The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1854-06-13

Of men, In whose banus tie oee''ios VI Wa
city are safe.
The resolution concerning the great Gov
,nston and Ohio Railroad will come up for
consideration, an Improvement which, in
connection with the canal, is the greatest
ever contemplated by Virginia.
THE LEGISLATURE--AN EXTRA SEES
SION,
On looking over the leadaaa political pa
pers of Virginia, we find that suspicious are
still entertained of a disposition on the part
of majority of the members OF tae Legs
lature to entrench themselves once raore IN
the Capitol next winter. In direct opposition
10 that wise provision of the fundamental
law, which declares that the Legislature shall
sit bat once in two years, and then only for
ninety days, these insubordinate law-givers,
we learn, are incontinently bent upon an ex-
ira session, on the absurd pretence that the
interests of the State require it, and that all
the great improvements of Virginia were not
provided for last winter. The suspicion of this
nefarious plot has awakened the wrath of the
press of both parties, from Gath to Askelon.
From the mammoth metropolitan bass viols
down to the shrillest village fddles, there is a
combined groan and squeak of patriotic in
dignation. Such concert of curses never
before greeted human ears as has been AVA
kened by the idea that the Legislature is to
meet in Richmond again next winter. A
proposition so ruinous to the progress of i'm
provements, and so detrimental to the bust
ness and gaiety of a Richmond winter, was
probably never before preached in this an
cient Commonwealth.
Another consideration, which makes the
proposition of an extra session still more mon
strous, is the character given by the anti
extra press to the legislators who evince this
unnatural and reasonable desire to meet to-
gether again, under the pretext of giving an
impetus to railroads and canals in Virginia.
They are described as very worthless set
of persons, politically and Intellectually, each
man being about the poorest specimen in
common sense and public virtue, which his
county could possibly seleet-thus demon
strating, beyond all cavil, the eminent capa-
city of the people for selfgovernment. In
these respects, however, we are disposed to
be charitable towards the last Legislature
We do not believe it was more than ten
degrees lower in the mental and moral scale,
than previous Legislatures. Wes dHnapt be-
Heve it was much farther behind = llus-
triOus predecessors in qualifications its
duties, than the press of Virginia be-
Al &c rrIn In
fact, we have taxed our memory in vain to
recall Legislature of Virginia, for the last
ten years, of which just as bad things were
not said as of that which assembled last win
ter The body which assembled during the
last cholera season, was even more merciless-
ly lampooned The State Reform Conven-
ton was eternally suggesting contrasts to the
Convention of 1929. The effects of these in
cessant TRADES upon Legislative bodies, Con-
yentions, &C., of Virginia, have been of course
happy and salutary in the extreme, and high
ly propitious to the interests of Richmond
The people of other States have naturally
concluded that the people of Virginia, who
uniformly select for their representatives
the most incapable of their citizens, must be
the wisest of their species, and the most emf
nently fitted of all mankind for republican
government. The legislators themselves,
coming hither from every quarter of the
Commonwealth, have of course been flatter-
ed and exalted by the compliments of the
press, and have gone home, carrying with
them, and scattering far and WIDE reciprocal
sentiments. individuals, who, for the first
time, represent Richmond in the Legislature,
are astonished to find the very cordial feel
ings which are entertained towards the me-
tropolis by the delegates from other sections,
but perhaps even more wonderful is the stern
disinterestedness with which our legislators
refuse to allow themselves to be governed by
their personal affections for this city, and give
their aid to railroads which will build up
every other city in the State of Virginia ex-
cept the city of Richmond.
1t is also intimated that the object of the
members, who desire an extra session, lis
20 eat oysters and canvass backs and to
finger the per diem, which, for ninety DAYS.
amounts to the enormous sum of $500 If
this intimation be well founded, it is enough
W Hidho oh0 bIusI the u6geu6racy of the
age. Time was when, in the view of yirgi.
MIA statesman, oysters and canvass backs
were not to be weighed for one moment in
the scale against conscience and DUTY
lhere was also period when Virginia lepis-
iators only consented to accept a per diem
because it was forced upon them by the laws
and by common usage; but, acting under this
disagreeable compulsion, they received it 70,
forms sake, and then Immediately distribu
led 1t all for charitable purposes Still, We
are disposed to put in plea for those mem
oers who are solicitous for oysters and the
per diem. The citizens ofthe lower country
cannot realize the misery of the wretch who
for two whole years, cannot so muob as GO,
anoyster shell nor can rich editors apprec;
ate the agreeableness of four dollars d.y :,
poor men. Let them have compassion ON tne
infrmities of human nature!
Seriously, however, we can see neither ms