Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-04-21
Legislative Lor-Rollirg.

The good people who rush Inssneiy to
the polls every year, and by this sacred alb
surdity forward certain wise-acres to the
law making factory, little dream Of the
mode Of operation, by which the acts enti-
tied acts, &c pass into states, and are with
great care afterwards obcycd. The inte-
rior Of the peniten;iary IS not stranger to
these, than the inside Of the Legislature,
and were they to be admitted to both, ii
would be difficult to say winch were the
most corrupt, the law makers or the law
breakers. This sounds surprising. but we
intend TO illustrate and sustain it by a few
facts.
Some years since, when to procure di,
vorccs in the Ohio Legislature was easy as
lying, beautiful little grass-widow came
out from New York to obtain divorce
from husband disguised with the dones-
tic relation, and was mixing good deal
with the rest OF mankind, inpar;s unknown
She was recommended TO young repre-
sentative, who then led the majority in the
House. and for whose name we would now
have to seek the tomb stone-for the "mos-
sy marble rests" above the handsome form
and eloquent head ofhim who flashed over
our State like a meteor to disappear in a
morass. M-found his client young,
handsome, intelligent and SO fascinating
that perfectly bewildered, he could not bear
the idea of parting with her; so that when
the Bill came up, by dexterous trick, it
was defeated by M--'sownparty, and
the winter went by witnessing defeat after
deieat-the fair lady all the while fed with
hopes of success-and assurances of diff
culties attending divorces in Ohio. The
hours few by on golden wings, and "all
went merry as marriage bell"
But as the session drew to a close, and
Nj really wished to sechis fair client
divorced, and far away in her happy home
he was surprised to find a real difficulty
The bill had been up in the House so often
that certain old fellows from the Reserve
who bring that absurd article, a con-
science, with them to Columbus, and are
willing to board down in back alleys, and
black their own boots-discovercd that
there was really no merit in the case, and
joining with the opposition, defeated the
application In good earnest. In vain, NJ
plead, scolded, and preached; there was no
show for the fair Susanna in the house, NJ
was not dismayed--hc determined
! to carry by one means that which he could
not get by others-and he succeeded
There was no difficulty in the Senate, if he
could only secure the House.
Our readers are doubtless aware that it
requires three several readings on three
several days in each branch of the Legis-
laturc, and therefore, by the utmost dispatch
"a law cannot be made in less than six DAYS.
This has been done to secure us from hasty
legislation, but our worthy representatives
have "A d03gc that quite annuls that slow
process, and M--madc use fit.
A day before the time fixed for adjourn
ment, when certain honest old fellows
thought themselves entirely safe from any
new bills that might be introduced, and
having killed off allthc obnoxious old ones
an exhibition was given at the Blind Assv-
lum. So backing their boots they piously
sauntcred out to that Institution
The House met, and NJ, looking
over the vacant sorts saw the enemy was
out. He seized the first bill that was call
ed for last reading and passing. That
bill was No. 364; IAN &C, for the incorpora-
'.ton Of tie Methodist Episcopal Church Of
the town of Wesley, III the township of
Bascom. M--moved an amendment
that all after the words BE itenaeted,n
DC stricken out and the following inserted
The insertion consisted in adding the whole
bill divorcing Margaret Fiddle from her
husband John. This was done! Nj
hurried it to the Senate There it was in
troduced and read the first time-rcierred
to committee Of onc-who Immediately
eportcd-when 1t was read second time
and by suspension of the rules read the
third time and passed. In one hour the lady
was divorced from her husband by the Leg
islature ofOhio.
The next day, the Hon. $50 called Pc
leg-Leather, inquired with much soicita-
ton, what had become Of his bill No 364,
Incorporating his little congregation of the
Lord, in the town of Wesley and was
gravely informed, amid roars Of laughter,
that his bill had passed, but the effect of it
was not to incorporate his little congrega-
ton, but to un-incorporate Mr.. and Mrs
Fiddle, late of New rk-Cin Noppa-
reR