Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1851-01-29
connEspeNpnNeE OF THE SPECTATOR.
R,csnoNp, JANUARY 2Oru. 1851


RrcHMoNp, JANUARY 2OrH, 1851.
Since the re-assembling of the Convention have delay
I'd the renewal of my promised communications for the best
Of reasons-vz: because have had nothing to commun-
cate not even suggestive text to begin with. still la
bour under the same difficulty and write merely let you
and your readers know hoo little has been done deemrg
j. perfectly fair that the people should be kept informed
of the coduct of their servaats.
The Convention is evidently only deiberatire but
deliberate body to consider 1t dgned course
for SO important body of Statesmen and sages stake its
time' about every thing. Hence it spends several days
in medating and discussing the question what precise To-
caity shall be honoured with their august presence and
again twice as many in determining how and by whom
their eloquence shall be gated among and trans
mitted TO future ages. The impression TO prevail
among the members that it is hardly worth while to trans
act much business towards the end Of the week. and when
Friday arrives there is accordingly manifested strong dis
position 10 ad ourn until the following Monday They
meet at O'Clock, P. NJ and adjourn about 8, P. NJ
These two hours spent in the most trivial speechifca
ton and the most tedious voting frequently by calling the
ayes and noes More than half of the first month has thus
been consumed at immense expense the people ofthe
Augusta to calculate the amount thus wasted in settling
two questions which plain Augusta farmer would have
settled just wisely in couple Of hours. 1t practical
sum in political economy"
The Convention is indeed queer sort Of body. You
ought it in session. to witness how il tckes itself
with its own wcisms bores itself with its own proixity
picks its teeth, scratches ts head, and whites away The
public time like gentleman Of leisure From present a
pearances its promised progeny will hardly make its a
peaance before the full of nine months ncs its mem
bersshoud in The meantime become impatient for the Judge
ships, Sherifaes, Cerkshps Sc, the bright visions Of
which have probably visited their dreams for many months
past But the bird in the hand the per diem, may in
duce them continue and then you may be the State
well as the Capital will be well lighted with gas The
time taken up deciding the question oprntng warrants
the belief that vast amount of reading matter is to issue
during the session. and place is already bespoken for the
volume in the Library of the State Leaving out of view
the number of those whose established character gives
reason expect from them intellectual efforts worthy Of
record the Convention may be divided into the sarnine
and the asnne the former Of which classes will endeavor,
doubt conceal the shaowness of their compre
henson under aspect Of awful proundy and solemn re-
serve, while the latter, much class, un-
conscious of self exposure will make themselves known in
the Reports by the unlimited expansiveness Of their eo
quence Logic spun into invisible wire gorgeous bouquets
of botanical rhetoric terrible explosions Of misplaced vehe
mence and splendid gyratons Of rhasodca bombast may
be expected appear endless continuance the pages
Of the great volume they have promised to the world
Mr.. GalaheI of the Republican having been finally
poyed do the printing, and the Universast Church Sc
cured for the future sessions of the body the Convention
has coolly adjourned Saturday next. The reason
assigned is that the Committees yet ready with bu
sness for the Convention. But why, it may be asked,
could not most if not all Of these Committees have been al
work during the long in November and December?
1t was certainly understood at the time that object Of
the recess was to give time for this preparation.
The other deberative body, the Legislature, has signal
lied its present session BY reply language and spirit
truly Spartan to the resolutions in favor of Peace transmit
ted from Vermont Virginia, like an old dowagcr of the
first rank scorns be ectured by such Impairment lit
tie upstart Vermont, and, with imperous toss Of
the head ebukes her for her Owadness and assumptions.
The only obstacle apprehend 10 the due effect of this
Duke consists in The illness of hide which characerzes
more than one of these little States at the North. The
want of decent sensbiiy there obvious as its
is apparent in the Southern Sisters. You cannot posi- 4
bly, arrest their attention in that way They can only be
reached through the pocket and therefore think the best
revenge Virginia take upon New Engandfor her med
ling spirit in every imaginable way 10 foster and
build up her institutions and interests She must strive for
,ower not by the pertness Of her Legislative Resolves,
Tor by the virtuperalve resolutions of her political press,
,u by increasing her federal numbers and adding her
physical strength. This may be termed submission, but
care not It is the dictate calm and rational discretion
More anon. IL