The Mississippi Creole. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1841-1851, 1848-02-19

The L~egisIature.

The Senate, yesterday, fixed upon the goth
Of this month as the day for the adjournment
Of the Legislature. If the House shall concur,
the main questions Of the session, we fear will
be lett undecided for the want Of time, if fol
no other cause. There il too much debate
generally, as well as too much attention paid
to little things in deliberative assemblies now
a-days, for business to progress as it used to
do in the days Of Washington, Franklin, and
MADISON. An extemporaneous speech of ten
minutes was then considered long enoogh to
establish the reputation of an orator; and Dr..
Franklin's great written speech on the adoption
OF the Federal constitution, would not make
more than halfa column Of the SouLhron!-
The Spartan breyity of our ancestors puts to
blush the interminable h|arra ng Of their
descendants. Our State never has been wan.
ting in men OF capacity, learning and t~aIants;
but our misfortune is, that, whilst the theories
and distractions of most Of our public men
are sublime and grand, they almost seem to
forget that they live in a world where pro-
gress in intellectual and physical Improvement
can only be accomplished by practical and
common sense views. When Mississippi wants
to ''ta.k for grandeur,'' and etherslf up o. the
examPlar Of Democracy, Gas in the case Of
unconstitutionallit Of receiving her distribu-
tive share OF the public lands,) what State in
the Union can equal her? Plain, ploddlng,
common sense Pennsylvania; enterprising,
pu5lic spirited and keen sighted New York
thrifty New Hampshire and Maine; chivalric
and hair-spIitting South Carolina; and in fact
all the States in the Union-Democrat andwhig
but two, have accepted their distributive
share of the proceeds of the public lands, but
we are two wise in our own conceit to defer
to their Judgment or follow their example
The dominant party are sincere believers, in
the abstracts, in the republican doctrine that
from the decision of a majority constitutional
ly expressed there is no appeal in a republic
except TO brute force-the parent of despotism:
and pet, with the most singular inconsistency
they turn round, and treat with supercilious
10
contempt an act Of Congress, acceded to by
nearly al the States, beeuse it happens to con-
tllct with their previously expressed views,
as party men! They have profound respect for
the judgment of others, so long as it does not
conflict with their own But though the State
is a pefect high school for the promulgation
new Democratic theories, she seems to be
the Rip Van Wilkle Of the Union in the prac-
teal knowledge essential to the DEVELOPMENT
her great natural and physical resources
Could not ourlegislatlr are find tut he best way Of
practical ussesthe abundant resour-
ces which a b%ountiful Providence has placed
within their reach, how much better would n
be Tor their constituents than to spend lime
and money in inventing schemes Of making
70 elevate a few h~eartless partisans m
ONCE! We say this with no unkind spirit u
the Legislatures for we entertain a hiob per.
Sonal respect for a large majority OF its mem.
Ihey are honest and upright in their
but it is dificlt to eschew had ~
ample OF to shake off, all at once, the force
q evil habit, We hope therefore, as the sal
SION draws 10 a close, that a spirit Of courte-
and mutual concession may characterize Tie
OF those friendly to redeeming Tie
credit and plighted faith Of The State. The
people expect much at their hands, and will
o. disappointed # the Legislature adiourps
without every opponent Of the odieus dootrine
Ct Reputation does his duty.