Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-12-03

The Virginia Legislature and it, Duty

The Virginia Legislature and its Duty
The duties that will deyolye upon the
General Assembly will Le of the most
>arions and weghty character, demanding
the exercise Of caimness, discretion and WIS
dom, and an enlightened and comprehensive
patriotism. The question "t the detences oil
the State will naturally attract the earliest
attention, and should be met and disposed OF
without parade, buster, Or wranglIng. And
vet we doubt not, that not less than seventy
five or hundred members will come here
with their pockets stuffed with Buncombe re
solutions, each hoping aud aiming to out
strip all others in manufacturing capital FOR
political effect at home. Now, We deprecste
/ in advance, all such humbug movements on
the part Of members, rs tending necessarily
to obstruct if not ultimately defeat all need.
| iul and useful legislation, and 10 expose Us
Ia the ridlcule aud contempt OF the whole
country; aud especially Ia the people OF the
/ Northern States. The late murderous Abo-
l,tinn toray at llarper's Ferry has very ma,
turally produced unusual excitement and
i Indignation throughout the State; ana yet IL
is to he hoped that members OF the Leglsla-
| ture will act calmly, prudently and wisely,
! in all things, aud not suffer themselves to 90
of halt-cocked on auy subject that may be
| brought before them As for ourselves, we
| trust that not single resolution IN refer
ence to the lIarper's Ferry affair will be Of
fered in the House, by any member OF any
party Let not even the name OF Harper's
| Ferry be named in either branch OF the Gen
eral .tssembly-tor Buncombe resolutions
and reports and speeches are Of no avail
| \ ou might pass n thousand resolutions on
the subject of the invasion at Harper's Fer
ry and what would they amount to, In a
practical point of view, Our deliberate
| idea j., that whatever is 10 be done In the
way 81 preparation for the defence OF the
! State, should he done without vain talk and
ridiculous buster Ii is the only method
we can possibly adopt, to impress our North
ern enemies that we are in earnest-that we
mean what We say-that action not words,
is our motto now. For long years. the Nir-
| ginia Legislature has been passing threaten
ing and flaming resolutions On the subject OF
Southern rights, and what effect have These
resolutions had upon Virginia action! We
counsel III extreme or imprudent measures
either on the part Of the Legislature or the
people. Our only wish is. that there be
an end put to talk and bravado. Ii we
don't mean to do any thing. then dou't say
any thing. But il We propose to do some
thing, then do it calmly, quietly, effectively.
dlgnltiedly; and whatever may be done will
then command the unanimous sanction Of
our own people, and compel the respect Of
our enemies.
We have heretofore suggested the pro.
priety of putting the Commonwealth In
Il state of defence, without unnecessary de.
lay. What particular measures should be
adopted in the premises, is for the dlscre-
ton and wisdom ol the Legislature to deter
mine. That our volunteer system should be
encouraged and aided to the fullest practica-
ble extent, is the opinion, we believe, OF the
entire State. That the militia system should
he reformed and re-organized is equally ne
ceSsary In word, the people should be
provided with arms-the best that money
can procure subjected to stated drill
service 81 rs to render our whole white male
population, of suitable age, efficient soldiers,
ready tor action III any emergency, and on
the shortest notice We think too that the
/ State Armory requires to be over-hauled and
| improved III many essential respects. In
short, whatever after calm investigation and
consideration, may be thought necessary for
the proper defence of the Commonwealth
and the protection Of her citizens, should be
adopted by the Legislature without hesita-
ton. These preparations for State defence
will necessarily cost money, and perhaps,
good deal Of it; but the people We know,
will foot the bill with pride and pleasure
To be sure-all expense not really necessa-
~ 10 TO the main object. should be studiously
avoided. We only insist, and the people IN
sist, that both State and people should be
put in n state of preparation for any emer-
! gency which the events OF the future may
/ preripitate upon US.
The question of internal improvement is
Of the very first magnitude. That ample
| appropriations should be made 10 complete
the works already in progress, is what all
intelligent and rejecting minds will ut once
admit
Other subjects Of Importance will at
tract the attention of the Legislature, which
we have not time to alude "a now. We take
occasion to suggest, however, that the Legis-
lature will be composed OF men, u very large
majority of whom, as heretofore, can best
subserye the interests y! their constituents
by lying low and keeping dark-that IS, by
not thrusting themselves forward III the way
OF making motions aud Offering resolutions
and otherwise making themselves conspcn-
Gus and ridiculous, la no useful purpose
whateyer-Rich. Why.