Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1842-01-17
EDITORS CORRESPONDENTS.

EDITORS CORRESP O.NDE.NCE.
RtcHMoNp, January 9th 1912.
There have been only subjects oil much interest
before the Legislature this woek-lhe first proposing
incorporate the trustees Of fund.- exceed SO,
900 in amount, for the support Of the superannuaed mir
STEERS an Tia, widows and orphans of ministers conncc-
ted with the Methodist Protestant Church and the Sc
cond reducing the pay of the members OF the General
Assembly, after the 9Olh day of each session. to s. per
lien-the frs, of which rejected and the latter pass
ed both after long debates
The discussion on the frmcr bill confined to
Mr.. Scott Of Feuquier Who opp,s od, and Gen. Bal
dwn of AUGUSTA who defended it, each with great
zeal, ability and co4uence. Mr. Scott assumed
the position thai the bill conilicted with sound poll
cy,-that it forbidden by the letter and spirit Of
our constitution and bill Of rights and that ii
departure from the uniform practice Of Virginia since
l7o6, when law, passed two years previously, incor
poratng the Rector AMI Nesry of the Protestant Fps
copal Church. was repealed. Gen. Baldwin comhatcd
these assumptions my opinion, though not in heopn
iono MAJORITY of the House, successfully. can
in rejecting application for the incorporation Of
Benevolent Society, merely because it is attached to
church. wien every day grant similar charters to alb
o Societies, that happen not to labor under tins
od,n-iJr in that ght 1t must be view ed by those who
sustain such grants inihe ease, and deny them
the other A. for the Lu.bear Of union of Church and
State really entertain any apprchensIons Of
such marriage in this country. The jealousy of the
various st,.is each Of the other. furnishes sufficient
safeguard against that unaluwed connection, an
undivided public sentiment. and the provision Of The
suon which prohibits any tan upon the people for tie
support o religion. did not forbid the banns. Great reli
ancc was placed ly Mr. Scott that clause Of thccCn
stuon which tob;ds the grant, by the Legislature, of
any 'pccnor benefit privilege to any religious sect
but in my humble opinion, the only design Of his prohl
bton was to prevent any partial dspasaton Of Legs
latye iyos-ihat no one should be singled
object Of Legislative bounty and be made the recip
ent of privileges which were withheld from others. Nor
is there any thing pcc,dm" in the boon asked 1t is,
as before remarked granted every day aud if, To-
morrow the Mechanics Ass citation should ask for an
act of Incorporation order that they might secure a
fund be appropriated to the relief of their superannu
ated and infrn members, and the widows and orpslobG
the dead not a voice would be raised against it, What
good assn, then. be given for the rejection of sim
liar appcation When the bencfcaries # the fund
b,cn rr,acA,rs ard tn widows ard ophans instead Of
Merchants or Mechanics can see none. The bill
defeated by the g',ost of an anci, Mt prejudice
thought would sketch Of Gen. l}adwns beau,i-
iul conceptions: bn find that should mar them in tie
attempt and uiust Therefore decline it.
The Other bill think exceedingly Objectionable and
unustolg conable, in this that imputes to members
disposition proract unnecessarily the sessions of the
Legislature for the sake Of hcr per diem, when is wl
known that Of Them sustain pecuniary loss by
manning, and notonc in twenty makes dollar by his
vice here-and UNJUST because should the state public
he lch n the end Of DAYS To
longer attendance, it compels members to a5ando'
their posts else To remain in the city engaged in the
discharge of public duties, at rate of compensation
barely sufficient To pay their board Suppose, for en-
ample, that just the ninety days expire, should
reach Richmond Of declaration Of war by cur govern
ment, or by that Of Great Brain,-a state Of things
wechs,-would it not be monstrous compel members
to remain in the city for such paltry pttance9 Nor
such state of things at all improbable if during tn
session. before the close of the next-and this law
applies then well now; and is witha rrepeaabic,
under the constitution, by any Legislature upon which
1t Will operate. And even ordinary occasions. which,
from an unusual press Of business the session may be
prolonged some II 20 days beyond the period desgna
teddy the BILL lhey have frequently been of late the
effect will be that many Of the members rather than re-
main upon such inadequate wages, will take French
leave and 90 home, leaving barely quorum. ii quorum
at all to act upon such questions may arse-and Is
well know that many Of the NEST important bills are those
last acted upon Three winters ago. on the last day OF
the session not than 80 members Of House ana
ID OF the other were at their posts eager were they
return home, although the tar bill, the most ndlspcns
BILE Of ALL was not passed; and conflict arose between
the Senate and the House upon the amendments oil "'
former, which settled until nearly the close OIL
the day, and when call of the yeas and nays whch
would have rendered the Speaker Of either House or
rally cognizant of the fact that quorum present.
would have brought to dead halt until the ser
goani al Arms had brought lack the absent members
from their homes Is it patriotic to acknowledgements 10
members to abandon their before the final adjourn
ent by reduction of their pay, whoa even ut the Pre-
sent rate ot compensation, they can hardly lc N Inc