The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-01-11
A Letter sco7diDg the Legislature.
BLOOMFIELD, LoUDoUN COUNTY, Va

Editors Dispatch, The constitutional
amendment authorizing biennial sessions of
the Legislature, if adopted by the Legisla.
ture and submitted to the people, would
command one of the largest votes 10 its ia
vor ever cast by the citizens of this Com
mopwealth. The citizens of Virginia have
been OF the opinion for years past that there
is entirely too much legislation for the good
of the people, In fact, at each annual session
of the Legislature there is feeling of unea-
sjuess and anprtbension on the part OF the
people that some measures might be adopted
that would rather a9gravate than relieve the
preseti Ii oancial embarrassment of the State.
The people are uneasy when the Legislature
meets, and experience feeling OF reli'f
when it adjourns. The object Of the meeting
Of the Legislature Of late years seems to be
merely to undo what was done the preceding
session, for want Of something better to do.
Had the committee proposed an amendment
to the Constitution authorizing trienntdl
session OF the Legislature it would have
been still more acceptable to the people.
The people got along quite comfortably after
the war for several years without the Legis-
lature, and they would most gladly dispense
with the expense and uselessness of these an
nual meetings. The people can do very we'll
without these annual meetings, but the CUES.
zion is. Can the Legislature do without the
Deople? The financial condition Of the State
and the Oppressive taxation absolutely re-
ouire that this annual and useless eXpendi-
ture of public funds shall cease, and the
amount thereby saved to the public treasury
shall he applied to the payment Of the inter-
est of The State debt. If the State credit is
10 be sustained, not only must the annual
sessions be suspended, but the salaries OF the
State officers, from the highest to the lowest,
must be reduced to the lowest living rates
The heavily-tayed citizens of this Common
wealth, no furnish the means to carry on the
State government, have a right to be heard
on this question, and they will expect that
part of the press of the State that has at heart
the credit and welfare oil the people will
sustain them in their efforts for retrench-
ment and reduction of public expenditure.
Again if the Legislature would conine
itself to its legitimate business instead OF
Iegisating ABOUT matters in which the great
mass of the people have no interest every
particle Of the necessary business of the ses-
sion could be dispatched during the first
two months OF the session, much less With
out the necessity of extending the session
beyond the constitutional limit OF ninety
DAYS. The best proof of this fact is that all
the no ost important public business is gene
rally transacted during the last three weeks
of The session, whilst the first part OF the
session is wasted in vague generalities and
useless discussions of no public interest.
What the people want and will require are
biennial or triennial sessions of the Legisla-
ture reduction of the number of repre-
sentatives; reduction Of the salaries OF
State officers sessions limited to sixty days ;
and the thousands thus saved to the trea-
sury applied to the payment Of the interest
! of the State debt. And they want the Legis.
lature to know that they are now taxed to
their utmost capacity, and that these re-
forms and changes are absolutely ne
cessary to sustain the honor and credit for
which they have already suffered and sacri-
feed SO much. If the Legislature Will not
| heed these suggestions the people will en-
force them ut the balot-bOx when occasion
Is offered. We would also warn the Legis-
iature that the people, without regard to
party, want and will have no change in the
present system of voting by ballot. They
regard the present method Of voting as the
only free and independent means of eXer-
cisng the right of suffrage. The Uiua uoce
system may suit the politicians, but it does
not suit the people. II this latter system is
submitted to the people, aud the amend
ments are to be voted upon in mass, this
amendment alone will defeat all the pro-
posed amendments by an overwhelming
majority. I am confident, Messrs. Editors,
from my knowledge of public sentiment,
that what have expressed in this commu.
nication will be endorsed by nine-tenths of
the citizens Of this Commonwealth.
PUBLIC OPINION.
[As "heavy Taxpayer" our correspond
ent asks us to let the public see his letter.
He overdoes the matter. he says the peo-
pie would prefer triennial sessions to annual,
and even in,imates that military rule is bet
ter than civil. II be does not misrepresent
the people they are incapable of judging
what Is best for them.
ABsRNrEEs AND TIE Civil. RIGHTs Bill