The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1873-03-04
The Lexisiature Again.


The Legislature Again.
From The Greenbrier Independent.
1t cannot be denied, that TO the high
expectations formed of the Legislature,
when first elected, there has succeeded
deep disappointment, which psrvades
not only this section. but all quarters Of
the State. The course it has pursued
should not be suffered TO pass unrebuked
The Democratic press owes it to the
great party which freed the State OF the
incubus OF radicalism, and promised q
wise and efficient government. adapted
to the wants and wishes Of the people,
that it's derelictions should not pass unN
noticed. But let not the Radicals re-
ioice. We rebuke these representa-.
tives Of the people because they have
not done what the people bad righ;
to expect they would do-not that they
have sunk to the level OF the Radicals
who preceded them The ourrsges OF
that party are too recent for any body
OF men to suffer by com parisou with il.
But what has the Legislature done ?
Like it's prototype, the present Le-
gislature OF Virginia, OF which some
csustic writer epitomizing in sentence
the lsbors OF long session, said it had
passed dog law and then repeating it,
it seems to have been employed before
the holidays, in doing that which was
crude and unconsidered, it had alter
wards to be undone or amended 'snd
re-enacted. 1t wasted days OF precious
time, when it was all important to..adopt
the statutes to the changed in our orga-
mic law, in discussing the capital ques>
tiop, to the infinite disgust OF nearly
every man in the State. 1t exhibited
the bad policy Of qusrrelipg with the
Governor when our party was too weak
to indulge in dlssensions, and when, by
letting him olone it could have most
effectually destroyed his influence, il
that was it's object, armed him with a
support Of which nothing less than this
dou ble- -barreled proclamation can de-
prive bim.
And then came the long recess, and
the great blunder OF taking pay for the
time they were absent at their homes.
Let persons think what they may with
regard TO the right OF the Legislature TO
do this, all must agree it has armed our
political enemies with weapon which
will deal many a blow to the party on
whose success depends the preservation
OF liberty and law.
What have they done during the
eight weeks since reassembllpg? We
have seen something OF the character
of the measures proposed and speeches
made, and heard much more, but we
have not been able to see much Of i'm
portance doue. Some acts have been
passed, doubtless, but what they are,
and when they go into effect, nobody
knows. But this we know-some oi
the branches OF government are with
out completed organization, and upon
many subjects requiring daily consider.
alton, no one knows what the law ls, or
what it will be.
The Code OF 1868, which might easily
have been made very good body Of
statute law, has been thrust aside, il
seems, when it has been touched at all,
tor no better reason than that it was the
Code OF 1868, and instead on the other
hand, of adapting, by a few iDconslder-
able notifications, the Code Of 1860 to
the requirements OF our New Conslitu-
ton, we are to have We very much tear,
a kind OF ola podridd, made up OF
scraps from everywhere, but all togeth-
er q most dsmnsble dish. Aud then
the delay about the whole mstter-s
thing of small sonoeru, if the legisls-
ton, thus far, had been what we had a
right to expect, for we know it was Of
a character TO require grave and deli
berate consideration but too often.
after much labor and grosDing and
promise OF great things, we have had
but q new illustration OF old
iable-partuiunt momtes, ridicu!us mus.
The reason Of all this is apparent.
The really efficient men OF the Legisls.
ture-and we have q numb Der OF such,
(among them our own delegates and
senator's, have Welded too much to the
guidance OF a certain set OF old fogies
and blatant demagogues they have
among them, simply out OF Difference
to q sort OF reputation they took with
them there. And then there are the
political sspirants, languishingr dear
patriotic souls, for an opportunity 10
serve their country; and as the result,
efficiency as sacrificed on all sides, to
pretended economy, and all sorts OF
brummagem wares are exposed 70 the
public gaze, that their glitter may at
tract the eye and beguile the under
standing OF the dear people" who cast
the votes.
A caucus OF the Demopratic mem
bers has recently put forth q paper
which reads to US like an appeal for
support to the Press Of the party. This
is q hopeful sign. 1t betokens q con-
&c iousness that they have not altogeth-
er deserved its support, aud gives prom
lee Of reformation. And we hope under
the copstraiut Of their consciences, they
may thrust aside the demagogues who
have 90 long controlled them, and 20
zealously to work upon the many sub
jects siil requiring consideration, that
10 the end, Press and people alike may
be able to forget their delinquencies in
the contemplation OF such wise and
wholesome laws they had q right TO
expect of this the most important and