingham, Mr.. Fuqua,) unwll.
ing to believe that The rapid increase OF
population 10 western Virginia. could re.
suit from natural causes. OF even from en-
igranls from tho valley aud eastern por-
tons Of this Slate, has endeayored TO de-
monsiraie upon The principles Of Mal,hus
on population, that very large portion Of
the inhabitants must necessarily DE aiens
and foreigners. Sir, have no doubt there
are great many excellent and well mean.
ing persons in eastern Virginia, who have
very much the same idea Of the inhabi.-
ants Of western Virginia, as 10 some parts
OF Europe they seem to have Of the in.
habiianls Of North America country
which they believe 70 be ye, wholly PEG.
pied by the wild and roaming savages Of
the forest. know thysell7' is one Of the
proioundest maxims Of philosophy when
applied TO individual man. know thy
State" is a maxim Of equal value and i'm
portance 10 those who are entrusted with
the destinies Of great common wealth
In listening 10 this melancholy description
Of our State. one would be almost inclined
10 suppose, that we were torn 10 pieces
by those same unhappy and intestine feuds
which in Ireland. array Saxon against
Celtic blood--and in Hungary marshal
the Slavonic against the Magyar races
Bu, we must not mistake the high color.
ing which heated and par,izan eIoquence
have impaired TO The picture, for The so.
Der realities Of truth.
if,his diversity or antaganisn Of inter
ests existed in this State, 10 the extent 10
which gentlemen ia the indulgence Of a
felvid Imagination have pictured; lit be,
that we are people, so discordaot in our
sentiments, aud so hostile In our views Of
governmental policy, that we cannot Goa.
lessee under one government upon the
principle Of equality as freemer. 10 what
conclusions do such premises lead -
Surely not 10 the adoption Of that princi-
PIE which subjects majority Of such
community TO the control ofthe minority.
You can reach no such conclusion, upon
any principle recognized as the basis Of
our political compacts but il leads 10
the necessity, or certainly to the expedi.
ency Of al amicabIe severance OF the 50.
cial bond between such discordant and III.
assorted elements Of Union. The printis
pie Of force by which reluctant commune.
ties are held together, in opposition 10 their
own set.se Of their interests, finds no favor
on this continent, however much /, may
be practised on the continent Of Europe.
And yet where could be found In this as.
sembly the man, who would raise his pa.
ricidal arm against the integrity of this
Who would tolerate
such suggestion with patience The
would All every member with
horror. He would revol, it as calamity
equal to the severance Of his own soul
from his body. And why would il 6lI
every mind with horror Why would
we all, without exception, revolt at i, -
Because the heart Of the Judgment of
every man in this ball would at once Tell
him. that there was no such diversi,y az
no snch discordancv OF senti-a
neni cnongthe people of Virginia, as To-
justify resort TO any such extremity
And yet, whilst every mind would repei
with warmth the fact Of any snch sissimi.
larl'y OF interest as would Justify the sep
ara,ion 0! the State, into two distinct poll
teal associations, there are those who. az
a preiext for asurped power insist upon
the existence OF state Of facts amongst
us, which il true, would lead TO the very
conclusions from which they so unatfec.
tedly revolt.
We have been people for seventy FIVE
years-we have tested each other amid
the calamlties Of war and amidst the bless
ings OF peace--we have passed through
periods OF acute suffering and Of profound
embarrassment, and yet will any gentle
man be so good as to name TO me, one sin.
gle fact, in all Of our history which exhib.
its the slightest diversity OF interest or SEN.
timent, 10 all that constitute the character.
istics OF one people. II is true, Won will
fad some variety Of opinion, as 10 the
true policy OF the government, IN the mat.
ters OF taxation and expenditure. ,raceabIa
TO the proximity TO or distance OF the dif.
ierent sections Of the State. from the
means o. communication with ma,ket.-
nut 'nese varieties Of opinion are not De.
caliar TO any one section of the State. but
are alike to be seen ia all. They existin
every shade Of opinion in eastern Virgin
ia From tie gentleman from rauon;ex