Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1867-03-05
State Legislation.


Our readers, some of them at least. are
doubtless surprised that VIC do not devote
more space to the proceedings of our State
Legislature and in view of this fact, we wish
to say few. words.
In the first place, although we have care
fully scanned the proceedings of that. august
body, day after day, we have been utterly un-
able, so far, to find u single measure intro
duced, tending to the welfare of the people
OF the State. Early in the session, the gems
tleman (?) from Cabell, who has been brand
ed as pardoncd thief, assumed control of the
lower house, and under his immediate man.
agcment, measures of the most vindietive
character have been introduced The Reg
lstration act, Cdious as it is, and uuconstitn-
tlonal and invalid as it has been demonstra-
ted to be, was not sufficient, in the opinion of
this gentleman and his honorable colleagues
to insure their re election, and consequently,
the aforesaid leader of the House tue .:par-
doned thief" introduced an amendment TO
that measure, which totally disrcgards our
State aud Federal Constitutions. and leaves
the voters of the State at the mercy of the
Governor and his partisan appointees, allow
ing them as 1t does, to use their own discre-
ton, as to whether man shall be registered
as voter OIL not. 1t is not pleasant to dwell
upon this subject. The utter disregard of
the constitution which they have solemnIy
sworn to support and defend, which has been
shown by the members. of the present Legis-
lature, III this and kindred acts, causes the
blush OF shame to mantle the chccks of ey-
cry honest man among the constituency which
they are so woetully misrepresenting. 1t is
useless to advance arguments on these uues-
tionS, for ''there are none so blind as those
who will not -see," and the radicals in the
State Legislature seem to have determined
to sin away their day of grace, and 20 down
to posterlty as the most bigoted and fanatical
body that ever disgraced the Legislative Halls
Of u free people.
All works OF internal improvement, the To-
cation of the State buildings, the Geological
survey, the code OF laws, everything is laid
aside, to allow time to perfect measures. to
keep up the bitter feelings among our citi
zens, which should long since have passed
away. PrOscriptive and retrospective Icgis
latlon never yet benefited people but on
the contrary, they have ever been the fore
runners OF the downfall of their liberties. and
establishment OF an irresponsible, but iron
handed desPotism. Let us take warning from,
the past. The day when such extreme meas,
ures were necessary, if that day ever did cx-
Ist, has long since passed away, and the in
terestS OF the State, the welfare of the country
and the prosperity Of our citizens, now de-
mand peace. We need practical legislation,
such as will rebound to the interests of ali
sections Of the State, build up the waste pla-
ces, bring emigrants to our fertile valleys and
enable the masses of the people to bear the
load OF taxation which has been heaped upo..
them by theoretical and useless lcgislation.-
Let this be done, and SOON VIC Shall enter
upon career Of prosperity such as has sell
dom, if ever been witnessed We have the
inherent wealth within our borders and all
that is wanted is little fostering care and lib
eral Legislation. We trust the assembled
wisdom" Of our State, may yet take sufficient
time from the consideration OF those vindic
tive measures which only tend to breed strife
and injure our prosperity, to do something
practical for the benefit Of the State. And
when they do we shall be most happy to re-
cord it:-PGr!Lcr%Ji:gg Cqecuc.