Monongalia mirror. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1855, 1852-02-21
RICHMOND CORRESPONDENCE.
Humber L.

mean w usliinStoli ilNIhS,- ".
peculiar talent of writing beautiful
things about nothing.
Your humble correspondent is not
only deficient in that gift but also in
giving interest to facts in themselves
interesting; yet he will venture to
6orc your readers, and make himself
ridiculous, Notwithstanding "a that
as he half promised an occasional
letter.
You, who live in the remote west,
if you carefully read the papers, actu-
ally know more Of the doings oflllis
city, than if you resided here. You
may pass day in the Senate or the
House Of Delegates, and, unless you
have favorable position in the House,
your readers will have u better know
ledge of tho proceedings than the ac-
tual spectator. lcannot conceive how
it is that member Of either body can
do Ills duty and be absenthalf his lime;
yet perhaps it might he possible to
name some who have not been in the
Housethrec days since the commence
ment of the session.
1t has been remarked that in the
recollection of M one. has there been
an Assembly Of such temperate men.
There is not | believe Il regularly in
temperate member of either House.
The great mass ofthc members are
young men, ranging from 90 to 35,
with an occasional gray head to hold
the helm, among whom is the vcnera-
bic Hairston, who was here in the year
1905. Craig, of Roanoke, is also an
old man. The name of Robt. Z. Scott
is familiar to you. He is a singular
looking man; and one would scarcely
know what to make of him at first
sight, but when he rises to speak and
commences to bat his eyes, you can
see that the dull exterior contains "a
mind abovebuttons.' Ifhis hair were
not silvered, one would suppose him
to be 50, yet this young looking man
is growing old. Goodc, of Bedford,
is the youngest member Of the House:
not yet 22.-He offered a resolution
on Saturday for the erection ola statue
to Jefferson, and made one of the most
beautiful speeches on the subject it
has been my fortune TO hear, yet l
think Virginia has, just now, other
things 10 do than build monuments
over the bones other illus,rious dead.
1t is said that the hogs are sleeping
over and roofing up his clay. Ifsuch
is the fact, it is more disgraceful tohis
immensely wealthy relatives than to
the Commonwealth, as his statue is
already ordered for the monument on
Capitol square.
BY this day year the people of Vir-
ginia will think of other matters than
building monuments. The new Con-
stitution compels this Legislature 10
provide sinking fund to pay off the
public debt, which fund will be over
100000 annually. 1t will also take
over 100000 annually, to keep the
Government in motion. These two
items make Sl,300,0O0 to be raised
yearly by taxation, and 1t mast be
done. The Constitution makes it OBJ
ligatory. Extravaganza, heretofore,
has caused it, and let the people who
pay the taxes out of their hard earn
iugs,uot put the responsibility on those
who now have taken an oath to sup
port tho Constitution.
The Committee of Finance sot cv-
cry day till l2 o'clock, and after the
House aaiouns they sit till 10 at
night. They are celebrating a sys-
TEN Of taxation in accordance with
the Constitution. 1t is an unpleasant
task. What will the people of your
county think when they learn that
their taxes arc doubled, as they incv-
itably will be;-and nearly every dol
lar for improvements in other parts of
theStato. True, thepoor will be none
the worse, for taxes will be levied ac-
cording to the amount Of property;-
but if the rich don't "kick harder
than Jcshuron,"I am deceived. This
is an unpleasant subject, and l will
drop it for another time, when / can
have more patience.
l doubt whethcra dollar will be ap-
propriated this session, except for the
payment of the public debt, and the
ordinary expenses ofthe government;
yet every appliance will be brought
to bear. The James river ditch wants
a few more millions sunk in its stag
nant pools; and every four-penny
railroad from this city continues to in
vite the members of both Houses to
take n ride on their roads, to sec the
beauty ofthe thing, free gratis, forno-
thing bad brandy and worse wills
key thrown in, and a "cold collection"
at the end of the roads in the woods,
as it is called here. If these Rail
road Presidents desire TO catch the
votes of any unwary western alli.
gators" they had better not carry
them out through their old fields, pine
burrens, oak forests ten feet high,
broom hedge and chinkapins.
MIR. Bnchunan. of PA. the nthor dnv