The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1857-02-25
Bad Legislation

business offs citizens, though the number oil
such may be limited, have powerful influence
upon the interests Of the people; but the
general tone and moral character of its legis-
lation have a greater influence than its posi-
tive enactments. Confidence in wise, intelli-
gent, and upright rulers and makers, is
better than legal and constitutional restraints
against the acts of ignorant, incompetent,
and proaigate legislators. If Ignorance, COR
ruption, and narrow prejudices be evident in
one act, trust in the whole legislation Of the
State is impaired; and people will neither go
themselves norplace their property where
doubt rests upon the incorruptibility and ca
pacity Of the law making power. lngnorance
may unwittingly do more harm in one day
than wisdom could repair in year. A profit
gate, ambitious man, or yenal avaricious one,
may sacrifice the interests OF the State for
generation, to attain some small personal ag-
grandizement, if he has partizans to abet him.
Mr.. Smith, in his lecture on Friday evening,
portrayed to us our advantages for cotton
manufacturing, and spoke Of the immense sur
plus capital that the high prices of the great
staples was annually accommodating in the hands
of planters, and which was even now seeking
investment in cotton manufacturing, which
was a business so Intimately allied to their
own interests, and Of which their own pursuits
gave them some knowledge, that they had
more confidence in it, than in any other enter
rat loir
in easy and constant communication with
them; living upon the line Of demarcation be-
tween the contending sectional parties, we are
the impartial defenders of the rights of both
under the Union, and we have more ofthe con-
fidence and good will of the South, than the
extreme North can have. 1t would be easy
therefore for us-as they have at Cannelton-
to enlist the South in our undertakings, and
to secure a portion ofthe rapidly accommodating
surplus capital of the cotton planter to build
our cotton mills.
But when the subject was seriously debated,
the reflections Of every intelligent man turn
ed to the character of our legislation as the
great obstacle to inducing capitalists and skill
iul, experianced artizans to unite with us
under the auspices that at present sway the
State. The inordinatc selfish ambition of
two or three reckless profigate party leaders,
has thrown the State into a. condition Of an
archy, and left us in doubt if we have any
constitutional government at all.
The proceedings OF our Legislature reflect
...o,, A. ;.,f.rl;oo,oa Of tho Stata-
There is in it an entire absence Of the proper
qualification Of legislators and statesman
ship; such gross ignorance of the actual
wants and true interest Of the State as exhib-
tied in the discussion and rejection Of the In
terest and Geological Survey Bills. that people
who have much State pride will avoid u.s.
When shameless neglect of some of the
most exgent necessities Of people for legal
changes, while the precious days of the Leg
isIature are wasted in iactious strfes to secure
party ascenedncy is the order of the day; and
audacous violation Of the plainest provisions
Of the Constitution are perpetrated to sub,
serve the inordinate ambition of petty party
tyrants; and allegiance to faction and devc-
ton to its triumphs are made paramount to
all considerations OF public good, sound think
ing men, and cautious capitalists can have no
confidence in the government, and will be
slow to trust their interests under its charge.
We have, it would seem-instead ofits wis
dom-assembled the ignorance-the narrow
prejudices-and the political proiligacy of the
State, as its Legislature. 1t is without dis
pute, the most incompetent assembly ever
gathered to enact laws in an American Hall
of Legislation. And its acts are in perfect
correspondence with its intellectual character
A very few members-and one Of those credita-
bly represents Reconsideration it fiom utter
incompctency. Take from it ten men and
there is no capacity in it, to draft an act, OIL
tell its force and effect when read. The DIS
cples of Lavater and Spurtzheim might ap-
peal to their faces and heads for the truth o.
their theories, and not one act of theirs would
impeach the conclusiveness Of the testimony
Mr.. Madison in the Federalist, says that the
members Of our Legislatures will be true rep
resentatives Of the prevailing sentiments arc
characters of their constituents and though
we have marked exception to the maxim il
our present Legislature, the rule will be ap
piled to us in this, as in all instances, by per
=, sons looking upon our doings alta distance
THE Pocket, while it is the strong hold of De-
mocracy, has fortunately the best talent in the
House. But in the mass, the men who have
under their control the interest of this grca
State-ofalmost unlimited resources ofwealtl
and happiness--appear as the skimmings ofth'
political cauldron, thrown up to the surface b,
the heat and ebnllition Of the rankest part,
spirit, and their doings, for the fist time il