The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1877-08-04

the unity Of our people; and it is pre-
sumed that the action of the Legisla-
ture, last winter, was prompted by a
purpose to entrust its determination
to the people and thus remove from
the two Houses a troublesome and ex-
citing subject interfering, as we have
said, with other and most important
legislative duties.
MARTINsBURG
is the county seat Of Berkeley county,
and now contains a population, in
number nearly 1000. Both the town
and the county were orgaaized under
Colonial authority, in the reign of
George III; the first court having
been held on the 9th day Of May, 1872.
For long time it was village, af-
fording, simply, accommodations for
the courts, and their business, and
facilities for the local trade of thrift
ty and populous neighborhood.
A prosperity, commenced before
the war, after its termination, follow
ed the enterprise Of it's citizens with
renewed evidence Of it's permanent
and substantial character, and the
town has grown into an Importance
recognized throughout the State, as
is shown by the fact that it is now
the largest of the three towns that are
presented by the law as rival claim
ants to the distinction of securing the
permanent seat of State government.
LOCATION.
The two counties-,Jefferson and
Berkely-make the northern tier Of
those counties which form the histor-
ic Shenandoah Valley. Belonging to
West Virginia, they contribute no in
considerable addition to it's wealth
and taxable basis. Originally the
countyseat Of a county embracing
both the present county Of Jefferson
and most of Morgan, it has for cen
fury maintained the most intimate re-
lation with the people of a territory
which at the present day is styled
the eastern Pan Handle" What
ever advances its interests, therefore
enures directly to the country east of
the North Mountain; indirectly, but
not remotely, of all the country east
of the Alleghanies.
1t is no design of the PEOPLE of
Martinsburg to deprecate the merits
and advantages of Charleston or
Clarksburg. All that gives charac
ter and importance to a town
must be plainly apparent and
each voter knows enough, generally,
to be able easily to determine the rela-
tive merits of rival claimants in con-
test like this. But looking at the map
Of West Virginia and the eccentric
outlines Of the State, it is manifest that
a central point can be selected as a
1T of government in the sense that it
will be equally convenient to all por-
tions Of the population. With refer
ence to this question it must be admit
ted that, as will be hereafter more par
ticularly shown, it can be claimed with
out presumption that in regard to all
who from business, pleasure or public
duty are required to visit the Capital
Martinsburg would be found more con
venient to greater number than
either of it's rivals.
THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY.
This Valley has become historic.
Both suffering and endurance have
given it record which must live for
ever. The beauty of it's landscapes,
the fertility of it's farms, the working,
wearing qualities of it's people make
them worthy of it's place in the annals
which record the history of the ma
ton. Nature has been profuse in the
gifts it has conferred. Lying between
the North Mountain and the Blue
Ridge, rolling and undulating between
these ranges which mark it's horizon
on either side, drained by the United
Potomacs and the Shenandoah, it af-
fords a land-locked area of fertile sol
secured against the storms of the At
lantic, on the one hand and protected,
on the other, by the Alleghenies and
North Mountains double barrier
against the fierce winds of the North
west. In the language of a traveller,
familiar with both hemispheres, cit
is embosomed in an atmospheric
lake" II have studied the climates
ofNice and Pau, in Northern France"
adds the same gentleman; II have
spent winter on the Nile and in one