Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1863-11-16

Correspondents Gf tie RairnOunt NatlOla
Wupprrua w " Noe IN Ioa


9 WHsRLNs. W. ", Nov. 10, 1868.
Editor Natioaal
DRAR SR-I think when you have care.
fully looked over the list Of acts passed
by this Legislature, You will be convinced,
Ut you have had any doubts on tue sabs
ieet befoFel, that the Legislature hes not
been idle. You will find there very few
private acts. The great bulk of then are
laws in the true meaning of the term, aud
relate to the organization Of tie new
Commonwealth, 80. e 30
understand there is q disposition In
some quarters to fnd fault with the Legis-
lSture for having done nothipg-that the
people IN some parts Of the State are
clamorous for them 70 quit aud 20 home.
think you know enough Of legislation II
general, aud particularly of the labOFs
performed by this Legislature. 10 know
that this fault-hnding and eensufe are
very unjust. am firmly persuaded that
no Legislature in Virginia ever did go
much actual work in 80 short q fime-apd
certainly none ever did so good q work.
Remember that our whole system Of laws
had 70 be re- cast By the Constitution sll
our Institutions were radically chaugedS and
an entire new system Of laws had 70 be
wrought out of the old one, and adapted 70
the new era and new order Of thipgs,--
The work is not yet done, but viii be
measnFabIy completed by the Let Of De-
cembeF, abOnttWhieh time tits thought
the Legislature will adjourn. ca
p People In the c0untFy-indsed, people
anywhere who do not attend the sittinRs Of
legislative ibodios-h9ye but an ADEQUATE
idea OF the amount OF labor involved In
the manufacture Of laws. They do not
eonsidsr-mRny do not kn6w2What an
amguDt Of thought, of inyestiga OF
Research, OF c0mPaFisou aud ie0mpIlati0n
is required at al times ID the preparation
Of laWs1tha are to operate equally and
justly. lnthe case OF the present legisla-
ture the task has been asdOuble one. The
The radical change In the whole spirit and
genins Of our instithtions made 4by che
creation Of our new State, With its liberal
constitution, required the enactment OF q
radically different system Of statutes from
those to which our people have aIgays
been accustomed! Certainly any one can
see what . vast amount of ire-ena9tfhl
altering, repeating and orig ginal legis ati16
Is required 20 give Us system 0f laws
that will haFmOuize with Whatlare 20 our
people the novel aud uutFied features Of
the new Consultation. This isftha W6fk
in which the Legislature has been mOdastly
but ineessautly e1gagsd. No exiting
4ut5ttous " AeuttAt- Eelhtlous-Sueu e5
have Tor 30 many years occupied our leg
islGtuFeB aud excited our peOple-taYe
been brought forward heres aud for the
very reason Of the absence Of xeitibe top-
ics in the legislative repprtsy aud because
the Legislature Is quietly (th0Hgh lab0r-
iously) attending % it. egftimAte d ntiss,
maDyiare ready toisayi it Is doing nothing.
You know I've had some opportunities fos
observation In this way here, tor Two of
three years past, aad : assure you that 10
legislature has assembled here before fhat
did aaytliing like haIfthe work lathe same
length Of time-ands enter h0sy none had
angthing ike the capacity for work. q the
weight of metal that this one has.
People IN reading over the titles IL the
acts will have but very vague idea Of
what Is in themi They can only Judge Of
the magnitude Of legislationa 81 the nsii.Ils
her Of the sets but you knoF enough uf
the character Of the aets that have been
passed at this sesionLto form 4 pretty. Rood
judgnent Of the amount Of labor Involved
and Of merit embodied in them. The ad-
mirable county and township system elab-