The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1854-02-28
TpF nAILY DISPATCH.


THE DAILY DISPATCH.
TUESDAY MORNING. FEBRUARY q, ,ssl.
VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE.
II deserves to be put to the credit Of the
present Legislature that they have wasted
none of their time in political discussions, OF
In the discussion Of federal subjects. we
well recollect that II was the habit OF iormer
legislatures to consume great deal more
time upon federal relations than upon mat
tars Of domestic concern. This course was
/. fruitful source of dissatisfaction and cru
cism with the press and the public. Inc VIZ
einia Assembly were accustomed 70 settie
the affairs of the nation, to discuss the frst
principles of government, and to hold secret
communion with the mighty shades of Greece
and Rome. With Virginia they had nothing
to do, except the Virginia Of the past. They
lived entirely in the mausoleum of her an
cient glory, and considered it little better
than sacrilege to attempt to improve upon
the Virginia Of former days. The press, win
great reason, complained of this Description
of State legislation. They regarded 1t as
species Of Old Fogyism of the most r"ihous
character They declared that members OF
Congress were paid for attending to federal
matters, and that the business OF Virginia
Legislature was to legislate for Virginia inte-
rests. They maintained that Congress was
the proper arena for the Kilkenny fight of po-
litics, and that the schools were the proper
place for paying honors to Brutus, Cato,
Aristides, and other eminent gentlemen of
antiquity. They held, moreover, that the
great names of early Virginia history would
be best honored by initiating their virtues,
instead of delivering eulogies upon their cha
racter, and by applying their energies and
perseverance to the demands of this era of
steam and progress, instead of cropping among
the tombs of the departed, and hanging gar.
lands upon their statues.
These just and general circumstances of
the press have at last produced the desired
effect, and we now scarcely hear word in
the Virginia Legislature upon the subject OF
federal relations or of Old Virginia. Politics
are so rarely mentioned that it would be inn
possible to know from legislative discussion
whether there is any distinction of Wing or
Democrat in that body. The Romans and
Greeks receive as little attention as the fossil
remains of the world before the food. The
elusive consideration of the legislative body.
Railroads, canals, turnpikes and plank roads
furnish the staple for debate and action
Certainly this is a great Improvement and
reform, and its beneficial effects are seen in
the public works which have sprung into ex-
istence, and the advance of all the great in
terests of the Commonwealth. But the grum-
blers and GROWERS are not to be appeased
in this way. The organs of the ancient and
venerable fogies insist that the State is run
ming headforemost into bankruptcy and re
pudiation. They insist that the life is about
to be crushed out of them by the process OF
log rolling, and set up croaking in anticipa-
ton thereof, as dismal and dissonant as a
chorus of frogs Others declare that the le-
gislators are more intent upon the internal
Improvement of their personal corporations
by means of oysters and turkeys than the
development of the resources of Virginia by
railroads and turnpikes.
One would think from the complaints OF
this class of grumblers that the people of eve
ry county in the State had selected the most
worthless and stupid of their population, and
having no sufficient cause to send them to
the penitentiary, had Disqualification to ano-
Their department of the government, for the
purpose of relieving themselves tor a time of
nuisance. 1t is to be observed that the bills
ofindictment brought against the Legislature
are vague and general; no names are given,
but the worthy, the industrious and the use
full are involved in the same sweeping accu-
sation with the indolent and inefficient.
We do not deny that there have been great
defects and shortcomings in the legislation
of this winter, but it is simply ridiculous
to accuse the representatives of neglect of
the interests of their constituents. Even
if not controlled by sense of duty, the very
selfshness with which they are SO freely
charged would lead them to be active and
vigilant in carrying out the wishes of those
who sent them here. Their great and radi-
impeded the legislation of this winter is, a
narrow and circumscribed view of the duties
of a legislator, and an excessive and uncom-
promising devotion to the interests of their
own sections. 1t is this sectional feeling
which has made the legislation of this winter
barren and fruitless. But, at the same time.
allowances ought to be made for this policy,
when it is remembered that large sections of
Virginia are suffering from the want of i'm.
provements, while others have far more than
their share. At all events, the constituents of
these sectionalists have no rightto complain.
for it is in devotion to their petty interests
that their representatives have pursued a
course which has, for time paralyzed the
advance Of the State. Where there 10 n !;
oeral and patriotic people, there will he l;ba.
raj and patriotic representatives If the neo.
| pie of Virginia are governed nv .r,;.h.a