The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-12-29
From the Alexandria Gazette.
= Eiui,c. III tho Eeg;eiasslrc.

4 ent IN tie 5ai!ery Of the House Of D.lc-
sos on last Thursday night and Friday
a..r.inE enabled me to witness tho scenes in
Ho,iy previous 10 its recent adjournment.
~ members arc elegantly arranged in the
,:"jt-e. those With loud voices are at the
&. a;"st distance from the speaker. The Grip
..., IRE close to the main aisle. The colored
-,.tc>Incn are copyrighted Oh the left OF the
~I~akcI''s chair, and are interspcrsed with a
syTiUkIng OF whites. Those who were also
.."G1tcrs Of the late Constitutional Convcn-
ION arc seated together. This was done hy
,vny Of especial distinction. The delegates
fcyIn this county and Fairfax have been as
sued very eligible seats near the colored
members. The assignment was without re-
curse. and these gentlemen will stand it.
could but regret the character of many
n the speeches delivered on the subject OF
.CspcnlIIg payment Of the scmi-annual III
lcrgst on the public debt due lst of January
LeXr. It's "ominous Of q bad sign" to hear
members oe a Virginia Legislature handy
p,tacts and talk about Reputation. One Of
III" Valley members charged the Richmond
delegation with a desire to finger in the
lab.ic ciib, just because the gentlemen
D., ,cesertatives Of that glorious old city
!lryroI the payment Of the public-dcbt into
rs; OF the ground that the people Of the
,,~.o had paid thcir taxes for that purpose,
and tie money was now in the public treas
TX. alU the credit Of the State in the money
,4&..cts Of the world would be thereby pre-
--.Ted All this is wrong. Every one who
il acquainted with the gentlemen who repre-
.-at Richmond in the Legislature knows that
t....T arr the peers Of any in point Of honesty,
'r.t.igcncc, and high character. And it
yyal. surprise you 10 see with what Flip
r.Iyy auA ease some Of the speakers accused
-. convicted the preceding Legislature OF
fiery ard corruption. l wonder if the
..,-.l railroad fight which occurred in the
!ilU>c hist session las not wrought some
s.l.,ns decentralization:
IN" speech Of the member from Fauquier
80 he ill offered by himself was character
Il with signal ability, and was worthy OF
'otu. delivered in the House in its palniest.
Gt>s. The others (lnade by members who
80. tlcr were born and wanted 10 be buried
81 virginia. generally were dry, and the
:...tpl.ut Of water consumed during their de-
Gycl.y Woa!I indicate the degree to which
/ ~ were calculated 10 create thirst.
Iacy decided to draw their pay during the
Il DAYS recess. Consequently, on their re-
turu each member will draw over sixty dol
...r, for his labors during the recess, at an
..,.rc.a;c cost to the State Of some eight thou
,t,pG do!!Qrs-ali for Christmas frolics. This
& nc first act in the chapter Of retrcnchment.
( IN happy and not surprised to see that
Naior Kelley, ons of the ablcst members OF
..c House, favors reduction Of the pay OF
he members from six dollars to four dollars
yer LaY, and the mileage from twenty cents
u ten cents per mile.
The doors Of the House are heavily guarded.
!. is easier for needle 10 go through
,..:url's eve than for any person who Is not
j;I.rnbcr 10 get on the floor Of the House
,yailc il is in session. There are some good
'..r:nDcrs ia the House; none ADLER than tfie
distinguished chairman Of the Finance Com
r.,l,cr. The delegates from Fairfax and
afford and the Conservative member from
your city will mike prominent and useful
,@cubcIs.
As TIE Senate was guarded by citizen OF
.Y.or, and some member within was deliver
.a: himself of lengthy speech through his
n>se, lnistook it for Underwood's court,
aad should probably not have gone III but
i,r being anticipated by the ,gentlemaniy
amber of that body from Loudoun.
II IL 8 bad state Of affairs when the Leglsla-