Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1829-05-07
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES, a. r.,
TIE COSvESTION-No =
:. IIndss .shs- Al. ..


Icomprchends every state and condiiion ~ ut
and IN considering the obstacles which man
been. ~ all times. inierposed by The f,;e,.','e
pfi silege and the incunibenis OF oliey % q
stiuii3nal reform, tie m nd is Mt no ins, eoh
critic fi'eir nnyielding opposition 10 ,bs s-
fiuenoe oi some such feeling as 10 ia co,,.:,t
in The foregoing SCH ence OF the classic w,;.' ea
II Is IN short, but another version of a
couplei-- W.
That ,hosr ma, take ~hoharo the pose,
And Iiose may keep who ean"
IN all ages. mankind have been more coll.
tons 10 algmen, their priv iiegrs. han IN
property. "hni they were justly eniitlrd =,
and constant experience proves That kun,o,
tnre Is prone TO usurpation, rather ,iar =,
concession.
In the progress Of my inquiries, have 81
vnnced as Tar as the Seoaie of Virginia ,@,
propose besiosinR passing remark an III.
branch OF the legislative department.
, Pubic opinion has justly escribed 10 !,
wisdom Ofthe Senntc ibe credit of ny.,,;,s
many OF the impending ills thar the ,ecklsf
schemes of the popular branch Of The Lep;,l,
ture have. from time TO time. threatened IN -,
duce. There is no doubt thai ihis opin,nn ,.
| founded in irmih---on many OCCASIONS, The =
nate Inns rendered important services 10 ,bo
State. II remains to ascertain how far j, is r,s
| laXs.
uf Representation in the Senate, is n rrroo,.
non Of a fundamental principle in every fp,,
government. Ia wi equality.
! Tins principl,, n have before intimate.
was conceded in brgnia,ty The act of lsIt;.ls
| The concession aiayed popular .lrcou,.=,
without eradicaiing it. The effect of llr ,c,,.
lsl6-l7. Oh public feeling. is auothrr ins,,,,.
! ol the srcai importance, in all fiJnrs nl mn
| agitation, nj concession briore victor, r
| should procede he triumph OF party. |, is l,,.
lair 10 follow it. Sire, snid Marshal N4y T.
the Emperor Napoleon, "rsr.tations nerer ~
bacirdrds' d
Had 1t been possible. nnde The c,,stn..
Cohs tuition, 10 have followed up the prrcir,,.
of concession, SO far ~ 10 satisfy the dpmnr,,
OF justice, aud lie diriaiss 81 sound roiic,
thee would not now e1ist, perhaps, an, utcr.
sity tor Convention.
The Senate o,Nirginia is not SD .fTicien, =.
u should be. Representing the same people ami
the same Interests which the IL, nj d. rrnr.
senis'-one Is M a less 10 con jrciute vii, The
powers of the 10. mrr should not be ro.,s,.,
siyc with those ri the latter. y here is lbr
reason Of the difference?
Ii the Senate of FiIg ina were constituted In.
'he House 81 Lords, in England, there miytt
he a gohd reason assigned t,r imposing linz
tatons and restraints on that bud, for h,
England the House Of Lords ha. no co,nm,
uiiy ofie.ings or interest uiih The Commons
Thor tenn" Of Office is part, hei,dnary, and
H"iis az the disposal Of the crown. They
are absolutely beyond the reach oil the people
But here the cnsr is different. The men, hers o.
the Senate arc taken by election RON H..
IN Of the people. They are regaircd To
have liz same qualifications as the me,nber. Of
the /! al Delegates, with ony this small differ.
ere, that a Senator rnusi have alt med the
are o 23 while the Delegate is eligible at =
years.
|, is possible that the patriotic ard yirtuaus
men " o trHmed the Constitution of Virginia
night have been governed by reasons, which
"a 80 present generation. are either unseen or
jnleit bu my mind has sought in vain fora
satisfactory sointion OF this constitutional ru-
sifaiat on III" S"nae. Ga look into theirpow
eus We find they are not permitted 10 orginnt
any measure. lhry ara not allowed even 10
amend lnonev bill, but are compelled eillMr
10 pass or 10 rcieci all bills of this character,
which originate only with the House OF Dele.
ea''s. Nhai Is the consequence III practice
III such n provision II is this. The Senate
is not occupied wi h the public business, mgre,
on an average, ii4an one hour IN each daY
throughout ~. ordinary session al :hler
nonths-aac .or this SIN II service, they re-
crive an H.'p4 aacr Of 81 per d.y, and their
Speaker dn1hie that s"n-to say no hing vi
Cleik, Dooi ',aepers, Nc.--At rhc loves, rSli.
mate this branch nf the leg sldtuie costs the
State aI2 tNJa year.
For ,hr first month OF he S. ssinn whna
GA icss is originating and maturing ia The
HouSf OF Delegates the Senate has ,,afceiy
any eilploymeni NJ all Ry extending lhrif
powers 10 the originating and amending a.
bills, no matter of what character, suhie3
always TO the CONCURRENCE or rercton OF Tie
Delegates, il might nc made no,e u. eul, and
likewise more responsible.
Under the existing Constitution, thu Senah.
is occasionally compelled TO resort to n sprcsa
Of pailanenIary legrrdcmhia (whoiIy unbe.
coming 50 respec table body oi men, for the
purpose of accomplishing by indirec,ion, whH
they are not allowrd 10 do directly. Let Cs
suppose ease OF frequent occurrence with
them. Ablll is sent up to ihr Senate FROM
the House OF prlegates--illc a'Jrct OF IL is of1G
OF general concern 10 'hr communicable. The
interest Of the country requires its passage.
anu his the Senate knows iu!l well. They
howe'er, have some iaN ritz tho entirely dit
l"itnt ohJtcf IN view md thar dPlprnjnAiIos
Is I" thrct h-hut bS what means 7 They car
mol originate bill, but Ihty are allowed Il
amend some, aud the case supposed is of This
Kind. We'll, observe the proccSs-ihey tack m
amendment /" the bin from he lower House OF
ah th'relH oilefcnt nature. and IN tins shape
The bill ispassed 4 seat down for concuiience.
The amendment ot the Senate is an obnoxious
one, II ~ irn", 10 the House of Delegates, tat
II IS all important that the object ofthe origlnd-
ON SHOULD be attained A committee of con
terence from each House is appoinird--theF
'neet--ihc committee from the Senate adherS
Ia thair northumberland finally, the House a
'DtieEa!ts IS CONSTRAINED 10 pass the bills
mended, being the only means OF afan'laS
tneIr original purpose.
IL is evident that such state of things is ri
wal with every principle oil fair leg isa,ion AMI
sound polity How easily might it be cofrec.
ed by giving the Senate power Of orr innIne
5his, tU-extens,e with The other House.
ln contemplating the organization OF the Be .
nate. have not passed over without due ie'