Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-03-31
THE LEGISLATURES ADJOURNED.


THE LEGISLATURE ADJOURNED.
Responsibility at the Tribunal Of Public Opinion!
The Legislature adjourned Tuesday night, a
early candle Highland il gives us pleasure to state
that we have never witnessed more friendly and af
lectionate parting All sense Of party was ex
tinguished in The feelings of the moment. AL
the little chickering's OF protfacted session wer
pone-and Wing and Democrat, the Delegate frou
the sea shore and from the Banks of the Kanawha th
Young and the old, greeted each other at parting
and exchanged the warmest wishes of overlowin!
hearts Major Cruchheld, the Delegate of Spoiisyl
vana who is about 10 retire from our public councils
had offered the resolution Of thanks with touching
na,bos. which affected all who heard hnl-and wher
| he finally moved the adjournment Of the House, Mr.
Speaker Hoeman addressed his departing brethren il
strains which deepened the sentiment The same ne
was exhibited in the Senate. 1t now becomes duty
10 sketch the last transactions Of the two Houses, anc
The yaledictory addresses Of their Speakers One o
them. Major Hunton, the Speaker of the Senate, i:
about 10 retire to private life, and leaves worlhiel
and finer spirit behind him.
The ndiscreet declarations of one of its members
before the assembled People of his county, compel.
us again to pay passing tribute TO the private con
duct and public qualifications OF the members We
have never known more moral 1--WE dare 10 say, sc
morally body Of Legislators. We speak, of course
without distinction of parties We have never seen
less intempe rance, (ndeed they the first Lecsla
ure which has established Temperance Association
We have never heard Of little gambling or SO little
excess of any description Its members were generally
speaking, amlable polite, well bred and well-beha
we'd body ofgentemen. And as the talents and nforma
ton ofthe Loco focos have been thoughless nome
unworlhy jefamed-a as they were reported as "tolay
unfit for business, in point of capacity below the grade
Of common overseers, and too ignorant 10 give vote
until the cue was given by some party leader we
deem il our duty add, that the Republican party in
the Legislature distinguished by lis talents and
information that it could boast of many men in
its ranks that would grace the councils of their coun
try.
The Legislature were in session IA days-during
which time, they have passed ITO laws-of which we
have this day commenced the Sketches and shall con
Guide them ext paper-besdes variety of reso-
utons. In the course of the session, 21l bills were
brought n-and passed to various stages of legislation
or course l0l bills sleep the sleep of
death the table of the House variety ofresoluons
were brought in, many Of which were lost the way
side. Many of these resolutions were rejected, before
they could the shape of bs-and yet they occu-
pied considerable time OF the House, both when they
were ognally submitted, and when they reported
back to them-and when they were under the conslde.
ration of their respective committees II very rarely
indeed, that we have seen so many measures brought
forward, occupying the time of the members in COM
nitlees and consuming the time of the House And yet
these abortive make figure in the Sketches
nor the Statute Book. These efiee resolutions, fer
which the Wings are much, if accountable,
than the Repubcans-and this large bundle OF bills
sleeping upon he table, rejected transiu account
in great part, for the representation OF the sesslon-for
most OF them, IN many stages OF their action, were
discussed, and voted down-and we are assured by
gentlemen who conversant in such details, that il
generally takes longer time to dispose Of rejected
bill, than TO pass an adopted one
| We say, the session continued for ia days-be-
ing three days longer than the Wing session Of the last
Winter C4l-i2) and but two days longer than the
preceding Wing session of 40-4l. But it is not, rs
reoed enos tho adoption OF the present Constitution
Tine session of '37-3S, was spun gu, to liz days
The whole pack ofthe Wing press IS now getting into
full cry, about the waste OF tme and the duration Of the
session 1t is n standing topic Of the Prince of the
Bongers-a dish, of cut and come agan-cne Of those
things on which he is attempting to make capital for
the Spring election. The party is, indeed, hard for
arguments and by way of dverting our forces, it is
jcharonn upon the wndmils, and complaining Of the
waste OF time. 1t but the other day, that he Uhe
r. Whg) said, "the excessive length Of the session,
which together with the rejection of the land money,
has rendered it necessary 10 levy new taxes the
oppressive form in which those taxes imposed
exercising powerful influence public sentiment.
I This, repeat, slang, for the Wing ought 10
know, that ii We had stained hands with the Land
Fund and had the usual number Of days for the session,
the Treasury would still have been empty and the State
dlsgraced, without evying new taxes Blu, The Wing
! s most anxously attempting to blow the bellows and
fan the iame-and the Lynchburg Virginan the
Alexandra Gazette, and the universal Wing press, is
cheerlly, shamelessy, following suit AS we shall moi
hear the last of the chapter for the present. may us
well meet the question at once, and JOIN issue with the
ussailant What has occasoned the length of the
sion
There is always certain waste Of time in all the
sons ofthe Legislature We do not deny that ofhe
liquor has leaked out at the bung the spgo now as
at all times Many resolutions lost, which ought
not to have been brought forward. Many speeches
were made, which might very well have been spared
Debates were got up, on various Subjects which re
quired very little discussion The Wings contested
every inch ground where there any opportunity OF
making party capital The election Of Governor took
mp nearly day The election of Counsellor, another.
The election of Storekeeper of the Penentay, nearly
another. The important and admirable resolutions
upon Federal relations, upon which they were pre-
pared to spin out long yarn, were fortunately passed
by the MD Of the Previous Question, that provoked
by their folly.
! We have rarely known more questions brought up
brought up, both sides Of the House, and by The
Wings often, if not ollener, than the other-and
sometimes, under strong suspicion, that they were
brought up, aud the debate spun out for the purpose OF
wasting time. 1t is the remark Of IN experienced ob
server, that he 'never saw Legislature which work
ed with such good wil-especialy for the last six
weeks. The previous question sometimes called
nearly ten times a day-and generally by the Demo-
Gratis.
/ variety OF important questions up, or were
thrown in, which contributed TO The consumption Of
time. The Legislature assembled under peculiar cir
cums,ances. general complaint OF distress had gone
ed. The public debt threatened with reputation
A new apporonment Of the Congressional Districts
happening only once in decade of years, 10 be
effected These moveinents-the condition Of the cur
ncy-the condition of The Public Works-schemes to
relieve the people, to fill the Treasury, to relieve the
public improvemens-were alone sufficient, with the
ordinary business of the session. to occupy consde
rablc space-bu in addition to these, extraordinary
questions were thrown in.
The most prominent of all the subjects in discussion
the public faith and the condition of the Treasury
The Legislature could not, without disgrace, avoid ar
increase of the taxes. They had to choose, between
Reputation and Taxa,ion-and Virginia Patrio
could scarcely hesitate upon the alternative. 81 hae
rather pay TO the last cent, than mother State
disgraced"-such are the memorable words of 1.-THE
Gocchland Owe seer'-and such the manly senti
ment of the Representatives of the People They had
various alternatives before them They had 10
The cid taxes, or levy new ones, or 10 do both.-Th
question itself was and sufficient TO occupy much
The time Of the II ouse. The Democrats were not salts
fed with laying the 6urthens Of the Government upor
land and labor alone-bu looked out for new subjects
They found them in capital, that had hitherto escapet
taxation, or which had been most uneQuay taxed