The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-09-19
4irI,n,ond 1ispatrh.
WEDNESDAY. SEPTEMBER 10, 1877.
The Mex General Assembly,

The NeXtGeneEal Assembly.
The next session OF the State Lcgisla-
.ure will be one of the most important
which have been held for many years. In
addition to Its ordinary duties 1t will be re-
quired-
1. To settle upon some proper basis-the
questions connected with the public debt.
.. To rcapportion among the counties
and districts the representation which each
is to have in the General Assembly for the
succeeding ten years.
5. To elect judges OF the Circuit Court
in nearly all the circuits, and 10 I'LL an!
vacancies which may occur among 'h'
Judges Of the Court OF Appeals ana Ioun's
Courts.
These are duties Of grave ana response
bic character, and the people shouid loon "
!, that the best man OF their respective
cornties and districts should be chosen 70
discharge them. They should be men OF
intelljeence, industry, and intcgr'ty-lntei-
,;gerce to understand what they are about
industry TO devote themselves earnestly 70
their dutv-and integrity which Will place
their action above suspicion OF improper
influences.
Il TOO often happens that people vote Tor
incompetent men, and when reproached
with il reply, "Oh, they are good fcilo"S,
and we wished to crafty them! They can
do no HARM!
This mode Of viewing the exercise OF the
elective franchise is not only blunder' IL
approaches very nearly crime!
The elective franchise is q trust "hich
every man is bound to discharge with rel
crcnce to the public welfare. 1t is q prostl-
tuition of it TO Use it to crafty personal
preference, or to pay private debt. AS
for what arc called "good JeHo~s.' they
would be more appropriately called "qood-
for-noMing feHo,rS."
The character OF every countyis judged
OF BY the character OF the men Its voters
send to represent them. II, therefore, the
oeonle OF county chose to send to the
LEGISLATURE a butioon. or rowdy, or
drunkard, or an unprincipled adventurer,
the public are not likely to form avery high
estimate OF the intelligence and morals OF
such COUNTY. Immigrants coming into the
State with view to buy land and settle,
when they happen, rs is very often the CASE
10 stop in Richmond for few days ana
look in on the Legislature, will very natu-
rally steer clear Of county or district rep
resented hv the classes above described.
They will naturally reason thus: ~ have
heard the county Of -- well spoken or.
They say the soil is fertile-adapted to
grain, grass, fruits, and tobacco. The eli
mate is hcalthful, the water is good, and |
had serious thoughts OF visiting il with
view to buy home and settle myself ana
family permanently there. But haze seen
their delegate or senator. ! take it that as
he is chosen as their representative man he
is rather above the average OF the popula-
ton! Ii so. heaven forbid that my lot
should be cast among such people!'
People OF Virginia, this is no fancy
sketch. You little know the mischief yon
do your State, your county, and your
selves, by sending unworthy men to the
Legislature! Be. then, on your guard.
Elect no ono WHO, "ueu Representing, .ou
in Richmond, will babitualy run away on
Friday to look after his private interests,
and return on Monday or Tuesday-no
one who has not industry to examine every
question thoroughly, and sense enough to
understand it-no one to whom you would
not be willing to entrust the management
OF important private interests of your own.
II you will be guided by these admoni-
tions YOU will soon see the fruits in wiser
legislation and increased prosperity. ~