The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1854-03-15
~ EXTRA SESSION.


We regret that the Richmond Examiner
whose ability and intelligence give influence
10 its views, should express the opinion that
there is no warrant either in the Consutu1'oh
ar the necessity of the case, for an extra ses'
sion of the Legislature. Although our ieg'l
opinion upon the subject would be worth not
hing. vet, to plain understanding, the pro-
provisions of the Constitution would seem to
be very clear and explicit on the subject.
The power of the Governor, ii ne choose
Of his own will to call an extra session to-
morrow, or next winter, is undoubted. The
same body which was here last month, can
be recalled at any time before the expiration
of the term for which they hold their office.
A majority of them can require the Governor
so to convene them. Ii the clause in regard
to this latter point does not mean this, what
does it mean, and why was it inserted!
We eoncede that it would have been the
better course altogether if the Legislature
had marched square up to the demands of
the public interests, and voted both for pro-
longation of the session for thirty days and
for an extra session, both Of which the inter
ests of the State demand. The greatest hum
bug which ever leaped from the teeming
womb of Buncomb, is biennial sessions linn
tied to ninety days. What has been the re
suit of the first experiment The Legisla-
ture assembled under general invocation
to push forward the leading lines of internal
Improvement, and they adjourned without
giving dollar of aid to scarce one OF those
leading lines. What is the condition of the
Central, the Covington, the Canal, ana other
great works Of improvement? They must all
be arrested in their progress, mott for one year
only, but for two years. Other interests OF
the State, purely local bat still important to
those interested must suffer in like manner
We are aware that the last Legislature has
been assailed and ridiculed by the keen wit
of the Richmond Examiner and also by the
organ of the other party, the Richmond
Wig, two papers whose recognized talents
and position give weight to what they say,
but we feel very confident that the last Legis-
lature in industry and attention to business,
would compare favorably with most Virginia
Legislatures tits probable that more might
have been accomplished with an assemblage
whose members were more accustomed to le-
gislation and better acquainted with each
other. but those are advantages which will
never be comprised in biennial sessions of
ninety DAYS We hesitate not to say that the
unfinished business of the late experiment
would, of itself, require an extra session.
What are we to think, then, of the policy Of
not only deferring this unfinished business for
two wears, but of heaping upon it the vast
accumulation which those two years will
bring, and all to be performed IN anothef
short session of ninety days ? Does not every
one see that it will be simply impossible 1or
the Legislature to discharge the duties thus
imposed upon it, and that the result must Dc
either the passage of laws without dellbera-
ton, examination, or regard to any earthly
consideration but the saving of time, or else
that nothing will be done, and new ava
lanche of unfinished business. to be swelled
by the increasing contributions of two more
years, will be poured down upon the heads OF
another luckless Legislature of ninety days
The Examiner speaks of Rump OF Lee
gislature, but better that, we should think,
than a Runt of State, which Virginia
must become, with the arrest of all her works
of improvement