Martinsburg weekly independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1873-1875, 1874-11-28
TRECA PITAL AND THEU =
SEN TnRSflfp

District, that "they (the Third
District people, don't intend to
buy the Capital with their votes
on the Sena orial question. All
the highwrought strategy br ught
TO bear on the 3D. Districf," says
the Courier, 80 impress her with
the necessity ofgiving strong votes
to weak men simply 10 keep up a
scandalous log 10 ling system
in connection with the Capital, is
entirely wasted"
How about that Iistie arrange
ment with a few gentlemea in the
Eastern Pan Hamle, Mr.. Courier?
you are net ignorant Of that, are
you? Come, now, let the profess
sionsof Charleston correspond with
her acts.
The Courier adds:
So far as the members from this
part Of the State are concerned,
each of these questions will be de-
cided on its own merits.
OF course, that is the only hon
est way to do it. The Capital ques-
ton is solely a business PROPOSE
ton, and can legitimately have no
effect whatever upon politics and
political parties; and the Senate
ria is purely political question.
and the man selected to represent
this State in the United States SEN
ate should be selected for his states
manshlp, faithfulness and integri-
ty alone. Wha. connection, in the
name Of common sense, the lOcs-
ton of a State capital, can have
with the qualifications and merits
OF "A United States Senator, is be-
You'd our vision; and yet we find
few gentlemen hugging and kiss
ing each other in the delusive be
lief that the connection is the most
proper and natural Of aIl things.
The people, or their representa-.
tives. who are most accommodated
by the location of the Capital at
Charleston, will vote in favor of its
retention there; while the people,
or their representatives, who will
be best accommodated by a differ
ent location, are in duty bound 10
vote Tor the change proposed
ana the representative who shall
neglect this plain duty, Or corrupt
~ bargain away his vote to aid i'm
the eleva ion OF any favorite to 20
sition, will be held responsible by
on outraged people for the delin-
quency.
The present location at CHARLIE
( on, kanaWa county, is the result
Of "A legislative blunder, and has
proven to be an exceedingly unfor-
tunate one to large number of
he people of the State. Access TO
Charleston from large portion of
the State is at all times ditficult
and expensive, and this is especial.
ly the case in The months appoint
ed for the session of the Legis2-
ture At that season the naviga-
ti0n of the Ohio and Kanawha
rivers is precarious, Vhiican over
lard journey from any point i'm the
northern portion of the State 10
Charleston, is attended with much
pfivation, delay and expense. In
consequence of these difficulties of
communication. the members of
re Legislature are cut off from in
tercourSe with their constituents.
and cannot correctly interpret their
will, while citizens at home have
but inadequate means of knowing
what puiic measures are being is
cussed by the law making BODY,
and are prevented from instruct
ing their Representatives concern
ing the legislation most needed or
most to be summed. At the same
time the opportunities for abuse of
the legislative power are largely
increased by the comparative ease
with which an Objectionable bill
may be passed and become law
long before the people most affect
ed by it can know of it's existence
or make their protest known and
heard,
The advocates of the retention
of the capital a Charleston usual
~ reply TO all complaint as to its
inaccessibilty by saying thst any
10 alton in the north I'm part of
the State will prove as inconven-
lent for the people Of the Kanawha
Valley and the counties lying
south of that region as Charleston
now it is to the people residing
farther north. If the people of the
kanawha Valley, or, to speak gem
orally, of the coun les composing
the Third Congressional District
we're equal in mum Der and in ma
terial Interests to the people who
are incommoded by the present To-
cation, this would afford some rea-
son why no change in the seat of
government should be at present
effected. But what are the facts I?
There are in the State of West
Virginia fifty-four counties having