VIRGINIA 55 



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holders, and those of the Senate every four years. The 

 executive power is in the hands of a Governor, elected 

 annually by the Assembly and the Senate, and a Privy 

 Council, elected by the same every three years. The 

 Assembly had just now come together for its half- 

 yearly winter session ; a small frame building serves the 

 purpose, used also on occasion, with change of scene, 

 for balls and public banquets. It is said of the As- 

 sembly: It sits; but this is not a just expression, for 

 these members show themselves in every possible posi- 

 tion rather than that of sitting still, with dignity and 

 attention. An assembly of men whose object is the 

 serious and important one of making laws, should at 

 least observe a certain decorum, but independence 

 prevails even here. During the visits I made I saw 

 this estimable assembly quiet not 5 minutes together; 

 some are leaving, others coming in, most of them talk- 

 ing of insignificant or irrelevant matters, and to judge 

 from the indifference and heedlessness of most of their 

 faces it must be a trifling business to make laws. At 

 the open door of the hall stands a door-keeper, who is 

 almost incessantly and with a loud voice calling out for 

 one member after another. In the ante-room there is 

 a tumult quite as constant ; here they amuse themselves 

 zealously with talk of horse-races, runaway negroes, 

 yesterday's play, politics, or it may be, with trafficking. 

 Nor must it be expected that this illustrious assembly 

 shall be seen dressed as in other countries etiquette, in 

 like circumstances, would demand. In the same clothes 

 in which one goes hunting or tends his tobacco-fields, 

 it is permissible to appear in the Senate or the Assem- 

 bly. There are displayed boots, trowsers, stockings, 

 and Indian leggings; great-coats, ordinary coats, and 



