The Southern Literary Messenger, Vol. I., No. 4, December, 1834Various
History
The Southern Literary Messenger, Vol. I., No. 4, December, 1834
Various
American literature -- 19th century -- Periodicals
In reference to our public assemblies, it is a common remark, and we
have no doubt a just one, that there is more order, decorum and dignity
in the Virginia Legislature, than in the House of Representatives of
the United States. In the latter body the members sit with their hats
on, write letters and read newspapers, whilst one of their members is
addressing the chair, or the speaker is putting the question. Such
disorder is rarely seen in the Capitol of the Old Dominion.
* * * * *
----"I will now give you some account of what I have seen in this
metropolis. The Assembly happens to be sitting at this time; their
upper and lower house as they call them, sit in different houses. I
went into the lower, sitting in an old courthouse, which judging from
its form and appearance, was built in the year one. I was surprised on
approaching it, to hear as great a noise and hubbub as you will usually
observe at a public meeting of the planters in Virginia. The first
object which struck me after my entrance, was the figure of a little
old man, dressed but indifferently, with a yellow queue wig on, and
mounted in the judge's chair. This, the gentleman who walked with me,
informed me was the speaker, a man of a very fair character, but who,
by the by, has very little the air of a speaker. At one end of the
justices' bench stood a man whom in another place I should, from his
dress and phiz, have taken for Goodall the lawyer in Williamsburg,
reading a bill then before the house with a schoolboy tone, and an
abrupt pause at every half dozen words. This I found to be the clerk of
the Assembly. The mob (for such was their appearance) sat covered on
the justices' and lawyers' benches, and were divided into little clubs,
amusing themselves in the common chitchat way. I was surprised to see
them address the speaker without rising from their seats, and three,
four and five at a time, without being checked. When a motion was made,
the speaker, instead of putting the question in the usual form, only
asked the gentlemen whether they chose that such or such a thing should
be done, and was answered by a yes sir, or no sir; and though the
voices appeared frequently to be divided, they never would go to the
trouble of dividing the house; but the clerk entered the resolutions, I
supposed, as he thought proper. In short, every thing seems to be
carried without the house in general knowing what was proposed."
For the Southern Literary Messenger.
WESTERN SCENERY.
EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM A WESTERN TRAVELLER.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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