The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-03-06
LONG SPEECHES.

Oavs, IN E0e pubic dssetDDiuses' beo"'@ "'
become the great bore of the age. The pub
lie business is delayed beyond all precedent
by IT, and the public money is wastetuly ex-
pended 10 talk that has become TO DC The
merest trash aud nonsense. The tree and
equal nature of the privileges under our gov
erumeni, of course stimulates debate; and the
exciting character Of the active eiectioneering
with the people, encourages habit OF politi-
cal wrangling which is carried into the Legs
la,iyr Halls and practised there with unHag-
ging pertinacity. The propensity of the Rep
rcsentatiyes to propitiate the feelings of the
people, induces them to be ever shaping their
conduct and their language with that purpose.
The speeches in the Hall of Legislation are,
the greater part of them, merely for the purpose
of personal and political advancement among
the people at home.
There are, in some Legislatures, however,
other causes which help this tendency to speak
ing. The reader may smile when we say that
wesconsider that the introduction of desks with
writing apparatus, in the Legislature of Vir-
GINA, has done more than any other cause, to
SuCCIFugE ucUdtS tilCiC. uOsCt ho"SfCIs "hO
are familiar with the history of the General As
sembly, will concur with US in this opinion
Under the old style of the arrangement of the
House of Delegates, there were none of those
convenjences for writing. The idea in those
days was that the Hall was the place for de-
liberation, not for writing letters and settling
accounts. Those matters of personal and
private nature, it was supposed, were properly
attended to at the private rooms Of members
during the hours of recess Of the Legislature.
There was, indeed, no opportunity for other
occupation than attending to the business of
tention Of those present given as matter of
necessity.
Upon the introduction of desks with pen, ink,
paper, knives, and drawers, the private business
of members was at once transferred to the Hall
and attended to there during the hours of Leg
islaton. The consequence was, that there
was not the same disposition to urge forward
business, as had previously existed, nor was
there the same Discrimination to listen to idle
debate. A new class of speakers at once ap-
peared upon the floor of the House to saw the
air with awkward gestures, adding no force to
feeble description Of oratory not heard before
there, or if heard, soon checked by the clear ex
preston OF the Discrimination of the House to
listen to il. Now the members are occupied
in writing letters or other private concerns, and
the current of senseless debate flows on without
their cure or attention. Then, as members
4 = 4 az
arguments that were to control their action
they would not be bored with prolonged and
irrelevant speeches but checked them in
decided manner.
Those who remember anything of the order
of proceeding in those days, remember how
the D elegates sat on the circular benches fac
ing the speaker, attending to the business un-
der consideration. If a member got up, all
eyes were upon him. If he offered any argu-
ments or any new ideas, he was listened to
with attention. If he did not, the house be-
came noisy, there was great shutting of feet
and clearing Of throats, that quite disconnected
the speaker, he mad any modesty in his char
acter. ii was a selfpossessed and deter
mined bore, and would speak, why the MEM
bcrs deserted the Hall and he spoke to empty
benches. Few could bear these indications of
av srson to listen to them. The consequence
was that debate was left generally to those
whose ability entitled them to the attention of
the House. They discussed measures, the
House heard them and voted after fair dis
cussion by the leading debaers on both sides
Now, everybody speaks, and there is very
little difference as to the degree of attention
paid dulfor an intelligent debater. The men,
bcrs are occupied comfortably in their armed
chairs, with their correspondence or their pa.
pers, or books and it is a matter of little con.
Germ with them who is speaking and what he
says. They do get little impatient after
long waste of time in dull debate, and then
they endeavor to make amends for time mis-.
spent by resorting to those modern applian-
ces Of the hour, the half hour, or the fifteen
minutes rule! Thus stretching every speak
ef on kind of Procrustes bed-giving the same
statues to the Lilliputiaus of the House with
the most able and profound of its Members
Nor do these limitations expedite Legislation;
for the speakers are only multiplied. The
pigmies ell claim their fifteen minutes.
In addition to these objections TO the pres.
ent arrangement, might be added the extrava-
giant consumption Of stationery which it occa-
sions. That is, however, the least Of all the
objections, and might well be overlooked if
there were any advantages in the arrangement
itself.
The old system of the Virginia Legislature
wa. after the manner of the British Parliament.
Il made the Hall of Legislation the place for
celebration exclusively. Every thing else was
done outside that place. Everything in the way
Of preparation was the work OF other places.
The whole matter of private business and cor
reepondence, was attended TO outside the Hail.
IL is not go now. Things were better done
then, and done in more digni6ed and enIigh.-
eaed manner. We do not suppose the old
ussges Of which we speak, will ever be re-es-
fabiished. Members are too fond of their ease