Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-04-03
THE VIRGINIAN.
A. w. G. TERRY, EDITOR.
LYNCHBURG, APRIL q. 1881.
Adjournment Of the legislature


Well, at last we may congratulate our
readers on the adjournment of the Lcgisla-
turc, as we take it for granted it carried
out its original resolution to terminate the
session on Monday. 1t relinquishcs its
hold upon the public purse, however, with
manifest reluctance, as is indicated by the
repeated attempts, on Friday and Satur-
day, to prolong the session even for few
days. 1t dies hard, but death puts pc
rod to all things and even the Legislatures
time has come. We announce its obituary
with infinite delight.
We remember that in vindieating the
policy Of the extra session, its advocates
confidently assured us there would be no
need after the revision of the code, for
longer term than forty days at far,hest !;
and yet experience proves the utter falla-
cy of these predictions. Instead Of forty
days, the present Legislature has been in
sessionfce months Now we are not dis
posed to censure that body unjustly. Vir-
GINA is almost an empire in ITSELF cmbrac-
ing great variety of local interests which
claim the attention Of the law-naking pow
or, and no uncomfortable time is necessari-
ly required for the consideration of these
various subjects but surely, it will not
be commended that, more than one third of
every year is necessary for the purposes Of
legislation. The TRUTHS we are governed
too much; and governed too, by men,who
can't govern themselves, and who are filter,
therefore, to be the ruled, than the rulers.
We have been credibly informed that one
half of the members devote their time to
fun and frolc, some drinking and carous-
ing, some gaming, and some at one sport
and some at another. We have been told
that BUSINESSES frequently transacted in the
House without quorum, and one half of
those who may happen to be in attendance,
is either aslecp.o or drunk; and yet, under
these circumstances, the most important
laws are passed, affecting the rights of the
citizen and the credit Of the State.
Now this is an ulcer upon the body pol
itic that needs to be cured, and the people
alone, in the present state Of the system,
possess the remedy, and that remedy they
ought to administer Let them apply il
through the medium Of the ballot-box, and
they may safely undertake to guaranty a
cure. Let them select for their represen.
tatives, men of character, Of intelligence, Of
sobriety and of good business habits and
qualifications, and it will be found the SEES
sion will rarely exceed sixty days. But as
long as thepeople will take up and sup
port every popinjay who may thrust hi:
red beak over the top Of a stump TASK fol
votes, so long must they be prepared to
submit these exc assesa and abr ses. tits the
peoples business and they, surely, ought to
feel interest enough in their own affairs, tc
look after them with little more care and
attention than they have been in the habit
of bestowing upon them. We think this
thing is becoming a matter of serious i'm
portance-we will not say the Legislature
is becoming a nuisancc-and it is high
time the public mind was aroused to the
gradual decline of the Legislature, as j,
annually demonstrated by its ineliciency
in action and prolixity in gable.
We can think of no other possible rem
edy for the evil complained of than that tc
which we have referred, tie 6allot-dor; and
this the people themselves can CONTROL
They must raise the standard of Lcrisla.
tive capacity, and then men of ability will
take the places of those who go to Rich.
mond In an official capacity, to search fol
new pleasures, or to indulge in cherished
vices. We would not involve the whole
body inthese sweeping accommodations, for VIC
know that some ofits members are men OF
character, of talents, and of great business
habits-in Heavens name what would
the mass become if there were not some
lcaven in it but i. is undcniably true
that a large number Of them is no better
fitted, by habit, education, and intelligence,
to frame laws, than they are to Ell the sa-
cred desk. This is matter in which the
people are most deeply interested, as it in
wolves not only their property, but to a
great extent their character too; and let
them, therefore, loof to it, and determine
IN future to vote for no man who cannot
present some reasonable claim to their CON
tidence and support. Our Legislature,l like
Congress, is fast running into ridicule with
the people and is becoming by-word for
rcproach and there is no reason to
doubtit will soon fulfil its threatened des-
tiny, unless the people interpose their con-
servatve power to rescue it from so igno-
BILE fate. They, we repeat, can alone
apply the remedy, and they alone there
fore ought, in fairness, to be held respon-
sible for the continued illness ofthe patient.
But whether they will do it is for them to
say. AT all events another free breathing
spell has come to the relief of the country.
and we seize the occasion to initiate our
lungs with fresh draught Of pure air, to
express our hearty rejoicings that the late
assembly isfaactus e6lcio. May its sue
cessor be composed Of new and different
order Of men
Mr.. WEBsTER's SPEEcH-Wc copy
from the National Inteligencer what that
paper states to be a correct report of Mr.
Webster's Annapolis speech, which we
hope none of our readers will fail to peruse