Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1856-04-04
THE RICHMOND ENQUIRER.
FRtpAY MORNING., APRIL 4, 1856.
BIENNIAL SESSIONS OF THE LEGIsLA-

1ChE.
Tha result Of the experiment of Biennial Sessions
Of the Legislature conveys a warning to the people
Of Virginia against precipitate innovations in the or
3 ganic operation of government.
- II there be a time when the interests Of society ae'
.nand an utter absence Of passion in the diseuS''o"
y Of public Affairs. it is when the people are ao'u. %
consummate an important change IN tnelr ns'.
0tious. Unfortunately this obvious ana ihaspu'''"
truth Ia rarely regarded; for. ip the strugs'e Det"ee"
the spirit Of wise reform and the sprH u sun
adherence to ancient abuses, the ieelnss " PARTIES
are inHamed, and, instead Of Il cautious ana dlscriml'
mating redress Of grievance, good ana evil insutu'
ton. fall together before a blind impulse OF lnnoVa
tiop. II wn, 10 with US at the time Of our last Con-
ven,iop. The government Of the State was in crying
need of reform, and many salutary changes wore ef-
f.cted in our Constitution. But the spirit OF lnnoVa'
tion was exasperated by Intellectual and foolish OPP
position, and, along with many wise and necessary
reforms, introduced some very unwise and altogether
unnecessary changes in the Constitution of the State
We doubt il any other change in the Constitution
wes demanded by 60 universal a popular ciamor' 70
that which substituted Biennial for Annual oe'''on'
Of the Legislature. Men OF all parties united in the
c-y. Even protested conservatives agreed that this
wa, a necessary reform. Without stopping to distin-
suish between a mere thoughtlsss clamor and q de-
liberate remonstrance against an incontestableg riev-
ance; without inquiry into the causes OF the evil OF
excessive legislation, or reflection upon the conse-
ouence of the proposed change. the Convention de-
creed that the General Assembly Of the State should
meet osee in .uo years, and that its sessions should be
limited to ninety days.
This thing happened five years ago. To-day there
u an almost universal outcry against biennial and
limited sessions Of the Legislature.
Is there any more reason in the present than IN the
former clamor! Is the experiment Of biennial SEES
sions OF the General Assembly a failure
The constant tendency of the Federal Govern
usent is to osgrandize itself at the expense OF the
States. It'll perpetually absorbing not only the po'
li,icsl powers but the dignities and emoluments OF
government. And Just in proportion as the govern
nsnt at Washington rises in public consideration'
the government at Richmond sinks into impotence
and contempt. To this irresistible tendency addl'
ticnal impulse is impaired by every act that divests
the governments of the States Of power and dignity.
When the people of Virginia proclaimed that the in
tere.ts of the State were Of 80 little moment that an
annual session Of the General Assembly was a super
fni:y, they materially contributed to degrade the Old
Dominion from its proud position in the confederacy.
The government of the State was reduced in rank,
and .lipt somewhat out Of the public mind. 1t was
proviuoialized, and forfeited the dignity Of a COM
plete, perfect and independent sovereignty. The
Federal Legislature meets every year, and is almost
IN perennial session. 1t was inevitable that the peo-
pie Of Virginia should come to regard Washington
Instead OF Richmond as the seat Of government and
source % political influence.
A session Of the General Assembly once in two
~ I'M Cor a eIort ti,re ia n stan towards is
ebolition, and tends TO reconcile the public mind 10
any reduction Of the dignity of the State. 1t i'm
plies, moreover, an imputation against the principle
Q: representative government.
The assumption that the welfare Of the Common.
w,al:A could be sufficiently cared for by all occa.
sional and hurried conference OF the representatives
OF the people, has not been justhhsd by events.
The multiplicity and magnitude OF the Interests of
Virginia are such that they can be embraced only by
6 large comprehension, and be adequately protected
aud promoted only by incessant vigilance and energy.
There 10 hardly an interest in the commonwealth that
Is not at this moment languishing from neglect, or
from the not les. Danerui eEec's or pelur''".y '--io'
le.:on.
If from the domestic affairs of the State we turn TO
!tr relations with the confederacy, We will find occs-
zion for the e1ertion of all the wisdom and energies
of the legislative as we'll a. the executive department
Of government.
We do not propose another Convention. Fortu-
na.ely the evil that aAlicts US is susceptible OF a le's
hazardous remedy. True, it is not safe to make daily
application of an e~xpsdient that is Intended for an e1-
,rsordinary exigescy of state. The constitution will
be strained and weakened by the constant employ
men, Of energies that are reserved for rare emergen-
cies. Still the necessity for another session Of the
Legislature, within the next twelve months, may be 80
imperious as to override this objection.