Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1863-12-12
The Adjournment OF the Legislature.

on the fourth page OF TINS paper
The Adjournment OF the Legislature.
Yesterday the Legislature concluded its
labors aud brought long aud harmonious
session to an equally harmonious close
and ere these lines reach our readers in
the county, most or me members will
have departed for their homes in the va
rious sections of the State. While We dc
not propose to review elaborately the la
bors of the Legislature, or speak partieu-
larry ofthe results accomplished by them,
it is but fitting and just on this occasion
of their dissolution to say what all admit
who are at all conyersant with their la
bors, that they have done the work good
and faithful servants; and while We have
been free TO censure what we believed
consurabIe, We feel bound to commend
where we know commendation is deserved.
Surrounded as we have been for three
years past with issues SO vast as to over
top and belittle all questions of mere local
Importance, we are too apt to nader estis
nnate.the magnitude of the revolution quiet.
ly eotuR on within the bounds of this new!
State. The greatest and blOodiest revoIu !
tons ever inaugurated' never accomplished
more complete results than the peaceful
and bloodless revolution whichpublic optn-
ion has wrought in this community within.
the past five years. 1t began actively
with the outbreak of the rebellion, and has
been advancing stage by stage and step by
step, but none the less surely advancing,
ever since Its purposes are nearly ac4
complished our people almost emancipa-
ted from the ancient thraldom of bigotry
and ignorance. One most marked advance
in this onward march was when our con-
vention framed constitution throwing off
the old expressions of the. Richmond ;sys-
TEN. Scarcely less marked is the advance
made by the Legislature in carrying into
practice and detail what that, convention
did in general terms. The work of this
Legislature is sequel to that OF tue con-
venttou. They have given US (not yet.
completely OF entirely of course) a system
of free State laws carrying into effect a
free State constitution. Consider our po-
litical condition Ave or even three years
ago, and what an extraordinary traus-
formation has been wrought We
need not here dig down to the philoso-
ply ofits The results are before us, and
they are enough to consider at present
Three years ago we were living under the
old expressions, and terrorisms of Rich
mond, now we are enjoying the advanta-
ges of the liberal and enlightened system
which has made our northern and western
neighbors so prosperous and free. 1t must
take little time for us to derive the same
benefits but in time we must as surely as
effect follows cause.
The legislature that has just closed its
session has done a. good share IN this work
of peaceful revolution. 1t has ,liberalizcd
and humanized our laws till they are now
an honor. and not a disgrace, alike to those
who made and those who live under them.
We can hardly within ordinary limits
descend to point out the particulars ofthe
legislation done within the past five months.
ItreIates to all subjects of legislation and
has taken shape in elaborate and bulky.
laws, which are partly aud soon will be
completely published. We understand the
acts of the legislature willmake compact
" printed volume of some two hundred
and fifty pages. Among Others is comprised
very lengthy, complete, and 10y those
better capable of judging than ourselves
pronouuced) an excellent system or code
for the government of Magistrates and
Constables-a Thoroughly and admirable
system of county and township organiza-
ttou-a remodeled Judiciary system-and
what is certainly a very superior and inr
herently efficient free school system. Think
of 1.-THE Massachusetts, or New York
school system on the soil of what was once
the sold dominionl" whata mighty stride
towards-shallwe say civilization H-yes,
for such it isl 1.-THE legislature had done
nothing bat inaugurate that free. school
system, it would have merited the lasting
gratitude of every man and woman within
the State who realizes that the perpetuity
Ofallliberal and christian government rests
for it's foundation ON tbs tntelligence Of
the million, and that without the oneiithe
other is never for moment secure. gss
So far as we have been able to observe
the character Of the legislation of the
session just elosedi it Is Of ans enduring
rather than temporary character. IL is the
legislation of men looking to practical, moi
theoretical, ends. Its quality has been
that of statesman-like wisdom, without
any SAVIOR of fanaticism and that is saying
a great deal FOL, the legislation OF State
horn, out. of 1ev9lutionianda general social