Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1877-08-04
THE CAPITAL QUESTION.
Speech Of D. B. Lucas. Esq IN faror q
lEutiRS5,ug. Delirerei IN Chartesi0'rR
JUN I'm, 1877.


ing attention 10 the fact that thro lghOut the
whole State there was an universal admission
that Martinsburg was the hest location for the
Capital; but accompanying this admission
was the invariable Gddeulum, that Martinsbarg
stood no chance in the contest, and was not in
the race, In other words, il is quite apparent
that hundreds Of voters in the State have de-
iiberately abandoned MartiuSburg as their FIRST
choice. Ia order TO secure their second; and
have done this upon the assumption that there
Is not sufficient Intelligence or patriotism m
their feuow-citizeus to insure even the ghost Of
a chance IN favor Of that point toward which
every honest and intelligent conviction unmls-
,akaby pointed as the best location Ii the
public mud could once be brought TO believe
that the prospect Of clecting MartnSburg, on
the 1th Of August, as one OF the two cOmpe-
ting points, was da,tcriug, her ultimate selc-
ton as the Capital would be placed beyond a
doubt.
Now, my Fellow-citizens, submit it to You
whether this reasoning is quite Just to Martins
burg Above ALL is 1t quite Just TO the State
and 10 her interests, or 10 yourselves Are You
prepared TO sacrifice these considerations, for
a. better reason than that, by long persistent
course Of importantly, agitation, bargaining,
cauvassiug. aud intrigue, Charleston and Clark
burg have 7, nIered themselves so conspjcuously
prominent for the location Of the Capital, as
10 exclude from all consideration, not only
many other points, equally eligible, which are
not named in this bin at all, but also the third,
aud most Suiidbls place among those from which
our legislators have permitted us to select p
What sort of anSwcs will this bc 10 pOSterity.
4 .f,ll nd
suitable location of the Seat Of Government
No! the only proper course to pursue Is to
vote for your first choice first should that
vote not avail, the Bill itself provides for an
opportunity, ON the second vote, to give your
second, and decisive vote for your Second
choice sufficient Cor the day is the evil.
make these preliminary observations, not
fJr the purpose Of finding fault with Charles
ton or Cla.ksburg, but for the purpose Of elici-
ting from You a frank and favorable answer 10
the following question Should succeed in
convincing you that MIrtinsburs is the point,
among those named in the Bill. which the hes,
general interest of the State demands as her
Capital ,rW you rote for hTl
hope. al least, that may credit you with
sufficient frank and fearless patriotism, TO as
sumo your answer in the affirmative. aud thus
assured proceed TO the demonstration.
First then, what are the characteristics es-
seutial 70 recommend location for the Capital
Of our State?
They are, accessibility convenience and ecoR-
osy. Let us then compare Charleston and
Carksburg, with NIrtinshurg, in point Of
general accessibility 10 the citizens Of this
State This question must be tested by rail-
ran flcJjaeS Ii cannot be tested by dirt
roads. or turupikes, because the stage coach
and the ox-clrt, as means of rapid transit, have
goue out of fashion Ii cannot be determined
by airline distances, because the balloon, and
other erial uayigatious have not vet been suf-
fcieutly introduced. Ii cannot be solved by
water lines. because these are frozen up, when
there is chief demand for mail and travelling
facilities 10 the legislative center of the State
IL must be tried aud determined by comparl-
son of railway distances, aud in no other way
Aud these distances must be computed upon
railways as they already eriSi and not upon
those which may be dreamed of, or projected
Projected railways are, fr the most part, air
iucs % the moon. \ celebrated writer on the
Science Of Transportation Slys, that if all
the railroads which have been projected in the
United States hal been built, there would
hardly have been ten miles square on this side
of the Rocky Mountains uutrayersed by rail
way
Let US then try this question then by the
only rational method-ttGt Of raii,Cay diSi0a-
ces as hcy nor eriSi. there is chief demand for
mai. and travelling facilities 10 the legislative
center Of the State By rail, therefore, and
/ railway distances, we must try this question
/ Surprising the first and third Districts Of the
/ State 10 represent two-thirds Of its population,
we remark at once that to get to Charleston.
/ by rail, the citizens Of the first and third Dis
tricts kare % pass Hr0ug5 MUtHsjUg; and
when they reach that point, they fui them
selves still three hundred and agility miles from
f Charleston Now can any rational mind give
any sound or even sane, reason why two
thirds Of the State upon reaching Mlrtinsburg
should be compelled to traverse the State Of
/ Virginia, aud 20 Mree hundred and eighty
miles .tiTtta to reach the seat Of govern
meut?
/ This distance doubled makes SEVEN Hun
DRIED AND SIXTY MILES, which, IN going and
returning tw0-tbirds Of the State are modest
I ly asked % travel before reaching the perma-
uent seat vt four cents, per mile. this is in
round numbers an extra tax Of thirty doll rs
+ per bead oa two-tLrds Of tie State for every
citizen whose business or inclination takes him
I to tie Capital
/ F.r our legislators themselves, with mileage
at ten cents. Der mile the difference is seventy
six dollars per member ior two-tbiTds Ct the
legislature representing The first and second
Districts For say f'ty-sjx members, the mi
case between Mar,u,burg and Charleston is
over four thousand dollars per session IN favor
OF Mart.uslurg.
My c.Uatrymea, ia this age aud in a small
State like ours. seven Luudlel and sixty miles
is a long distance ShouN one Of YOU be
compelled 90 make tie trip four times, You
have accomplished iu distance a sea voyage
across The Atlantic ocean: Or supposiug that
OBJ YOUR route 10 the permanent seat, you stop
oi at Martiusbur-. and take your bearings.
lct MS see how You Will stand To Harrisburg.
tie capital 90 PENNSYLVANIA, You have 100
miles to go; % Washington, the capital Of the
Republic, You have 50 miles; % Boston in
Massachusetts less than 500 miles o. Auuap0-
lis l0j miles; % Richmond $50 miles: %
Trenton 20 miles % Dover 25O miles: and
o. the capitals of two other New Euglaud
States from three 90 four hundred miles. In
Gac, when You reach Mlltinsburs You fuJ
yourself three hundred miles nearer 70 the
Federal capital; and also nearer the respcc-
tive capitals Of cglt States in the Union, than
O. that Il Your own State. u located at Charles
ton Now, let any rational man reflect up
Ou these facts and figures. and then render any