The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1854-03-29
SPIRIT OF THE PRESS.

Yesterdays Enquirer has leader upon condi
honal Legislation. by which is meant the practice
now become quite prevalent, of submitting laws TO
the people, in order that they may pass jud gment
upon them. The Enquirer says this sort of Lesis-
lation is an invention of modern times, and is as
base in its origin as it is vicious in its tendency ts
only purpose is to furnish timid and unworthy leg
islators with means OF escape from the RESPONSE
biity implied in the very idea Of representative
government, and imposed upon them by the provi
sions of the Constitution and the election of the peo
pie. The inevitable tendency of the system is to
the ultimate subverson OF the theory of Representa-
tive government. The Legislature will cease to be
an independent and perfect department. and will
become simply an agency for suggesting measures
of legislation to the peoples while the effect upon
the character of public men will be not less deplo
rable - 5t' Ae' -
The Mail again strenuously urges upon the citi-
zens of Richmond the importance of granting to
the Central Railroad Company, the appropriation
of $100, 600 which is now asked There is likewise
article upon the route selected for tho entry of
York River cara into the city, The line of the road
passes under Peach, Main, Elm and Ash streets, SO
that obstruction will be offered to the free and
safe passage of teams above the level Of the Rail
road The Mail thinks. it the best that could have
been selected, and recommends the Company to
the distinguished consideration of the Common
Council aEessHg ~ '34 ssa II Afta 'ite
The Examiner discusses with ability the Russo
Turkish question. gasae j
The Penny Postheads its leading article-..Are
we prepared tor WARP and thinks it great pity
chat Congress cannot forego the squabbles in which
1t is perpetualy engaged over the spoils of the
country, long enough to put the country ina state
OF defence, ae sib .f5a2et 5i}sfafi7 71it 81.
The Wzig, in an allasion to Mr. spence's speech
TO the Sultan Of Turkey, remarks that he may not
have bad express authority tor what he said, but
he has fallen into avery natural mistake. It was
understood and proclaimed, says the Wing, when
the present Administration came into power, thar
the past policy of the Government to be totally
changed-it was time it was said that we had TO-
reign policy--and our diplomatic agents abroad
were expected to intermeddIe whenever they
could find an opportunity. No doubt this was Mr..
Spence's understanding Of the object Of his mis-.
sion-snd he acted upon it. The WING goes on to
say that the folly, Of the Pierce policy has been
fully illustrated by this action OF our agent At Con-
stantinople. The union of England and France
WIN make them more insolent than ever, and they
would not be indisposed to throw any obstacle they
.o,,,d 4, the way Of our commerce. Besides this
,ns fnbs affair u on hand. and may st any fine,
~. :. IN war wild, sE Western Europe Rus
"a ia this contingency, our only European relii
80 ve kick to the dogs In advance. The Whig
ccrindes that although President Pierccs domestic
/ Idmipietration has bean bad enough, his foreign
has been series of unbroken blunders. r
Il