The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1857-03-27
'EEeGES, So PER YEAR.
VOL. XXI. no. 80.
Ha:r.sbuee. March Is. 1857.


Harrisburg, March 10, 1857.
During my correspondence for The .'Pennsyi-
raaian, . / have repeatedly referred 10 ftr great
number Of private bills which are brought be-
fore the Legislature. These Bills CONSIST prin-
cipaiy Of acts Of Incorporation Of all kinds Of
companies, divorce bills, and acts relieving some
individual from doing what common law says
hp ought 10 do, or cxonsratine him from, pen-
atty which he mas, by bis urgect stupidity, IN
cuFfpd For the last ten years il has been one
OF ihe expressed principles 81 the Democratic
party 10 disuountpnance and do away with this
species Of legislation, but as yet bave accom-
pIshed very little, II ANYTHING in this respect
True, that most odious aud corrupt system,
known as fsomni5us legis,atioa,' has died out,
bat sill a propensity exists especially in the
House, to lrgislatr on every petty thing that can
be 5rot1bt within thg power oflhe Assembly,
and what cannot he brought ihere? This is Ger
tainlv great evil. Local interests are made 10
sapplant general wants, and tae nt5ers enter iGto
corrupt combinations t. carry Gut their pet
tv schemes, to the delritnent of tie Interests and
honor Of the Commonwealth
The remedy f1r all this is with the people
They should select men to represent them who
love principle more than pecunary gains. and il
tttfS Atft titrs AN.I ~ Ijl 4ts t Nt3dt sleA ~
lie Pennsylvania Legislature would seen be ef-
eyatrd. / believe that te men noW in tie
State CAPITAL are as aEla ard hoaest as any that
have p7eceard them For Eaany years back, but
they have not proper caaception Of their posi-
ton or duties. They % not consider that na-
ton Of 2, sec, 600 people have entrusted their
government in their bands. They do not think
that the constitution under which they act binds
a member from Blair county 10 10 justice to Phil
adelphia. aad gice cer5a. They do not act as
though they had not patriotism enough TO en-
brace the whole state Of Pennsylvania. No;
many members seem to think tAat their whole
duty IS to RET all tbeY can for their immediate
constituents, even their gain is the loss OF eve
ry other portion Of tbe Commonwealth. This
IS certainly an erroneous ldra, and not only er-
ron-ouS but injurious and disrraceiul.
In the Incorporation Of banks, for instance,
local and personal interests are alone consulted.
There arr points in Pennsylvania, where the
business and enterprise of the people require
Banking Institutions. These localities are rare,
while scores Of other institutions of this kind
are asked fer mere speculative purposes. TIA
mpn0er representing constituency whose in
lerrsts actually require a bank vote against thrsr
speculative demands. IN almost every instance
tF lt tEitt 4AttFt tts4tF - q iHIt-
pie 10 vote against the former. The law Of act
ION adopted By 5raYsl Legislators, the childish
oae-''if you viii viii: IT, yon won't | vent
I cannot now ge1al single important public
oill which has been finally acted upon by the
prrsen; Legislature. Two months and half
Of thp session are gone, and this whole time has
been occupied with the consideration ofthese pet
" bills. excepting only few prescribed duties
which the msm5ers We're compelled 10 perform-
do not say this through any unkiad feeling,
bat simply to cali attention 10 the fact, with the
hope that the evii viii br rrmedied. believe
that the great majority of the members are bon
rst men-rnen y no want TO do right, bat their
ideas Of legislative duty are entirely erroneous,
and 10 make their coed intentions ofany account
they must start out upon different path.
Il would be great advantage 10 our State 70
have triennial sessions ottbe Legislature. IIthis
were done, many Of these cases which now come
here during each winter ouid b. taken to the
Courts where they belong. and there be disposed
Of. The Legislature a.izf3t then become place
Of legislation, and not place 10 make soapboil-
ing associations, and try obscene divorce cases.