Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1855-09-01
SALEM coLuMB1ANA COUNTY Onto SATURDAY SEPTEMBER

| To our unsophisticated view, the commercial
lines already marked out are in the main such
routes as military defence requires. We call at
tcntion to tho map of Virginia. IL will be found
thut the northern frontier presents what Ia militia
~ rarlanco we believe is called q salient angle.
The northwestern face Of this angle is covered by
tho Ohio, and the north eastern, to extent by
! the Potomac. Neither of these rivers could be
crossed by an invading army if we'll defended, but
the space between them, constituting the point of
the angle and portion Of its right face, has no
such protection.
! Moreover, the ranges Of the mountains and the
rivers from the centre OF the state towards this
open space, and thus present avenues of approach
instead of lines of defence Here, then, is the
weak point on the northern frontier On the east
We are wholly exposed to maritime invasion. An
enemy. master of the ocean, could land where he
likes. There is but one protected point, and that
| is Hampton Roads. A feet entering the cam ps
with army on board, might lard it in Lyndhaven
bay, within twelve miles of Norfolk, in York
river within forty miles Of Richmond.
| Fort tunately for us, however, the railroads al
ready constructed or updor contract, radate from
these two points to the Interior and need but com
pletion to afford the desirable Of concen'ra-
ting force at either point. We should say, COM
pletc without delay the Petersburgh and Norfolk
and the Richmond and York River roads, for the y
are military roads Of the first Importance
On the north, matters not so fayorhbly situa-
ted, but STILL even here many of the roads tend in
the right direction. The road from Ilarper's Fer.
ry to Wheeling, partly on our own and partly on
friendly SOIL furnishes of communica.
tion from one flank to the other of the weak posi-
tion on the northern frontier The Parkers branch
runs off in n southwesterly direction the Hamp-
shire and London road to the southeast and the
IIarper's Ferry and Charleston road, together
with the McAdamzed road from the latter place to
Staunton, leads off TO the South.
| But it will be observed that two-thirds Of the
trans Allegheny region is wholly insulated--tha,
Lit has no communication with the northern from
tier, except precarious one of the Ohio, and none
with Eastern Virginia. Yat, this very region is
the seat of large proportion of the military
strength of the state containing, as it dees, ma
jority of the white population.
| lis as If we had citadel filled with men, and
outworks feebly manned, with communication
from one to the other. The Coviugton and Ohio
road pierces through the heart of this region, and
will, when finished, pourits military strength eth
er upon the seaboard. by the way of Staunton and
Richmond. or upon the northern frontier, by the
way of Staunton and IIarper's Ferry
| Its obvious then, at a glance that the most i'm
portant military road in the state is the Covingtor
and Ohio road, for it not only develops the strength
uf the trans-Aleghana region of our own state. bu
connects us with Kentucky. So long therefore
rs this road is unfinished, the right arm OF the
state may be regarded paralysed. 1t would
be entirely useless to raise an army on the banks
Iof the kanawha to succor the exposed northern
tuonNef, or inc uelencelcSs seaDOaru, lor rue cam
paign would be decided before it could oxtricat,
itself from the mountain ranges East of tina
river.
The completion of the Covington and Ohio road
md the filing up the gaps between Staunton ant
tlarper's Ferry, seem indispensable necessary tt
place the military detences of the State on
'espcrtahle footing The Lynchburgh AMI Char
uttesville road is also important facilitating thu
connection Of the northern frontier with the north
Nest.
We call upon the legislature to consider she's
matters, and to give military fnrce, and thu
means of using il. Let it be done calmly and with
ut threat or menace. Avoid every measure cal
:ulated to wound our friends, but omit nothing
negessary for Defence
Practical measures. and not abstract resolutions
ire what the people wish and expect. No excep
lion can be taken to the measures we have indica
ted, for they are strictly constitutional, and emf
nently proper. Carry then out, and we shall b
ready Cor whatever fate has in store for ps.