The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-02-08
Mr.. Martins speech on the Location
OF the Capital, Delivered I'm the Sem
ate February eth 1857

Mr.. Martins Speech ON the Location
OF the Capital, Delivered I'm the Sen.
ate February 9Th, 1867.
Mr.. Martin said he had not intended |
to make speech, had it not been that |
remarks were made yesterday, leaving |
the impression that some of the Sena- |
tors were talking on the subject of the |
Capital 10 make secure their reelection, |
He surely could not be classed among |
those alluded to. His people were not
asking for the Capital. They had Civ |
en- him no instructions, and he was,
therefore, free TO exercise his own judg-
ment in the selection of the site forthe
permanent seat of Government.
On local questions, referring to his
Immediate constituency, he felt that he
ought to work especially for them. He
did not consider the location of the
Capital a local question, but one look
ing 10 and affecting the interests of the
whole Sta4e. Some of the Senators, he
thought, had nominated their own
homes, ana In SO doing, looked only to
their own interest and that of their few
surrounding constituents.
We may place the Capital Mt Buck.
harmon, and in few Years we shall
find that we have made a great mistake,
If the geographical centre is the proper
place-if il will be best for the whole
State-neiIher Charleston nor Buckhan-
NON can claim this position. A Capital
will never of itself, unless il has the
requisite natural advantages, build Il
railroad. He could not understand
that the location OF Capital would
build up good commercial city.
Wheeling is, and will continue to be, a
commercial city-Capitol or no Capitol
in its midst. He feared that they were
following in their legislation the eXam-
pie of Old Virginia. Till the rebellion
the General Assembly always legislR-
ted for Eastern Virginia at the expense
| of Western Virginia. Pursue the same
course and our neglected sections of the
| State will have the same cause of just
complaint against us, as we had under
the rule of Old Virginia.
Senators spoke of the places in NOM
ination as atfording beautiful sites for
the Capital, A thousand beautiful sites
were to be found within the limits oil
our State, but their beauty alone, could
be no good reson for their claims of be-
ing made the seat of government.
The KHnawha Valley is one of the
finest in our State. 1t is rich in timber
coal, salt and iron ore. It has supplied
for n century the adjoining States witt
salt, and yet her supply is unexhau st
ed. The object of legislation should b'
to develOpe the interests and wealth o
the whole State, and if these are proper
ly developed, West Virginia will at NJ
distant day be one of the most prosper
GUS States in our Union.
States,that have located their Capital
in the geographical centre, have in tn
march OF Improvement removed thost
! capitals to the commercial centres. Ohit
. is now meditating a removal of tn
I seat of government from Columbus L
Cincinnati, simply because it Is tn
queen city of the west, is the CONNER
: cial centre of the State and towards
r the interests of the State flow. Mis-
i souri, is debating the policy of remON
inc tho faTifnl from -InfTnFGnn CITY (
5, st. Louis. So Kentucky thinks {
changing from Frankfort 10 Louisville
z Locate the Capital at Buckhnnno
: and we will be in the same condition a
i the States have just alluded to. l sc
d no reason why the Capital should. b
placed at Grafton or Buckhannon.
Ii do not see the fairness, the justice {
placing all the public buildings in II
northwestern section of the Sta
~ while the southwest has nothing. III
ar der these circumstances, the claims
Charleston cannot be overlooked. NJ
S, object is to deyelope the interests of Il
State, and if we really desire this,
us push forward our railroads, the
I'd Capital or no,Capital, we shall be init
?; road towards wealth and prosperit
q If gentlemen show me that the int
Id ests of the State-present or future-a
or to be benefited by locating the capt.
It, mt Grafton, or Buckhannon, or Clark
a n burg, l am willing to vote for any Of
n of these places. But until this is don
1 must continue my support TO the CT
of Charleston.