Year: 1872

RICHMOND, Jan. 0, 1872.


MEssRs EDITORS:


An outsider in this City of
Hills finds much to interest, if but
little to instruct especially when the
wisdom Of Virginia is in Legislature
assembled. The usual routine of leg
islation is, TO a stranger, almost a seal
ed book, aud the meagre reports dished
out TO the public blythe representatives
Of the press make confusion worse
coniounded. 1t may not be prudent,
in these ku-kluX times. to give any eX-
PRECISION as to the material of the
general Assembly. further than to say
that if Cuba should be 50 unwise as to
20 to war with these great United
States, the latter could hardly find
A" filter stuff D." for corps of sappers
and miners. Our admirable Governor,
however, has expressed a higher ap-
preciation OF the military capacity of
some of the grave and reverend Sc
niors - as will be recognized by refe-
renee to the list Of Major and Brig'r
Generals. OF the five Major Generals
two are members Of the House of Dele
gates, and one Of the Senate; of the
BrigadiCrs, one is a Senator. and three
are Delegates. We have little or no
acquaintance with the fortunate gen
tlemen, who, having fought with dis
tinction NrOUqh the 1ChOie war, have
now received the token of the apprc-
citation of an intelligent and grateful
ueoplr, and no little thanks are due to
The chivalrous cOmmandcr-in-chie
for the wisdom OF his selections of
supuortcrs 10 himself i'm the arluOus
duties incident to leading " the pow
crof the State - into battle-for il is of
a surety that this great confidence in
the successful result of the grand
struggle has been assured them. The
country is now safe and we breathe
more freely than we have done for
many long day, With five Major
Generals and twenty four brigadiers
led on by the Governor, we can defy
the world, 1.-The flesh and the devil,n
However there ia some little diScon-
tent-but ii is confided TO such, as hav-
ing drawn the sabre threw away the
scabhard, after few short months re-
turned TO look for the same, leaving
their relations down to the fourth and
fifth degree. to fight the good fight to
the last man in the last ditch. Anoth-
or small batch is composed of those
who since the war, have been most
conspicuous in civil enterprise and
have been most prominent in the
grand idea that progressive enterprise
il to bc found in the policy of n
mastery activity" "Let Us aloneu
said the French merchant to the king
who enquired what shall be done for
your interests: " Let us alone" re-
peated these gentlemen. Do moth
ingn is about as valuable rs know
nothing" There is yet another class,
rather more respectable IN numbers,
who proudly stand on their war re-
cord ami contemptuously declare that
they would never consent TO have
their war title drowned i'm a militia
commission. This silly idea pervades
all ranks, even down TO the fourth
corporal i'm company q. We rather
think that the grapes were sour"


The absorbing question now, that
the State is safe against a foreign foe,
Is the debt question. You will observe
that a vast majority of the legislature
are in perfect sympathy with the peO-
pie, and though for a season the hand
full Of funders, aided by the Governor
may impede, they can never stop the
ball. The cry of repudiation has lost
it, power from the simple fact that re-
pudiation is not proposed 10y any. We
have found no one that espouses to
this doctrine, but there is a settled
purpose never to increase the present
rate of taxation to the extent of
cent the feeling is rather to lessen the
taxes. The organs of the funders pit
rously enquire what will we do with
IN la i'm ian /
this question. the anti-funders will
sion, when they have accomplished
the repeal of the Funding Bill-which
seems 10 be the first object in the
hearts of the majority. The joint
committee to take the whole matter of
the debt into consideration sit with
closed doors. Sufficient has leaked
out 10 know that the funders are pre-
pairing to " surrender at discretion
This may be one of the manifold tricks
attempted bv the fundcrs, but they
have been SO often smoked out of their
holes that" it 1CW not uct,n and i'm
few days longer a report will be made.
which ] reckon will be satisfactory 10
the people.


The weather has been exceedingly
disagreeable and the weather clerk at
Washington promises little amend
ment. We are a hopeful people how
ever. and il he viii only save Us a lit
tie of the water, now so lavishly dis
tributed, for the sultry weeks of July
and August, we shall joyfuily accept
the present situation.


/ have drawn my letter to too great
n length. Iou may hear from me
again.


NIAToR.


=. S.-Close upon the heels of the
Funding bill, and next in Importance
10 it comes the subject Of change in
our system Of coGrts Your two dele
gates are enthusiastic for n change,
and are zealously working together for
good. That the County Court will he
stript of its jurisdiction, seems now
20 be conceded on ell hands, and its
pay will be reduced toa small sum per
day, 10 go into effect at the expiration
OF the terms of the present incum-
bents. Herein will be saving of
money actually paid for salaries of
about $1,000, per annum. V.