Shelley Moore Capito - Congresswoman

Martinsburg Journal: Capito’s measure honoring Harpers Ferry approved

Legislation notes 150th anniversary of John Brown’s Raid

October 29, 2009

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., spoke on the floor of the House of Representatives Wednesday as the chamber took up the congresswoman's resolution honoring the history and heritage of Harpers Ferry in light of the recent 150th anniversary of John Brown's historic raid.

The congresswoman's bipartisan legislation, House Resolution 568, was approved.

"In my home state of West Virginia, we're quite proud of our rich history and heritage. We proudly boast that ours is the only state formed as a result of the Civil War when we seceded from Virginia and joined the Union to become the 35th state," Capito said.

She added that the abolitionist movement in West Virginia had roots deeper than the Civil War itself. This month marked the 150th anniversary of Brown's raid, which helped ignite the abolitionist movement and led to the war between the states, the congresswoman said.

"I rise today to note this year's anniversary and also celebrate the full heritage and history of this West Virginia town located beneath the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains," she said.

Long before its first settlement, Harpers Ferry's natural beauty caught the attention of Thomas Jefferson who stood above the confluence of Shenandoah and Potomac rivers and noted that the region's beauty was "worth a voyage across the Atlantic," Capito noted.

It's splendor, she said, is equally captivating today as it was more than 220 years ago, particularly at this time of year when visitors flock to Harpers Ferry National Historical Park to take in the beautiful autumn colors.

Jefferson's fellow statesmen, George Washington, was similarly impressed with the community's strategic location and in 1794 recommended that Congress designate Harpers Ferry as a site for a federal armory and arsenal, Capito said.

With the establishment of the armory, the community grew into a bustling factory town, where John Hall created the first interchangeable parts for firearms. His invention led to the mass production of thousands of muskets and rifles, many of which would supply Meriwether Lewis and William Clark on their journey of westward expansion, Capito said.

"But as we all know, it was John Brown's 1859 raid which truly established Harpers Ferry's place in history. That summer, John Brown settled into a nearby farm in Maryland under the alias of Isaac Smith and laid plans to seize the armory and lead a revolt to spread across the South with hopes of forever ending slavery," Capito said....

To read this story in its entirety, visit the Martinsburg Journal website.

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