Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1860-02-23
FEBRUARY %, 1860. NUMBER

comes forth, clothed with all the sovereign
attributes of law of the land. Each
member comes fresh from his constituency,
in full faith that he will distinguish him
self by inaugurating some new policy of
Jurisprudence for the good of the whole
Commonwealth or tor the benefit of his
own particular locality. So soon as he
can obtain the floor he offers resolution,
referring it to one of the standing COM
mittees, to consider the expediency, of
reporting a bill upon the subject. His
resolution is generally, as matter OF
course, adopted. The committee usually
meets three times each week. At one of
these meetings, the patron of the subject,
with his bill already drawn, submits it to
the committee. If the committee disNp-
proves ofthe object, it rejects the bill, and
reports TO the House that it is ineXpedient
to legislatc upon The subject. This is
the end of the project, unless its patron.
can induce the house to reverse the action
of its committee. This is, however, sell
dom attempted with success.
But in case the committee approves of
the object of the resolution, it adopts the
bill with or without modification as to it
seems proper, and reports the same to the
House. The bill is then read IL first time
in open session, for information, and a vote
is taken upon it, that it he ordered to
second reading-which being carried, it is
lplaced upon the calendar under the head
ing of "Biiis on their second reading" to
be again taken up on another day, in its
regular order. So soon as it is again
reached, it is read a second time, when any
one can offer amendments to it. Whether
amendments to it be made or not. it has
then TO go through second vote, which is,
shall the bill be engrossed and ordered TO
a third reading. If it passes through this
ordeal, it is again placed upon the calen-
dar under the heading Of "Bills on their
third reading" to be again reached on
another day, in its regular order. So soon
as again reached, it is read a third time,
when the question is-shall the bill pass?
If it does pass, it is sent to the other branch
of the Legislature for it's concurrence. 1t
is there read first time, and referred to
the appropriate cOumitte of that house.
This committee, on another day, examines
the bill and reports it, with or without
amendment, when it is read second time,
and passed to its third reading. On an6th-
er day, it is read third time, when the
question is, shall the bill pass? If it does
pass, it is then a law, unless the last house
amends the bill, in which case it has to go
back to the other house for its concurrence
in such amendment. 1t Is then engrosscd
upon parchment and enrolled, by being
signed by the Lieutenant Governor, and the
Speaker of the House of Delegates, and
enclosed in tin tube, and deposited in Il
fire-proof vault in the Capital, an archive
Of the State.
When bill is upon its passage, if its
patron fears that it may be defeated, on
account OF the absence Of any of IFS
friends, or for any other cause, ne will al
ways move to lay it upon the table. This
motion. as Il matter of courtesy 10 him.
always prevails, and he can Mt any time
after call it mp, when he deems it more like
~ to receive Al favorable consideration
An experienced legislator will always
know when to lay his bill upon the table,
and when to call it up again. Close OBJ
servation and experience will teach him, if
he keeps his eyes well open, that the
House is sometimes in such humor that
it will pass any bill not absolutely OBJ
nOxious, whilst, at other times, it will re-
ject almost any bill, however mcritorious.
This humor the successful legislator
watches as closely the child does the
father, of whom he is about to ask IL pc
cunary favor. If either are approached
at the wrong time, rebuff and failure is
the sure consequence.
Less than two weeks now remains to the
Constitutional Limitation of the present
session of the Legislature, unless it be ex-
tended by three-fifths vote of both
Houses. Whether it be so extended or
not, much. very much, business now be-
fore it will not be acted upon. Already
the faces of many members have assumed
an elongated form, under the unwelcoHe
certainty that many of their favorite meas
urcs cannot be reached before their dear
bantliugs shall be strangled by the ad-
journmcnt.
Soon will the young and ardent legis!a-
tor, he rctracing his way homeward, Il
wiser, if not better man, in the conscious
ness that he is not near so great states
man as he fincied himself to bc when first
he heard the sound of his own footsteps
upon the marbIed floor of the Capitol.
He came here full of buoyant hope, he re-
turns carrying with him the ashes of bitter
disappointment. Like the youth setting
forth in the great voyage of life, he saw
before him naught but guided palaces aad
turrettcd towers, breaking through the soft
pnrplcd light of the future, but soon, alas!
finds himself carried down by the stream
of time to the stern realities of rocky
shores-tossed rudderless, amid the bill
lows of disappointment. ALPHA.
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