Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1853-05-27

through the tedious forms Of legislation
Doing nothing" quotha! 1t may well
be doubted whether more industrious
Legislature than that of Pennsylvania can
be found out Of New England. Extended
as are her bounds, diversified as are her
resources, and conflicting as are her local
interests, yet an average of ITO days is
all the time employed for the business Of
a Commonwealth of Two and Half Mill
ions Of People! The Legislature Of little
Maryland is yet in session.
"Well, but" says the Peoples Grun,Jler,
"there is too much private and not enough
public business transacted" Dear sir, if
the two Houses disagree in politics, they
had better drop politics than waste their
time in fruitless contention. 1t is fair to
presume that the Legislature do pass such
general laws as they consider the general
good requires. As to private (or locaD
Legislation, there is not enough of it. With
the unsurpassed advantages of Pennsylva-
MIA, she should be the " Empire State" :"
Local, sectional, and even private legisla-
ton, wisely directed, all tend to advance
the prosperity of the State.
But the Grumbler objects to the h?Ring
subjects Of legislation. Here again the
People are at fault. Every mail is loaded
down with letters, petitions, and remon-
stranccs, respecting local wants. These
may seem unimportant to Members from
other Districts, but each Member knows
the wants of his own. The city of Erie
can not say that Philadelphia bills are Of
no account, nor can Philadelphia say that
no act shall be passed for Pittsburg. And
what Member could or should turn deaf
ear to the legal requests of his own consti-
tuents! The ambitious boro' of Flcatown
desires Beneficial Society (but "without
banking privileges') in connection with
their Town Pump. Dare the Member re-
fecting their wisdom, oppose Il Let but
a suspicion to that effect be set in motion
by some sly opponent, or let the wheels of
legislation roll too tardy for the 'fast' men
there, and the Editor of the T,yranfs Er-
terminator d. Protector Of the Dear People,
will 'issoo an Extry,' announcing in most
flaming characters that "Fleatown is Be-
trayed Liberty is wounded in the house
of her friends :! Bribery and Corruption
abroad with both hands full Of gold y!
The Flcatown Town Pump Beneficial So
ciety in Danger !" &c. &c. If the bill
is not now passed with tclegraphic speed,
all Fleatown is moved with excitement from
its centre to its very suburbs, and as last
resort an '1ndignation Meeting" is called
by big handbill with spread eagle and
in its mouth the comforting assurance that
"The Spirit of '76 shall never die p In
due time, as much as IS or 100 men get
together in their largest school-house and
proceed to "indignate" each other. They
resolre that they ii never vote for their
Member again if he does not get that
"vital" bill (Which may never be thought
of AGAIN. through; that they will not be
answerable for the consequences to him
personally if he returns to his injured and
exasperated constituents without the bill /;
and that if the Governor dare veto it they
will raise storm about lis cars that shall
shake the very Executive Chair! Fore
warned thus, is it any wonder that the Bill
to Suppress Poverty should be laid by
that little bargaining for votes to carry
the Fleatown Town Pump Beneficial Soci-
ETY. Bill should be entered into-and that
the alarmed Governor should haste to sign
a benevolent bill like that, which conferred
no banking privileges ?-Indeed, sirs, it is
the fault of the People, and not Of their
servants" if there are too many private
or local enactments.
There have been many reforms made in
Pennsylvania legislation, and with proper
care in the election of Members, many
more may be effected.
The wholesale charges CT Bribery are
gross pcrversions of truth. That Members
should legitimately advance the interests
Of themselves and their friends, so far as
they can without prejudice to the public
is not denied. There may be
those who sell their votes for money at
every session, but there are more who can
return with clean hands and clear consci-
ences. If the People wish true Legislation,
let them send men of tried moral stamina
men who can say NO-men who can
pierce the veil and resist the power Of any
earthly tempter.
The writer has spent several winters,
in the prosecution of lawful calling, in
Harrisburg, and believes that the character
Of the Legislature is improving instead of
becoming worse. Let memory recall the
scenes Of past years and times, and con-
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