The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-03-22


The General Assembly during the last
several weeks has presented a spectacle
never seen before in the legislative record
OF the Commonwealth, OF a body OF men
legislating for the people without pay.
Considering the great trouble and eX-
pense OF elections In these modern
days, the reduction OF the per
diem, and the increase OF general ex-
penses, this becomes more remarkable.
The General Assembly In any biennial ses-
zion has great deatto do. Since the reck-
less legislation OF the past two sessions
there was at the commencement Of this ses,
sion great deal to undo. Complaints OF
corruption and incompetency IN public
officers elected by the party just ousted re-
sounded on all sides, and their IN
vestigations were imperative duties. The
Governor DISTRACTED all reforms with
his veto, and body Of the followers
OF the defeated Boss, calling for the
ayes and noes on every trivial question
and then voting one at time, consumed
about thirty days OF the session, delaying
legislation by their senseiess filibustering.
The General Assembly found the institu-
tons OF public charity filed with partisan
and incompetent incumbents; the county
our former standards OF the purity OF the
judiciary by exertipg all their influence
and patronage for party purposes; the
judges and registrars chosen entirely from
one party in defiance Of express law; and
the iree-schOol system converted into vast
political engine for party and corrupt pur-
poses. Besides the many measures OF prl-
waite interest affecting the various separate
interests OF the many diverse sections OF
the Commonwealth. many important mat
tiers OF general interest demanded calm,
thoughtful, and careful legislation. Sur
rounded with these difficulties, and feeling
the responsibility which the people had
thrown upon them, our legislators assem-
bled in the Capitol on the Sd OF December
In the first place, the Democrats OF the
Assembly redeemed their pledges OF the
party to the people at Lynchburg. They
passed every measure calculated TO carry
out in good faith what the people had de-
cided 10 be final settlement OF the public
debt. Some of our members thought that
their course in this direction was extreme
and precipitate, but the large majority left
nothing undone to settle the debt, and put
IL where il should have always been, out
of the arena Of party politics.
AUOiHcT suDgcCl vi RItdb liDpOi d'hNN
demanding immediate attention was the
unprecedented number Of contested seats
in the House, and also in the Senate. The
machinery of election had been in the
hands OF the opposition last fall, and con-
Quoted by managers with view only to
their party success, and consequently great
mismsnagement was to be expected. But
despite of this the committee calmly and
faithfully, holding their sessions by day
and by night, decided each case upon its
merits. While the decision was adverse to
many Of our contestants, yet by an appli-
cation OF past precedents which were
acted on by the opposite party while it
was in power 1t was shown that many OF
the holders Of seats had been returned in
defiance OF their yapnted waichwnrd. "a
nv ballot ana fair count" All cases
were remanded back to the people when
ever the matter was in doubt, nOtwith-
standing il was known that opposition
members would be elected.
The right OF petition is one Of the cor |
per-stones OF our institutions. Public off, |
GERS are not the rulers, but the servants, |
OF the people, and the people have right |
to demand investigation Of their conduct. |
Such complaints came before the Assembly |
that IL was bound to conduct inquiry into |
the conduct Of many of the judges and
other officers. Singular calmness and i'm
partiality marked the conduct of the COM
mittees and of the Legislature. Laying !
down as fundamental principle that an
should be retained to the end |
OF his term, although guilty OF conduct |
which should ever prevent his reelection,
they dismissed against most OF them. al |
though shown TO be incompetent and par
tisan. III the charge OF corruption did not |
clearly appear, the incumbent was per-
mitted TO hold to the end OF his term, when |
the people or their representatives might
consign him to an ignominious retirement. |
Another subject OF vital importance con-
sumed much time. The great advantages
which at the adoption Of the Federal COnSti-
luton il was conceded would i'm time make
Virginia the most pOpulous and wealthy
)f the old thirteen States, are attracting
foreign capitalists TO the development OF
her mines, her water-power, her varied
agricultural industries-al located in the
most salubrious and mildeSt climate on the
Atlantic slope. Numberless charters were
which had TO be carefully eX-
lmined and so sufficiently guarded us to
prevent monopoly and abuse. and also
night attract capital TO aid In our develop
nent.
In order TO attract immigration to the
State II was absolutely necessary to estab-
ash a system OF good roads. This subject
was ineumbered with the difficulty that a
road system would not he applicable to the
entirely different sections OF Underwater,
he Valley, the Piedmont, and Southwest
Virginia. While different counties, through
heir delegates, presented eounty-road
avs, which had to be carefully eonsid-
cred, general road law, after much COM
parison OF views, was finally adopted.
The whole subject OF finance had TO I'M
iergo revision, which Of course required
great labor in its consideration and adop-
ion OF means necessary to relieve the peo-
pie OF unnecessary burdens and at the same
line provide for the wants Of the State and
n the public schools, while paying the in
crest on the debt according to the late set
lement.
Although II Is urged by our opponents
hat the Assembly has favored the railroads
md the inoneyed monopolists, bill offer
I'd by MIR. Baker, Of Chesterfield, though
opposed by ali these rings. was passed re-
stricting the running Of their trains on
Sunday and permitting their overworked (
to enjoy day Of rest. II
Amohs Tue most imperative QutieS OF
Lhe Assembly was immediate and effective {
legislation in relation to the preservation
Of the great oyster interest of the State. In
This matter there was entire unanimity be- 3
tween the Executive and the Legislature. r
Governor Cameron had shown great ener-
" in attempting to enforce execution of | i
he oyster laws. The evidence taken be- r
ore the committee disclosed the fact that n
his great interest, upon which ii was b
tated that $4,000 Of our citizens were de- L
endent, was in danger OF complete de- d
.ruction by foreign indlscriminate dredg- G
ig in places and at times prohibited by I
w by body Of organized pirates carry al
y on their reckless depreciation In open n
y In defiance Of law. The whole v