The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1886-12-30
AN EXTRA SESSION.

The President who should call an extra
session of Congress without an extra
ordinary occasion for one, and without
definite purpose demanded by the occa-
sion. would certainly and descryedly IN
cur general condemnation and what IS
/ true i'm that case is no less true in the
case where Governor cOnvenes n State
/ Legislature in special session. We have
/ heretofore given some of the considera-
tions which forbid an extra session OF the
General Assembly; but here we wish to
call attention to the utter lack Of reasons
for such a session Of the present Legisla-
ture.-
II was not elected to deal with the
situation as it now exists with respect to
our finances. On the contrary, although
the Supreme Court of the United States
had spoken in the "a Of PoindeXter VS..
Greenhow, the pre- sent legislators were
chosen upon false construction OF that
decision, or, al any rate, under mis-
taken impre sion that it would be
practically Imperative as against the
State; and the condition of the debt
struggle now so complicated
with new circumstances that only
representa- rs fresh from the people,
after full and free discussion, can come to
proper disposition of it, or know what is
the popular will in the changed aspect OF
things. To take it for granted that fur
Their legislation of the kind already found
nugatory, or worse, it is to be enacted, or
that the people want such further legisla-
ton, has no rational warrant whatever
/ and vet, if an extra session be held there
:. Loco al n look for
E apt and adequate measures from men Sc
: lected and pledged when our affairs were
not so involved as they now are.
1t will be good thing for the Demo
cratic party if no extra session OF this
} General Assembly be held. 1t will be the
, first time that that party has observed the
constitutional establishment of biennial
legislative sessions, although the amend
ment establishing them was adopted
/ under Democratic direction. 1t Is good
for parties TO practice what they have
preached with regerd to public economy
= and ii is certain that the people al
2 large desire TO have a fair trial
of biennial sessions, not only as
, policy of retrenchment, bat as
one which tends to repress hasty legls-
lation and the continual change Of laws
No better time TO initiate the policy
practically can come than this period OF
: exceptional hard times beth public and
, private Neither State nor people were
{ ever less able TO incur the expenses OF
an extra session and as partizanry alone
demands one, We may be sure that thC
popular Judgment VIII be against the
marty which responds 10 that demand
- Perhaps, in the present state OF things
> the strongest position which the Demo
cratic party can assume IS 10 APP
peal 20 the people agaIi, alleging
u an earnest effort to give force ano
. effect to their instructions respecting Oh,
u Riddleberger bill, and showing by The
insuperabie decisions of the supreme
Court of the United States the impracu
cability Of that measure as a settlement
$ of the debt, ask their sanction OF some
i scheme that will accord with the law anl
II Justice of The case as cXpOundcd by th'
) courts. and at the same time meet the ap
proyal of the creditors. BY this cours
the Democratic party could, at least
Il show that its failure TO settle the deb
e was in obedience 10 orders, and it cOul'
" be thoroughly put TO the test whether o
a not the people had learned any wisdom
II by their experience in the past two years
The danger the Democratic party VII
incur Of making matters worse for itsel
e and the State by an extra session ma
/ been dwelt upon by several of onr con
d temporaries; and we need only recall tn
e session of 1889 to lend force to tn
: warning. But for that session and 1t
McCulloch bill land we are viewing In
matter wholly from a partizan stand
n point with the subsequent party actio
y thereon, there would hardly have bee
r. so complete a disruption and defeat
ir the old conservative party, with all tn
d woe and shame that have followed.
ir But in the event Of an extra sessio
(which we believe to be almost certain) tn
Legislature must either devise settle
lie ment that will be acceptable to th
W people and to the creditors, thereby enc
If ing litigation and agitation, or prepar
C for the inevitable verthrOw Of the Dem
a. cratic party next fall Pledged, as tn
ID present Legislature is, to a contrar
ne policy, who will accept this responsibility
N of an extra session for the Democrat
nortv - Tndnr- g,r,e1I