Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1877-07-17
TO THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE
OF WEST VIRGINIA.

OF WEST VIRGINIA..
The objec. of this brief address is to present D
fs " facts bearing upon the selection of permA-
mont scat of government with particular refer-
snee to the town vt
MARTINsBURG.
ITS AccessfbiIity-IIeal 18th fuIne IS and Near
ness to Political and CONNIE REAL
centres, DC.
Those counties of Virginia which copetitute
what for twelve years has been known, politi-
ealIy and geographically. as WEST Virginia.
were erected into n State during the pendency
of civil conflict. Regard for natural boundaries
was necessarily impractcable at the time the
new State was established: and it came into the
Union with ITS limits defined by the chances
and exigencies OF a varying war, and not oen-
trolled by the laws which govern more fortu-
nate States IN determining the extent of their
" been difficulty in the establishments of per-
maaent seat Of government. At first, at Wheel
restored to Wheeling-the question of the per
manent location of the capital remains unde-
eided.
rails of that much vexed question or recall its
legislative HISTORY. All admit the necessity and
nrnpriety of ITS speedy and final determination:
It has entered into and lnjuriuusly complicated
many subjects of grave State policy TO which 1t
has borne no logical relation. 1t has arrsyed
different sections in opposition, and STIMULATED
into bitter amtagOnisns feelings which should
and Generous rivaIrv. These and other consid-
eratIons have constantly sugges' ed the expe-
diency Of dlsposing, finally, of question so dis
turblng TO the unity of our people; and it is
presumed the action of the LEGISLATURE. last
winter. was prompte by purpose to entrust its
determine alton to tho people and thus remove
from the two houses a Troublesome and exciting
subject Interfering, as we have said with other
and most important legislative duties.
Martinsburg
is the county seat of Berkeley county, and now
contains population. in number. nearly 1000.
Both the county and the town were orranizcd
under Colon al authority. in the reign of George
III the first cnurt having been held on the 9th
dny of Nav. 1772. or a long timc, IL was vii
laEe attOrdiur. simply. accommodations Tor the
courts. and heir business. and f'ciiities for the
local trade of thrifty and populous neigLbor-
hood
A prosperity commenced before tho war after
its termination followed the enterprise of its
citizens with removed evidences of it's pcrma-
mont and substantial character. and the town
has grown into an Importance recognized
that it is now tho largest of the three towns
which are presented by the law as rival claim
ants to the distinction nf securing the perma-
nent seat of State government.
Location.
The two counties-Jcferson and Berkeley
make the northern tier of those counties which
constitute the historic Shenandoah Valley. b.
longing to West vi gina, they contribute
considerable addition to its wealth and taxable
basis. Originally the county seat OF county
embracing both the present county of Jefferson
and most OF Morgan. it has for a century, mail
tanned the most intimate connection with tho
people of u territory. watch. at the present dav.
Is styled the Eastern Pun-TIandle." Whatever
advances its interests therefore inures to tie
advantage, directly, of the country east of the
North Mountain; indirectly, but not remotely,
Its not intended bv the people of Martins
burg to depreeiate the merits aud advantages of
Lar nnd snortanco TO town mnst s nsnIv
apparent. and each voter knows enough, Rener-
ally, to be able easily to determine the relative
merits of rival claimants in q contest like this.
But looking at the map OF West Virginia and
the eccentric outlines of the State. it is manifest
that central point can be selected as seat of
government in the sense that 1t will be equally
convenient to all PORTIONS of the population.
nitted that rs will be Hereafter more pariicu-
larry shown, 1t can be claimed without presump
pleasure OF pnbIlc duty required to visit the
CAPITAL. Martinsburg would be found nor con-
renient to the greatest number than e'ther Of its
rivals.
The shenandoah Valley.
This Valley hiss become historic. Both suffer
ing and endurance have given 1t q record which
must live forever. The beauty of it's landscapes
the fertility of ITS FARMS tho working. wearing
qualities of its people make them worthy Of its
place IL the annals which record the his tory of
It has conferred. Lying betwern tho North
Mountain aud the Blue Ridge, roll ing and urdu-
lating between thes. ranges which mar k its hor-
izon either side, drained by tho united Poto-
macs aud the Shenandoah. it affords land
Locked are en- of fertile soil ,ecuTed from tho
tected. on tho other: by the Aliegnanies and
North moqntain-e doTble barrier against the
of a traveller. familiar with both hemispherns.
1t is enbos"Ined in an atmospheric lake. I
Northern F:ance." adds the same gentleman:
Il have spent q winter the Nile and in ono of
the sheltered valoys Of Switzerland; / have
lived years in California and am now ready to
af1rm that for heaIthfulness and life, T. whole
climate of tnIs Valley"
The Outside World.
M.rtins5urp is distant from Baltimore ono
hundred miles from Harrisburg, about the same
distance: from Washing Oh. only eighty mI'es.
Four trains daily. dav and night, af,rd every
facility of communication. Neither storm, ice
disaster can isolate it from the great avenues
Of Continental trade and TRANSFORMATION. II is
and International traffic and trhde
Railroad Come ctions.
Martinsbrrg is u first-cass station and the ter
minus of the first divls op of the Baltimore and
OHIO Railroad. It IS, also. the tcruinu of the
martinsburg ard Potomac Railroad which
meets. at Hagerstown. intimately AMI directly
road system 1t is only twentv-two miles by
stage connection. from Winchester, Va, and
there meets the Valley lines to Staunton, and
ultimately to the Southwest.
Accessibility.
Looking at the map of West Virginia. one
readily perceivss that the c"unties of Ohio,
Marshal. Wersel, Marion. Taylor. Preston, Min
eral. HampshIre Hardy. Grant. Pendleton, Nor
gan, Bef kelley and Jefferson. seek their w1v to
the marts of trade by tho B. & o. Railrond.
But looking again at the map. it is perceived,
with equal readiness. HAT to counties of Ca
bell. Putnam. Kanawna. Fayette. Summers,
Monroe. and Grcenbrier. must seek their East
ward communications bv the Chesapeake ard
Ohio Rairoad, which, with its connec ion at
Staunton with the Valley road. at once opens up
traveller. The location of Martinsbmrg. thus.
makes it more accessi ble-taking everything
into cousideratIon-to two-tliirds of the State,
whether REGARDED geographically or with regard