Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1859-03-24
THE PRESS ON THE ACTION AND
NON-ACTION of the LEGISLATURE.
From the Missouri Republican.
The Missouri Legislature.

| lHe MISSOURI Legislature.
We have already said that we would, at
the proper time, speak 10 the people Of Mis-
souri, in regard 10 the action Of their agents
in the Legislature, the remnant Of which
viii this morning adjourn the session until
November next. We do this with great
reluctance. Il is no aifectalicn in us TO say,
that we had some part in the election OF the
members of that body, US well as in secu-
ring the election of other gentlemen TO Office,
and position last August. This is accorded
TO us. But when we see men so chosen de-
serling the dearest interests of the State
yictimIzing il, as il were, and holding it Up
10 the derision and contempt Of all eulight-
ened people-we adopt the alternative Of
speaking out cur views in regard 10 the
action Of the members OF the Legislature,
now about adjnurning 10 fall session, in
order that our position may moi. be m!sundcr-
stood, now or hereafter.
II is unfortunate, II seems 10 us, for the
Democratic party that they are so strong in
each branch of the Assembly as 10 over
power their opponents in numbers, though
not in talent. Unfortunate, inasmuch as it
has invited and justified combinations amang
themselves, and that these combinations
were formed at an early period ol the pres
ent session. 1t is equally unfortunate, that
so large number OF the members ol tie
popular branch are new men, never before
having been engaged in public life, and very
few OF them connected with, or response
hie for, tie legislation o. the past ten years.
The number Of members Of the last House
holding se5ts row viii uot exceed dozen,
and Only few more have occupied seats
in previous years. The most OF them, 1t Is
believed, came in on the gold-pcn and the
Congress knife extravaganza. many OF the
old members having been defeated for re-
election on this question. Reform and Re
trcuchmunt IN all such eases, was made the
burden Of the contest and The consequence
Is seen in the return Of neophyles in legls !
lalion-men without any well matured views
Of public policy-men without experience,
without the disposition 20 iar,iliarize them ,
selves with the really great questions TO be
decided by them, if competent TO grasp them
al ali--and Indifferent what effect may fol- |
low their action in body which ought TO
be at all times prudent, and patriotic, and .
mindful only of the welfare and advance
inent Of the State. With House of Rep
resentatves composed of more than the or
dnary amount OF talent, it is now a matter
of history that a greater amount OF unwi,e,
paliry Legislation has never been produced,
and the great interests of the State have
been exposed 10 more imminent danger than
has ever attended the deliberations OF any
Assembly in Missouri. We say This more
in sorrow than in anger, and we account for
it in The inexperience, the wan; OF industry
and application, and the striving 10 keep in
Office, and to get still higher on the round
of political preferment, of those who ought
TO have been controlled by higher consider
atons Of duty than has yet been apparent In
them.
Singularly enough, Legislature which
came INTO office OF. the cry oil Retrenchmenl
and Reform, aside from the other pervading
issue Of the time, has been the most extrav-
agant and prodigal of any which has ever
assembled in the capitol. Taking up the
whole OF the first week or two Of the sess-
ion in bnncombe speeches about the necess-
ity of economy in their expendilures-at
tunes seriously debating for hours abou,
the employment of pages for their convent
the prayers Of Chop
lain, OH the score that money should not be
taken from the Treasury for such purpose;
sticking about the employment of the nec-
essary Clerks for the transaction of their
end Of the session finds them
with larger number Of officers and at
t,cbes than has ever been known in our
I legislature, and the contingent expenses
have increased TO an amount which will as
tonish the people who have coniided pub
,ic afr,irs in their hands. In the matter Of
printing for the Legislature al. the present
session finds them with larger number Of |