The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1866-12-31

ton, to settle the capital question. This
taken for granted, tho next ConSidCrn-
ton that comes up is, where shall the
capital be located? There Hre three
prominent points now discussing their
claims ClHrksburE, Buckhannon and
Charleston, each ono making out what
may be styled good ease, viewed cc
puIt6: but must sny that Clurksburg
has filed the strongest plea and plea
which has not been answered
by either of the other places. The
centralitv and accessibility of Clnrks-
burg are so apparent that the
advocates of tho other points
cannot get over them, and consequently
they have rpSorted to tho unfair means
of nssailing the citizens of the place
and that uujuStly, in order TO dispnrREe
tho claims of ClHrkshurg. Persistent
attacks have been made upon the 10y
atty of the citizens Of Clnrksburg and
Harrison county, and these attacks are
unjust. ClHrkSburg and Harrison
county have many rebels. What town
or county i'll West Virginia has not?
But let us examine the reverse of the
picture. Ciarksburg and Harrison
county have II large number of the
most true and tried loyal men. They
furnished ms many soldiers TO the Fed
cral ARMY during the last war ms any
other portion of the State in proportion
to the population. Mr.. Solomon S.
Fleming, who has been member of
the Legislature from Harrison ever
since the organization of the State,
originated some of our most sal
utAry laws. Hon. Edwin Maxwell,
now one of our Supreme Judges, also
originated many measures of peculiar
interest to our loyal people, and both
he and Mr.. Fleming have been strongly
endorsed time after time by the people
OF Harrison. This shows that on the
III nj Sl,t 10 nj
right.
Superior advantages in regard to CEN
trality and accessibility are granted to
| Clnrksburg, as are also chcapness OF
building material and the wealth and
productivcncSs of the surrounding
country. No man mt all acquainted
with the topography of our state but
what will see mt n glance that when
our State becomes interSectcd with
great lines of railroads, Clark burg will
be the centre of them. 1t is now
the centre of population, and
the causes which have contributed
To make it so will continue it so, for
admitting that the population will in
crease, the rich and productive regions
which are .nOw densely populated will
increase in prOpOrtiOnate ratio. When
the county that now contains two thou
sand inhabitants increases to three
thousand, that which now contains ten
lliOhSAlLl W III nave lIlCEeuStu 10 lllletll
thousand. 1t is safe to conclude that
ns Clarksburg is now the most central
and accessible point which is contend
ing for the Capital, it will remain SO tor
all time to coIfe.
So far as the present inhabitants are
concerned, it would not matter much
! what their character in regard to loyal
/ ty might be when taken in connection
with the convenience OF the whole State,
{ for il is not II question Of interest to the
[ people OF any particular locality that
the Legislature will have to COnsid-
/ er in making the future seat oi
/ Government, but it should look TO the
/ interest of the people of the State oil
/ West Virginia. But AS far as loyalty
[ is concerned, the people of Clarksburg
/ have good record, and we OF other
parts of the State must concede the
fact that it was in Clarksburg that the
/ project of re-organiZing the Govern
/ ment of Virginia, was conceived at the
/ beginning of the rebellion. They took
/ the initiative in thIs important work,
and although | do not mention this Us
a plea for the Capital, it shows that
they have been unjustly charged with
IA want of loyalty.
In conclusion | will respectfully sug
gest that the proper thing for the Leg.
islature to do, and one which will re.
dound TO the interest of the people oi
| West Virginia AS much as any other
/ will be to locate the seat of Govern.
ment at Clarksburg. JUSTICE.