The New York herald., 1862-02-03
VIRGINIA.

VIRGINIA..
THE LEGIsLATURS-THK REIMBURSEMENT OF vOLUN-
TEERs-NEw MILITARY BiLLs--TAE ExIGENCIEs
OF THE TIMES.
[From tho Richmond Dispatch, jan 27l
inc attention OF the Legislature has been time
occupied with tho subject OF enlistments but tho pro-
gress mnde in maturing the proper bills has not been
equal to the demands Of the emergency 1t subject
ior thought ana action; Is emphaticaliy subject
meet for tedious and windy debate The present Legis
ature should be characterized by great attention TO and
despatch Of business. We fear it is in fair way Of
equallng its predecessors in oquacity that most ill
timed OF oil indulgence These are times for earnest
work. they are not the times for idle and tedious discus
sion, even OF the most important sub No man who
has an idea worth presenting to dsberave BODY but
can state IL, conversationay Ave minutes is only
those who wish to air their oraory that require speak
longer. Ga4a. VINO f .A-eh s III
Oraory is ct best faculty OF secondary Importance;
for tho man Of real ideas and purpose generally i'm
defamation. To declam is generally consume time
and there few who possess the gift Of eoquence
great many attempt the performance without the
rant or genius and their constant effort upon the
wings Of oratory 10 constant struggle with nature
Like the effort Of fowls Ia the barn yard it mere dap
The Legislature should not be converted into school
Of defamation and prosy harangue, at the present
The military bills ought to have been perfected and enact
cd into laws long before this. The Legislature has been
TWO months In session. and step has yet bsen
towards ensng army the spring for the service OF
the war.
That army ought now to be enlisted and in process Of
organization for service by the frat months spring 1t
ought TO smell the first gunpowder that is burned and
become veterans in some degree before the twelve
months men are dsbanded 1t is well known that all
going into camp and now levies should be enlisted
in time TO get through with this process before active
service in tho fields required Of them.
But why dwell upon these considerations so obvious to
all and so painfully impressed upon the universal
yiconY There should be no further delay in the pas.
sage Of laws looking to the recruiting of our armies
Debate should be cut down to five minutes and the
bills should be taken up In business like way
maj matursd dI and enacted with tho !east delay.
every idea should bs presented that occurs
70 members; but It is q very poor and diluted
should be eschewed and short they restrain de-
bate and gag free discussion than any possible
rules limiting the length OF speeches could do II is alb
surd to hear man. whose habit Of speaking enables him
to spread single common place idea hours
speech, denouncng five or ten minutes rule abrdg
ing the liberty Of speech and the freedom discussion
much more worthy or consideration to the Legislature
In five minutes conversation each, while the declaner
Is iteratng his one thought in q hundred different
forms through wo hours harangue.
Long speeches put free discussion out OF countenance
and drive debate from tho public halls The presence of
one light head and restless tongue will silence
whole council OF sages. Tho military bills now be-
fore our Legislature arc measures peculiarly demand
ing the largest array Of counsel and advice Every man
should bs encouraged and invited to express his vews
upon them; and yet il the long winded speakers who
never satisfied when they are silent are permitted
TO cngross the time of the Assembly the very smallest
stock OF ideas possible viii have been evoked upon the
bills To make the time Of holding the foor short
that the member is compelled to converse, and fore
stalled from launching forth into vapid harangue. is
possbl: Of and suggestion on the subject in hand
We trust that the present week will not close without
ss,ing systeIn of enlistpents matured which will
SURE presence N an efficient army the field by the
opening Of spring.
FROM N0RFoLK-MArFERs IN THE CITY AND vIcINI-'
TY-A SEVERE sTORM-THR SUSPENSION BYrDGE At
NORFoLK-TRx NEWS or THE DEFEAT AT MILL
CREEK. ETC. - t.,.a
NORFOLK Jan. "a, 1852.
Without, furious storm; warmth and comfort within.
Without the wind bowls through street and alley, as if
NAL tattoo upon the easement. The storm spirits
abroad and one can fancy their weird and dscordant
voices minging with the distant sad continuous roaring
Of the surf Within bright fro burns in the CRATE
comfortable warmth pervades the clips OF
white paper lie upon the table, your own has donned
his smoking cap-the gift Of an unknown friend-and
sits before them with pen suspended over tho yet uns
lied page preparatory to- quiet chat with his distant
ward forming itself into gorgeous, dreamy cloud. Do
you like the pictlrey Go Old Boreas Work away
the chnks and crsvcss whistle at the keyhoe the
shutters. do your best old fellow but you mpotent
tonight. This chamber bids defiance TO your power
The storm increases in vgor blast OF unusual fierce
ness dashes against the windows, and it laden
with dreamy, saddsning memories OF suffering in the
army Twelve months Of war has made familiar with
tho exposure Of camps and ons can but think with sor
row Of many, many hundreds who have protecting
room to shelter them from the chilling Storm bright
and comfortable fre Of the sweet household music
that makes life happy. Notice well vast army and
the Of genius, education OF moral rectude Of
chvarc daring that compose its rank and fls think Of
them leaving comfort In far of Southern homes fight
for the honor Of their country and what picture Of
patriotism OF true manly herosm s presented to the
mind. Think too Of such challenging death and
posurs in defence Of the right Think them night
stormy hours away What heart is there IN this whole
land which does not throb with sympathy At the mention
tc fhora in pkols. that
does not ask God 10 protect them from the ptiless
storms Of winter All comrades, there IS one who
would gladly share his comfort with you it in his
power who would gladly divide your burdens and list
your troubles. He longer looks with pleasure upon
the cleaning hreno longer defiss the pelting
Old Borsas, you have conquered; but you struck the
heart and not the body.
In bearing the hardshps OF there Is
to . far greater extent The Burnside eSpedon, Which
has been already scattered seriously injured still
Drawing the waves on periious coast, Ever since the
1sot sailed from Hampton Roads there has been
tied weather. and nearly every day has been stormy
There report Baltimore three days ago
stroyed and there but little doubt that this
northeastern wind will drive many more OF them ashore
II began yesterday and has providentialy i1eased up
to this time, and should continue another day,
but the strongest ships would be able stand it, IL
entirely destroyed enemy will be decidedly weaken
ed, and In bad condition 70 make an attack upon the
coast.
In approaching the city this Norfolk and Petersburg
Railroad OF the nrst objects that strikes the eye of
branch Of Elizabeth river terminating within few hun
dred yards Of the town. II Is splendid structure and is
pleasing in appearance and symmetrical in contour,
that venture to give slight description Of it, Com
mencng at the bottom, then, will say the extreme
depth Of the water at mean tide twenty five feet The
foundation Of piles driven through soft STRATUM OF
mud-say twenty feet in thickness-to q solid bottom.
Upon these piles built three massive piers and two
abutmens Of hewn granite each block of stone having
been laid with diving bell. The extreme length OF the
bridge Is six hundred and sixty three feet consisting OF
three spans each Of two hundred and six feet and one
drawbrdgs Of fortyvs feet The supersructure is Of
iron. This rests upon three cut granite pillars from
twenty i've TO thirty Ave feet high attached by the cast
iron suspension truss The whole is combination OF cast
iron bars and wrought iron braces arrsysd In
only to DO understood after careful examination.
The drawbrdge is somewhat peculiar in construction:
instead OF the usual counerbaance, the centre OF the
bridge resting upon pier, this swings on pivot near
end and Is supported by gaows, which rses above
IT, the whole being anchored distance beyond. The
advantages Of the plan several II will be readily
that gives uninterrupted channel, the expense
Of middle pier is done away with, there IN creator
ghtness and increased mobility IL is besides, less la
bio 10 get out OF order than the ordinary
bridge This is Frinks patent, and was erected in the
years 1856 and SO.
The beauty Ightness and At the time tho solid
anne Of this bridge subject OF