Washington telegraph., 1854-10-18
The Next legislature.


We need not say that the next Legisla-
ture will be an important one. for every Lee
eislature of Arkansas, has had important
duties to perform but we aoill say that we
hope the next Legislature will be more deep
ly impressed than its predecessors with the
magnitude of those duties, and with the i'm
mense Importance to the State of discharg-
ing them with promptness and fidelity.
Our Legislators, most of whom are men
of good sense and who exercise the requis-
ite Grmness, industry and perseverance in
the management Of their private business,
upon their arrival at Little Rock and taking
their seats in the Legislative Halls, appear
to merge their individuality in general dis
position to please and be pleased. and amid
the ''noise and confusion" Of the Capital to
lose sight of the interests Of the State.
We do not attribute our errors in Legis-
lation to want of capacity. There has
been ability enough. The fault has been
its misapplication. Good, hard common
sense, with honesty of purpose. in neither of
which have our Legislatures been deficient,
acted out with the energetic issaivjluality
which characterized each member in the
transaction of his own affairs, would have
been sufficient to avoid the errors into which
we have fallen, and to have placed the State
by this time, Oh firm footing of prosperity.
But cur Legislators have failed to act with
the zeal and determination cf men who, feel
the weight of their great responsibilities.
and have good humoredly yielded themselves
to the allnrements of pleasure and the con
trol and guidance of political log-rollers
Schemiag men have taken advantage Of this
easy disposition and Influenced the action
Of members to the injury Of the State.
1t is high time for every member to
arouse himself, to throw off the apathy
which allows him to be led into error, and
to stand forth for the true interests of the
State with all the vigilance and energy
which would detect and repel an encroach-
ment upon his private interests. Has not
every individual an interest in the public
welfare or is there surer way to benefit
every member Of the community than BY
the passage Of wholesome laws and by the
attempt to relieve the State of its burdens,
and reinstate it in credit and character?
With every thing necessary to make US
prosperous, we have fingered far behind
our sisters Of the Union. We must be
''up and doing" if we would not be ire
trievally distanced in the race of prosperity
and fame. Past Legislatures have done
but little The next has much to do if We
would surlnount the obstacles which have
impeded our progress.
We trust that the public good, and not
petty private interests, patriotism and not
part;zanship viii so control the councils and
direct the action of cur next Legislature, as
TO retrieve the past, and brighten our pros
poets for the future. 4 crisis has arrived
and the people will expect every member to
do his duty; and although members may
be burdened with an unusual responsibility,
they will have an unusual opportunity of
distinguishing themselves, and of making
the session of eighteen hundred and fifty
four memorable in the annals of Arkansas
Legislation.