Virginia free press & farmers' repository. [volume] (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1827-1832, 1830-12-15
"pEc. :. 1850

1 DEC. =. 1850.
"SevevsI Of the standing commit.
lees we're this day announced by the
Speaker. Tbs balance will he report.
ed to-morrow. There 10 one thing in
the appointment Of these committees.
which strikes every new member with
a little surprise bot ~ il is the Gus
tom, he feels bound 10 submit to it's all.
powerful influence. In the appoint.
ment OF the committee of courts of ius.
tice, every lawyer in the house i. cho.
sen, and not single member IF any
other profession. Ii may be, that they
are better qualified than other mem :
bers; but cannot see the propriety of
giving them the reins entirely i'm their
own hands. Checks and balances con .
st'tate an important feature in every
branch Of our government and in re.
organizing the Judiciary. the people ex.
pectcd To- have some little agcocx.
through such Of their represe uta,iyes
rs might not happen to be learned in
the law. ! ascribe to the gentlemen
OF the bar rs much honesty Of purpose,
rs their warmest friends arc willing to
claim for them but I am not ready to
yield blind and indisc inmate conf
dence to any class Of men. There are
plain principles Of justice and common
sense. which may be found in every
situation Of life; and do not subscribe
to those notions which impute TO 90
vernment mystery aud difficulty sus-
ceP,ble OF solution only by the disc-
pies al Blackstone.
-Four petitions were presented, con-
testing the right Of members To their
seats. The Treasurer's and Auditors
reports were received, and also a re.
port from the Rector and Visiters of
the University. The committees will
doubtless soon carve out work for the
house: and amongst the first subjects
discussed, that Of elections will occupy
prominent place. No doubt q law,
hxins some certain and specific rules
OF conducting elections, will be intro
duced, whereby similar contests NAV
be avoided. Six other cases, 1 under.
stand, are to be presented and the
incumbents. as well rs the spplican
are busy in strengthening their respec.
tive claims.
b. w. LEIoH, the champion Of Eas-
tern Virginia in the late Convention,
Is at his post. as representative from
the County Of Henrico. He is a man
OF great ability in a legislative BODY.
and is always listened to with profound
attention. AS chairman Of the com.
mlttee OF courts Of justice, he will have
a wide field for the exercise Of hi.
powerful mind. We shall doubles,
have many displays Of eloquence dur
ing the session, as ambitious members
look TO this occasion as presenting an
arena for acquiring a durable fame.
Some Of them will Of course be disap.
pointed; and their constituents proba.
bly, not less SO.
My short experience proves TO me,
that our House Of Delegates has still
too many members. One half the num-
Der would do the business with more
despatch, and probably much better.
than IL can be done by the whole
There is, in every legislative body, a
great waste OF time ia froth and un-
substantial defamation; and here, as
well rs elsewhere. much fustian is ma.
DuGactured for home consumption
But il is useless for me Co complain.
As long as the world lasts, this will
probably be the case ; for, as philo-
sophie Yankee remarked, "there il a
good deal Of human hatur i'm man. -
We must take him as he is.