Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-04-01
Exit. Session Of the legislature.

Some Of our contemporaries, particularly Of thu
Democrotc press opposing extra session of tn,
Legislature for the reason among others, that it is
Unconstitutional. We do not agree with them in Their
view of tho unconstitutonalty of an extra session
The provisions of the constitution are too plain i
seems To us, to admit of doubt OH the subject. Ii
the 4h article Sth section of the constitutions under
the head of "Powcrs and Duties Of the General AS
sembly," it is provided that "Thc General Assembly
shall meet once in every two years. and not oitcner
unless convened by the Governor in the manner pro
scrbcd in this constitution No Session of the Gen
era Assembly, after the first under this constitution
shall continue longer than ninety days without tic
concurrence OF three fiiths of the,members elected
to each House, in which case, the Session may be
extended for further period not exccedingI thirty
days"
This clause, 1t will he seen, refers particularly
toa continuation of the Session thirty days beyond
the ninety allotted But it also contains reference
to another clause of the constitution by which
ira Session may be convened by the Governorin the
manner prescribed in this constitutions" That pro-
vision is contained in article 9th of the constitution
defining the powers Of the Governor which SAYS he
shall Convene the General Assembly on application
Of majority Of the members Of both Houses there
OF, or when in his opinion the interests of the COM
monwcalth may require it." 1t is clearly within the
provisions Of the constitution then to have an extra
session in two ways; first by application to the Gov
ernor from majority of the members of both houses
and next when in his opinion the intel ests ofthe CON-
monwcalth may require it.
We are surprised that there should be any dversi-
ty of opinion about the Constitutional authority for
called session. The trainers OF the Constitution
took good care to provide for that When they were
iegisating upon that humbug topic Of REFORM known
as biennial sessions Of the Legislature, limited 10
ninety days, they did not fail to confer the power
upon the membtrs OF the Legislature TO meet when
they pleased, and to perpetuate their sessions as
long as they pleased. They are, in fact under IL C
operation OF our "Reform Constitution seli-perp,ts
uating body for the term of two years for which they
are elected. The holding Of extra session. there
FORE is the fault Of the Constitution and violation
of it, whenever the members of the Legislature may
see proper to avail themselves OF the authority there.
in conferred for converting session. The dear pco-
pie are really worse of now than they were when
the Legislature assembled every year. Then they
could change their Representatives after trial of on
session, provided they did not like their services bu
they have to bear with them, such as they are,
vi lneln tIle largest
liberty to sit just long rs they please and whc
they please. So much for modern reform in the way
OF biennial sessions.
As to the nexpcdiency OF holding an extra session,
we agree with cotemporaries who ar, against it
We have had fair specimen OF the Legislative capac
ity Of majority of the members belonging to the
present General Assembly, and we trust it may never
be our lot to another such. The State has moth
ing better to expect from them, they sit unit
next election than they exhibited during the late
Sion For the most part they ofmcn elected under
demigogica influences and whose legislative capacity
does not require test of than ninety days I,
show that it is a cheat. We had better be withou
any Legislation for the next twelve months. 1t vii
save the State the per diem Of the members OF tn,
Legislature, which, in the present condition of hei
finances is consideration worth far than the;l
services. Furthermore, it wilrsavc the State Urea,
~ for while longer, a. least, from an indscrnnatC
and wasteul expenditure of public money to all sor.
Of schemes Of :" internal improvement an obicc
which we fear is ut the bottom of this move for an
other session of the Legislature.
Let us have trial Of biennial sessions any how
We have heard great deal Of their beauties for som,
time past, from the very men who are now the pco.
pies Representatives, aud we have some curiosity Ia
see how the practice conforms with the theory. We
don't know better time to put the matter to test
than the present The Reform Constitution has at
all events been in operation long enough to have n
trial OF this branch Of it. We strongly of the
opinion that the soveregns get aongnext winter
without session of the Legislature. They seem to
tbiGk five tojudgc from the demonstrations al
ready given on the subject The press of various
sc ons of the state has no. only spoken out against
an extra session, but the people have taken occasion
themselves to assemble to gather and protest against
it They have had enough of such legislation as that
which thew have been favored with for several years
past to satisfy them for the next twelve months.
Tue UsIoS's DEFrSIroS THE.PRrslpES1's Posi1roy.