The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1805-05-31
Tbe Gnqalrsr.
RICHMOND, MAr 81, 1895.
VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE.

TO the Rofes respectively or to the peobl,.''
This text is fruitful of the MOI ihtereililg com.
men:arIes. We might here date upon the ad-
vantagcs OF an organization, which devo!vcs e.
very political idhiett Of a general nature upon
general government aud reGsryes every ,oca.
fuhjea for the fuperintendence ola local lcgif.
lature. We might comment upon that ren.ar-
kab!e difference in the fruttme of the two con-
titntions, the o>e ieleGtirg tizyeut of the ge-
neral MATS oFpowers, enumera,irg and f,ecify-
ing them with fhe mott guarded circumfpecfion,
while the other fubmts every other ye,gainiue
power TO the Discretionary exerrife o. the Fate
Legislatures. We might thus demonftrate, that
the different fpheres of action i'm which the fede-
raj government and the fates revolve, are much
more d.0'nctiy marked out, than thofe which
may belong TO the Rate & to the people the
hrit being defgnated by written chart, the Lar
being LETT TO an underlined and varying conve-
nience. We might however attempt the deli
cate and difficult Office ofappiying this principle
or convenience to variety of cafes, for the
purpofe of determining the true boundary be-
tween the interference of the fate & the private
Judgment of individuals. We might expatia,e
upon the aufpicious contrquences of our pre-
tentfederal administration, which leaves Us moth
ing to dere from the general government and
the Inference would confequently be irrefGible.
that our political condition would be com.
pletely fortunate if the fate legislatures would
wifeiy regulate every public intitution which
the public good demanded, and if individuals
would eXercie their own powers by the liberal
rules OF Juitice. Such an expanded view how
ever,it Is not the purpoGe of the writer to deve.
loPe. He Wiihes to invite the attention Of the
reader to one iimple inquiry: TO what cauf4s
are we to attribute the want of fo.eiighs, and
the want OF zeal which fometimes Characterize
the proceedings of the Virginia LegilZat0-eS
a Sc, e.. Il
10 DC aicfibed TO the general haoits of the mem
bers. Selected as they are every year from tb4
great body ofthe people, and changing CONT
Hua'iy from year to year, they mutt be cxpce.
ca 10 polie1s the manners, the political faracitv
ahd the intellectual energy of their nation.
bieiied as we are however with the means of i'm
proving he fcientific condition of cur country
& delighted as we may bcwth the bright viGons
OF excellence which await us fill we NUT ad.
nil that our phyical condition does not as vet
enable us to realize theie advantages. Our Do
pulatlon Is too thinly fcattered to admit the ef.
taollihment OF many fchools in each neighbour
hood and our ctizcns are generally too moor to
ne aoie 20 board their children from home at
lone d'ltant and enlightened feminaryl Even
AZ luch ichoolSthe attainments of the itfruFfor
are not 10 eXten6ve and the fyltem OF education
which he purues is not 70 energetic as to nro-
mlie very rapid Improvement of the pnDiI
what then is the conlcquence? Mott of our
countrymen are debarred from the opportuni-
''es OF an early intruetion, while the progrefs
OF me adult is generally arrefted bv the calls
o: ouhnels or the facinations of pleaf,lre. II is
certainly no diigrace upon our countrvmen RI fav
OF them that many.have been called, like Cincin-
natus, from the plough, TO fill the honorable
office ot legillator. but it would have reject
ca much more honor upon them, If like that
luxurious Roman they had pofeGed the means
OF acquiring the neceffary qualifications.
we may however, afign tzvo ofker rearons
FOR the defects which we have fuggehed. The
one is that mott of the members whom thew en-.
ter the Capitol are ignorant of the principal fIb
Jects which are TO be brought before them ig
norant of the principal facts and arguments
which are fairy to decide them, ard excited
by no previous diicufiions TO infttu.e new en-
quIrles, and obtain new information. The a.
Their is, that when thefe fubiects are thrown into
the ihape of bills for their difcufIion, thev are
preierved in manufcript; they are feldom Geen
by any but the draughtfman, the committee.
& the mott active members of the houfe; while
the reft know little about them except what +bev
may cafually CLEAN from the rapid reading Of
the clerk. Is IT then a matter of fnrpriEe. that
under thete disadvantages, a want of forefigbt
and want of zeal, ihoud fonetines charaEie-
riie the proceedings of the Virginia legislature?
q improve
rnent IN our fyfem of legif1ation, if fufficient
remedies could be devifed for removing theft.
detects! The frf might eaiy be remedied bv
printing every important bill as they do in con-
greis; and is it too romantic to fugeef The fol-
loving plan, for the amelioration of the other
Let the interval between two fucceeding leeiaa-
lures become period of public and enIightcn-
ed diicuii'on. 1t will be eafy to anticipate lome
OF the queifions which will Be brought before
the ahema!y, and 70 prepare them for more
iaflotactory decifon by fIch preliminary in
veftlgation. Let thofe who have facts intereH-
ing to the public, communicate them, and LEI
thote who can afpire to the Office Of exar1ininq
principles exhibit their refilts in a public pa,
per. Ihefe communications will circulate
throughout the fate: they will come into the
hands of the members Of the aGembIy: curio6.
y will be excited; mind viii he put into mo-
lion; and information difnfed over greater
fuTface.
The editor wouldbc extremely happv ;f he
could perl'ide others to take the f,nIe vis,,, If
this fubiett which he hmfcf has i'm G,etched
Still happier would I've conceive hmreIf tn he
1T competent minds could he perfrad-d to
undertake the execution nf tine nroi-Sr. aud If
they would honor him E, Ear as 70 rake this "a
per vehicle FOR conveying their lucubratiors n
the world. Under f,'ch view Of the rlbis9
re will ventur. 70 anticipate few of the to-
nj NJ fr,- ~, e T., a. .