The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-03-10
Our Virginia Correspondence.

RICHMOND, Va, March 8, 1858.
The Viyinid legislature in State of Utter Dioryznsa
ton and Confusiom7hey Break up, Leaving the Business
Of the Commonwealth Undone-7he Constitutional Term
Epired-Gournor Wise to the Rescue and issues
Proclamation Calling an Extra Session-His Speech to
the General Assembly.
For three days past the Legislature OF this State has
been in state Of indescribable confusion which CONT
nued up o'clock night when the session expired
By constitutional limitation. Much time in the early part
Of the session being wasted In lengthy discussions upon
unmporan subject all the great questions in which the
State peculiarly Interested crowded into the last
two weeks Of the session. when evident they could
not be disposed Of The body regards the questions Of
State policy divided into two factons-the internal i'm
provement and the anti internal Improvement factions
the former having vaspre ponderance The latter seeing
no hope Of success direct VOTE applied themselves
at early stage Of the session to stave of action upon in
ternal Improvement bills until the last moment and gave
the other side the fullest latitude of debate in order
kill time. The expedent proved very eectual one for
under the unrestricted license for debate and the eager
Of the members to avail themselves Of it for Bun
comte purposes, they became perfectly obliyous
the crcumscribed period within which they could
tuonaly act and only after the had waned
10 within week two OF the limitation assigned that
they woke up TO full of their true positions For
four five days Of this and last week the House of Dele
gates occupied with the discussion of bill authorizing
loan Of $500 COO the Orange and Alexandra Railroad
Company TO complete extension Of their road from
Gordonsvlle 10 Lynchburg-a road which by the way,
will operate nurousy upon the interests of this city,
it will divert the great trade and travel passing the
Virginia and Tsppessee line at the latter point send
by this road to Alexandria Baltimore. This discussion
closed Thursday evening, and vote being TAKEN
suited IN tie defeat of the measure 1t lacking one vote OF
a constitutional majority. There now bat two days
Of the session left while every important bill upon the
calendar including the bill making appropriations for the
support OF the government, was yet TO be disposed Of
Here the tug Of The first question with the
internal Improvement was TO procure extension
the session. To do this would require hs of the
whole legislature whereas the party
commanded little bare majority. The Senate be
ing more favoraby constituted with regard to tha. nte
rest passed resolution extending the session TO 18th
inst, and being sent to the House for its concurrence
vote was taken upon Is and was lost lacking fourteen
From that moment the utmost confusion followed. To
enter upon any business was entirely out OF the question:
and the whole time occupied IN DISCUSSIONS to
which Of the parties was properly responsible for the ex
istng state of things The anti internal improvement
~ were scary about returning TO their constu
ents leaving the appropriation bill for the support OF the
government Enacted upon and they made many strenu
efforts to get up, but in vain, the opposite party
knowing that If that bill was disposed of they would have
scriples in preventing extension OF the
sion. They in hopes all through that by keeping
that bill back the minority would ultimately agree to
than incur the responsibility OF STOP?
ping the whet Is Of government But in this they
deceived Tor the aninerna Improvement party, in their
willing TO encounter ali the risks attaching TO
failure to pass that important measure.
Thus did matters continue Up to the session OF 70 night,
several unsuccessful efforts TO extend being meanwhile
mace. Al the forenoon session Of today the senate
adopted luton which reported to the House. 10
the that they bad agreed to adjourn at 10 O'Clock
f. NJ Yet still there hope and the question CONT
Jued 10 be warmly discussed in the House up 70 o'clock
T. b. TO-DAY, when an adjournment took place until
O'Clock NJ under the operation OF former resolution
The OF responsibility which neglect Of acton
upon the appropriation bill, and which was hopefully
looked likely the anti internal Improvement
party acquesce in al extension, having failed to pro
duce thai effect the certainty Of the Governors Interpret
ion by call of extra session paraied before
tbem-prvately however-but with no better effect; and
tie House met at the appointed hour TO night with no
better prospects OF extension in view than existed be-
tore the Adjournment to-day.
A, its re assembling some little business proceeded
wtt-discussions merely upon some unimportant mea-
sures-which entirely UNDECIDED great the
and consequent confusion through the hall
II useless TO take up any important bill tor the reason
that ST cieut time no, left b. upon II. The mem
bers walked N and fro utterly Indifferent 10 all that
PASSING and discussing among themselves the anomalous
and embarrassed condition IN which they we're placed
Meanwhile Governor Wise occupied ascat In remote part
Of the hall looking on quietly what WINS passing, and
evidently enjoying the scene. lew minutes after .
O'Clock message announced from the senate, INFORM
ing the House that they prepared TO adjourn, having
no BUSINESS before them which they could dispose OF
within the constitutional limitation.
Mr.. BARBcrB Of Culpepper, moved that the House con-
in the resolution Of the Senate and that that body be
informed OF the readings OF the House 70 adjourn also
Pending this question
o. NJ CRr1cnrE1D Esq the Speaker OF the House, hsv
"A
preamble resolutions expressive OF the Of the
House regard TO the noble dsrteresed and heroic
duct Herndon during the trying ced
with the loss OF the Central America, AMI voting gold
medal 10 his widow as token Of their high appreciation
Of his under the awful circumstances Of that sad
disaster The resolutions adopted unanimously, and
thereupon the Senate for their concurrence They
adopted there with equal unannhy.
JAMES /. kEsrER, Esq, then moved that the House ad
journ sne die which was agreed TO- resolutions OF thanks
TO the Speaker and Clerk being first adopted
Upon the announcement OF the result Of the upon
tba IN inn "A IN tna
Speaker and Clerk simultaneously, which being opened
found to contain proclamation from the Governor,
II Just the members had risen 10 leave the
hall II elected thunders Of applause from the internal
Improvement party while the ants looked exceedingly
SAD. loud cal then made for Wise, Wise; where
upon the Governor arose and said
I am somewhat embarrassed by the novelty Of this
thing II Is extraordinary state Of Affairs. Your bill
Of rights does not proclaim that the executive and egs
latve department Of your government sha be separate
and distinct from each other though does procs that
your judiciary shall be kept separate and distinct
both. But | venture 10 say that although theo
retcay and practically brought and oueh, 20 be brought
In conjunction with each other contact with other
In operation with each oher-l venture 10 say that
there never has been time in the history Of this
wealth when the members Of the legislative depart
mep OF the government have met the executive depart
under circumstances like hose which now surround
For two years have lsbored carly and late nces
sanity, morning noon and night, With anxious thought
and weary labor, " prepare matter for the General As
sembiy OF our beloved commonwealth. II Ia not for
10 say k not for 10 say how my part has been per
formed This can say-this much am entitled 10 say
this much am sure With all kindness you will permit
say that the best part Of labor wac not tina, II
too little, but assuredly tha, II was too much
PERHAPS, sir, that three regular ssssges, and
extra message, was q little too much for three
months OF a biennial ! acknowledge the errors.
acknowledge them. But whilst the matter OF the
ssges speaks It's own imporance-its domerts-
undertake 70 say in justification Of the General Assembly
Of Virginia, that three months time not sufficient
DO the business ~ like this IL Is Just TO
you that might have brought the men OF the
past ages the men giants Of those daysyou might have
brought back the Philip Doddrdges OF the North west
you might have re animated that great codfer the illus
rious Lee himself, and made all the Doddridges and all
the Lees and there was matter and enough
10 be done at this session Of three months That was
sufficient for II you have debated at times when perhaps
debate was unnecessary, was whilst your nmi tees
at their workh was whilst thought aud study
deestDg and maturing your bills and by the time the
work examined, the public credi, was looked into
the public accounts searched matter proposed and
examined why the ninety days were expired Three
months short time for any half dozen subjects that