Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1877-07-31
NEW SERIES, VOL. XII. NO. 81.


Co Dover 25n miles and TO the capitals of
two other New England Ststes from three to
four hundred miles. In fine, when you
reach M.rsinsburg you fud yourself three
hundred miles nearer TO the Federal capital;
and slso learer the respective capitals of eight
States in the Union, than to that of your own
State, if located at Charleston J Now, let
any rationsl man reflect upon these facts and
figures, aud then render any sornd-nay any
sane reasoh-for leaving Msrtinshurg, and
travelling around the world to get to Charles
ton ! This is the mouatsin going to Mahomet
in dead aud suicidal earnestf Two-thirds of
the State is to be compelled to do all this
extra circumambulation to accommodate the
remaining one-third
Let US now compare Martinsbarg and
Clarksburg.
From Msrtiu.burg to Wheeling is about
three hundred mics, and Clarksburg, let US
say, is about IS miles from Wheeling, sni
$50 miles from Martiusburg. The third Dis
trict has TO pass through -Nartims6urg TO get
TO CIdrkSJnrg. That is TO say. having reached
Msrtinsburg. they are to be compelled to 90
ilco hundred and thirty miles further. in Or
der to reach the seat of government! The
first District it is true, finds Clarksbusg most
convenient; but the third. aud ten counties
of the second. are by rail. nearer TO Martins
burg. The excess of distance which the
third District has to travel between Martins
burg snd Clarkshurg is about two hundred
and thirty miles. So that by comparison
of the distances which the Representatives OF
every county in The State would have to
travel Iy rail, according to my calculation,
Martinsburg is about one hundred and ffty
miles nenrer the railruad center of the State,
than Clarksburg. This distance multiplied
by two Eould make the difference in favor
of Mnrtinsburg about three hundred miles.
to the average citizen in going to, aud re-
turning from the Capital.
Now, my friends, have you ever been to
Clarksburg? IT so. you can judge whether
the luxury of having.a Winter Capital in
that Alpine village, is worth this sacrifice to
the general convenience of the State-that
the mean distance of travel should be in-
creased three hundred miles! Her mountain
heights are very breezy aud beneficial to
health, in the summer season, especially to
those troubled with hay>fever. But why any
human being, during tie Legislative session,
in mid Winter, who can get as far as Mar
tinsburg, should be compelled, in going and
returning, to travel three hundred miles fur
Mer, is mnre than either my reason can an
swer, or my imagination can suggest.
IL
made up your minds to vnte for that location
which, if adopted, will best subserve the gen.
eral interests of the State and if such se>
lection depends upon the questions of eco"o-
my, conre"iencp, and accessibility hy rail
,cnys, as ut present actually constructed: |
do not think that as intelligent sufraeans.
you can hesitate in yonr choice. An inteli-
gent commission, uninfnepced by the i'm
proper irrelevant aud extraneous considera
tinns which the politicians have dragged into
this controversy, would not hesitate five
minutes.
But, my friends, certain objections have
been urged against Martiusburg, which l
will now proceed to consider.
First, her location upon the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad.
Those who urge this objection, will not
deny that the same objection applies, with
equal force, to CIurksburg.
And how about Charleston
She is situated upon the Chesapeake aud
Ohio Railroad, TO which we are already in
deb,ed for more picious ro'irO0a hcyisirffOH
than TO any other corporation in the State.
For instance, the power to found cities, aud
10 sell lots for that purpose Also, the mys
terous aud most uBaccountabie disappear
ance of the General Railroad LoW from our
Code, with all its salutory. aud conservative
provisions. In point OF fact, it is precisely
at Martinsburg that the Baltimore and Ohio
ceases TO be monopoly. 1t is at that point,
that branch Of the great competing Penn
sylvania Railway makes its appearance. Mar
tinsburg can thus fight one Railway with an>
other; while Charleston will soon fnd her
self in the hands. and at the mercy of one
great irauscontineDtsI monopoly. So that if
81 ho in
it is in favor of Martinsburg, as against the
other competing points. But the truth is.
railroads have to be controlled by legislation.
and that has got to be done whether the cap
ital is located on a railway, or off OF rail-
way. The sooner we wake up to the impor>
tauce OF this truth, the better and when II
is once recognized, then it will be rather
immaterial whether the seat of government
be on the Baltimore and Ohio. or Chesapeake
aud Ohio Railroad. Railroads will then
subserve the public interest, and be subordi-
mated to the general welfare.
Another ground Of objection tn Martins
burg. urged by Judge Ferguson, is her prox
unity to Maryland and Virginia. I, ia rrne
that she is only twelve miles from Maryland
and but twenty from Virginia.
But we have nothing to fear, that know
of, from the influence OF those two States.
My source of apprehension. if any, would be
from a different quarter. | may be wrong.
But, for my own part, would rather legis-
late at Martinsburg, within twelve miles of
Maryland, and twenty miles of Virginia,
than at Clsrksburg, which is forty>fre miles
from the Pennsylvania line. or at Charleston,
which is only forty miles from the Ohio bor-
der This is matter of opinion. Mr.. Car
Isle and Judge Ferguson may think one
way, while the people of this. and many 9TH
er sections, may think differently. Upon
l.