Year: 1861

1t has been complaint for many years
that our State Legislatures, instead Of
keeping pace with the masses of the popu.
lation in in o ligence and morality, arc
year after year becoming less scrupulous,
less intelligent & more unreliable. Instead
of proving to be the conscrvators Of the
rights of the people and the promoters of
their prosperity, the annual sessions are
beginning to be regarded with apprehon-
sions and dread. Judging from the rccor-
ded proceedings, the official duties Of the
members appear to be most exclusively
confined to the comforting of special privi-
legos upon organized cliqucs, to prey upon
the immunities and possessions of the peo.
pie at large. The public watch their ac-
tions from day to day with fear and trem-
bling, clothed as they are with the panoply
of law, lest their houses and lands which
they hold under the mgis of the Constitu-
ton, be legislated for price into the pos.
session and for the benefit and behoof of
chartered bonds of unscrupulous specu,
lators.


The present Legislature is not an exccp-
ton to the general rule. Indeed it is re-
gardcd with the greatest suspicion, and the
joIrhs. Ill G6fc are Or COURSE nlghly;' nod-
orablo exceptions among the members, but
| the number is so meagre that their voice
is lost amid the din of those whose conduct
is marked by an entire disregard of the
wishes of their constituents, but with q most
discriminating sense OF their own impor-
tancc and tho absolute propriety Of doing
what they please with the power inconsid-
erately conferred upon them by the pcopc,
who, permitting by their neglect, few
noisy, needy and prosumptous politicians
to nominate candidates, all belonging to
their own set for them, quietly go to the
polls and elect them. And this state of
things will continue just so long as the
great body of the voters shall assist to
bring these misfortunes upon themselves,
Instead of securing honest and capable men
to make their laws, which they have at all
times the power to do


We are informed that a majority of the
members of the Legislature are usually
mere adventurcrs with nothing to lose, ,and
seek an election entirely with view to tho
money they can make beyond the amount
of their salaries. They have a way to of-
feet this which few of their constituent
dream Of At one time it is by mcnacing
the banks ; next pitting one set of corpora
tors against another in contending for the
same franchises; again when exclusive
corporate powers are sought; again when
parks and public squares are to be estab'
lished; again when persons are to be leg
islated into Offices of profit by the creation
of new places for their accommodation ;
again whenever any private enactment,
however proper in itself, is asked for by
individuals. 1t is q well,known fact that
there are "agents" and "nuddlc men, con-
stantly to be found at Harrisburg, by
whom black mail is levied, and who thus
screen the principals from the exposure
and penalties to which their perjury and
corruption would subject them,





If the Legislature met only once in three
years, unless called oftoncr together by the
Governor, it would prove a great blessing
to the Commonwealth but the only bless
ing now vouchsafcd is the hope of a short
session; and if an adjournment of the
present body had taken place ten days ago
the event would have been thrice blessed.


"AoCEp1 lock of my hair" said an
old bachelor to widow, handing her a
large curl.


"Sir, you had better give me your
! whole wiz