Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1858-04-16
FROM RICHMOND.
Irregular Correspondence of the IntelIlgeneer.l
. RICnMoNp. April i


Your correspondent IS fully aware of the uni,
versatility of the habit among news writers and
others connected with the press of critlcISlng
most licentiously and Unfortunately the ac-
tons. proceedings and members OF legislative
bodies; indeed, rife has this disposition TO mo
fault become, that now, with many, II appears
to be perfect passion, whose qualification Is
absolutely necessary for mental sustenunce.-
Without very digent search through the col
iiuins of any daily or weekly journal, whose n
finances Justify the employment OF corTespon-
dents at the National or State Capital, we ma
very bold and confident assertions OF tic WIS
dom or folly of measures of National or State
policy; we see sometimes, elaborate Criticisms
upon the talents, attachments, &c OF our great
Statesmen, prepared and sent forth for universal
reading by these sanIe correspondents, VINO are
only remarkable, many of them, tor their sell
Icomplacency, and for their ignorance oil the;
measures and men which they thus voluntarily
commend or abuse, according as their puny and
dwartish ideas, and contemplate prcIudices
and predictions happen to run. 1t IS such IL
ceutiousnesS which is gradually causing the
American press 10 lose much of its prestine au-.
thority among all classes, and is rapidly destroy
/ ing its influence in the POLITICAL and especially
the socia. government of the nation. The un-
restrained abuses AMI misrepresentation of
their conduct by correSpondents-aye, ofedltors
too causes such gentlemen as Henry Winter.
Davis and Robert Toombs, III the halls of Con-
gress, to commentin language OF sceTn and con
tempt, upon the public press, which ever has
been hitherto in this country, and ever should
be in all countries, the controlling engine of the
governmental machinery.
Ny atteution has frequently, during the four
months session Of our late General Assembly,
been attracted to editorials, letters, &c, from
Richmond, in petty country newspapers, con-
taising far-fctched attempts at ridicue, strained
XitticismS concerning the:entiTe course of poll
cy pursued; some have thus confined themselves
TO an expression of judgement upon the action
airi policy of the Legislature which is of course
perfectly proper aud legitimate, when done in u
proper tone and spirit; but some of these sage
philosophers, not content with publishing their
individual views of subjects which they do not
and oftentines cannot comprehend, habitually
use their columns for the dissemination of state
ments among the ignorant masses of the back.
woods, which they intend to have and which
can only have the effect of casting oGloquy up
on members collectively, and discredit indiyidu,
ally.
Whatever may have been the errors of the
Legislature during the regular session, it amply
atoned during the extra session for any mis-
deed which it committed when embarrassed by
an immense mass of business, and when pressed
for time to introduce mot to dcvclopc and ma
ture) the various measures conceived to be i'm
mediately necessary for the safe conduct of the
affairs of government; and whatever may he the
opinions 1.-THE caviling fault finders, but rciter
ate the Judgments of many superior men,
when say that the late Legislature was the
ablest which has assembled for many years. To
convince any person well Informed as to the
history of Virginia Legislative, bodies for
several years past, of this fact, it would only be
necessary to mention some of the names which
adorn the record of both Houses of the Virgin
ia Legislature of lS57-S. | do not mean, by
submitting the above reflections, to assume the
position Of vindicating the Legislature from
NI,,
sion, and which have not ceased vet, but simply
10 endeavor to countcIact the perEiciOuS effects
of false statements and inuendnes by which
the more ignorant portion of the masses are
often induced to believe that legislators no
sooner enter the Capitol than they become the
most corrupt men, and are occupied continually
in schemes to cheat and Plunder the people,
and that, however innocent and upright before
leaving home, when convened they are innc.
diately transformed into defaulters, TREASURY
fogues, and everything that is wicked, except
| ing only burglars and m'rdercrs
| You have, OfcOnrSc, some time ere this, mott
! fed your readers Of the adjournment of the Leg
islature ON Thursday last, the 9Th instant. For
many days previous, the thin attendance at both
| Houses, was OMNIBUS of Approaching disSOlu-
lion, and consequently feeling of incrtness
and indiSposition to consider grave subjects
/ seemed to pervade Senators and Delegates, al
ready jubilamt, the married ones to resume the
control of the domestic circle, and to renew the
enjoyment of tranquility, and numberless other
blessing of married life; the bachelors, alas poor
fellows, to return again to the Pcnates aud Lares
! Of cherries ceibacy. --''H '.. sth
! The most important measures under consider.
alton during thelast week of the session. were
the Appropriation and Tax bills The Tax bill
was finally passed by a vote Of SO to in the
House. Concerning the Appropriation bill,
there was quite n warm contestsbetween the two
Houses, each endeavoring to force the other to
yield, the cause of which was the addition of an
amendment by the Senate, approprating extra
compensation for its clerk, to which the House
disagreed; the Senate then adhcring to its amend
ment, a Committee of Conference was resolved
upon by each branch, and the Committee having
met, made report, which being unsatisfactory,
contributed nothing towards a Settlement of The
difficulty, which was terminated by the Senate
rcceding from its position go
During this dispute between the two Houses,
Mr. Douglas, the Senator from King William
Co., rebuked the contumacy OF the House, and
declared it to be, in his judgement, the trnost
corrupt and inefficient ever assembled in the
Capitol of Virginia" i
The Appropriation Bill was finally passed in
the form approved by the House
After the final disposition of the Appropria-
tiOD Dill hv t,a Sanotn IT. NVb;t, !