The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-02-24
Local JealOusies.

4 correspondent OF the 'larKSourS
Telegraph, Radical, has got so heavy
disguised by the fact that CIarksburg
has not been able TO secure the Capital,
any of the public buildings, or even a
term of the Supreme Court that he
wants to be carried back to "ole Nir-
ginny" as speedily as possible. The edl-
tor Of the telegraph thinks that CIarks-
burg has been badly treated, but at
tributes the result to the lethargy OF Its
own people and is not at present dis
posed to agree with his correspondent
that q return 10 the embrace OF the old
State would be likely to afford any
remedy for the evil complained OF,
1t seems to us that one OF the chief
evils the people of West Virginia have
had to encounter in the formation and
government Of the new State, is to be
found in Ithe Jealousy OF rival towns
and the bitterness Of local contests.
Under the old system, West Nlr-
gina expected nothing, got nothing,
and was content. The people
went about their daily business and
pursued their usual avocatons in peace
and harmony with each other, and there
were no local feuds or antagonisms be
tween Clarksburg, Buckhannon, Charles
ton, Parkersburg, Wheeling and other
towns in this section of the State. The
interest of any one of these was the in
terest OF all, and each was content to
pursue its way without expecting State
aid to do for its inhabitants what they
had not the energy to do for themselves.
But no sooner was the State Of West
Virginia an accomplished fact than
every village, town, or city in its limits
became clamorous for State favor and
lifted its hand against all other claim
ants. The unity of purpose which had
formerly characterized the western
counties was at once supplanted 10y the
bitterest rivalry, and the success OF one
was resented by all the. others
rs an atrocious wrong done to
their greater merit and paramount
claims. These contests have clogged
and colored the legislation Of the State
until the present time, and have even
gone so far as 70 make personal
enemies of those who, until these rival
res arose, had been firm and steadfast
friends. 1t is needless for us to partic-
ularize these petty domestic quarrels.
They are part of the history of the
State, and are fresh in the memory of
all our people.
But, we submit in all candor, is it not
about time to drop these little jealousies
which are unworthy of an honorable
people, such as we would fain believe
West Virginians to be? Is it not time
that all who have given way to feelings
ofresentment against rival towns and
competing interests should conclude to
bury the hatchet," and henceforward
look only TO the general good ?
Let the mistakes and the ami
mosities of the past be sunk
out ofmemory, and let us no longer seek
to build our own prosperity upon our
brother ruin. That locality in West
Virginia that has received the least
benefit from the formation of the new
State is no worse off than it was before.
If its condition has not been improv-
el, it certainly has suffered no loss.
Take, for instance, the case Of Clarks
burg: In the distribution of direct pub
lie favors, it has received nothing at the
hands of the new State. But even that
correspondent of the Telegraph, who
wants the State abolished and the old