Delaware State reporter., 1853-04-26

The fourth district shall consist of the Hun
dreds of Dagsborough and Cedar Creek.
The fifth district shall consist of the Hun
dreds of Milford, Mispillion, and Little Creek,
Gin Kent county.)
The sixth district shall consist of the Hun
dred of Murdcrkl.
The seventh district shall consist of the Hun
drcd of Dover.
The eighth district shall consist of the Hun
dred of Duck Creek.
The ninth district shall consist of the Hun
dreds of Appoquinimink and Red Lion.
The tenth district shall consist of the Hun
drcd of st. Georges.
The eleventh district shall consist of the
Hundreds of Pencader and New Castle.
The twelfth district shall consist Of the Hum
drcds of Mill Creek and White Clay Greek.
The thirteenth district shall consist Of the
first, second, third and fourth wards Of the city
of Wilmington
The fourteenth district shall consist of the
Hundred of Christana.
The fifteenth district shall consist Of the fifth
ward of the city of Wilmington, and the Hun
drcd of Brandywine.
MIR. BAYARD called for the yeas and nays on
this amendment, and they were taken, with the
following result
Yeas -AIessrs, Bayard, Biggs, Gibbs, Lodge,
Springer, and Wlkcnson-G.
NayS.--AIcssrs. Bates, Bell, Burton, Corbit,
Galloway, Collins, Hail. Hazard, IIcvcrin, Ilick-
man, Houston. Jones, Ioiland, Long, Maxwell,
Merrikcn, Phillips, Smith, Smithcrs, Whitaker,
and the Prcsident-20.
So the amendment was rejected.
The CnAlRMAN. The question will now lie
on the next clause of the amendment:
.sTwo members of the House of Representa-
tives shall be chosen by each of the foregoing
dstricts.'
Mr.. BAYARD 1t would be useless to take the
question on that provision, when the preceding
portions of the amendment have been rejected.
l, therefore, withdraw that portion of the amend
mcnt. lnasmuch as the preceding amendments
have been rejected ! withdraw the next amend
mcnt, and offer it in somewhat modified form,
so that it shall read as follows:
"Thc Legislature at its first session after the
returns of the next census Of the United States
are made, and also after the returns of each
succeeding census are made, shall divide the
State into single Senatorial districts, each of
which shall choose one Senator and two Repre-
scntltives, and each district shall contain as
nearly as may be an equal number of inhabi-
tantS, and Shall consist Of contiguous aud con-
vencnt territory; and the districts so estab-
lished shall remain unaltcrable until the next
succeeding returns of the census are made.
Prorided, That in any future revision Of the dis
tricts, the city Of Wilmington Shall not be
allowed number of Senators and Representa-
tivcs exceeding two-lifths of the whole number
of Senators and Representatives in all the dis
tricts within the limits of New Castle county,
or exceeding onc-sixth of the whole number OF
Senators and Representatives in the State.''
Mr.. BATES Before giving my vote on this
amendment, wish to say word by way OF
explanation. | am favorable to the general
principles Of the district system. | am in favor
of giving the Legislature power TO district the
State. | am also in favor of giving to New
Castle county, in the House Of Representatives
representation apploAimating to her relative
population, hut shall vote against this amend
mcnt as it now stands, and as lam now adviSc(
and under the circumstances of the case. | dc
not wish that vote TO be misunderstood as
vote of unwillngncss to give New Castle county
representation in the House Of Representative
approaching to her population.
Mr. BAYARD. Mr.. Chairman, confess myscl
unable to understand the views of the honor
able member from Dover. This amendment
the preceding ones having been voted down, i
SIMPLY a provision that after the returns of TIN
census Of 1860 are madc it shall he the duty c
the Legislature TO divide the State into singh
Senate districts, each district to bc<eoiifroscd,
convenient and contiguous territory, and to con
tain, as nearly as may be, an equal nWmbSN 0
inhabitants The honorable member from IJoSe
has voted against every amendment which
have proposed, and now he is about % vot
against the principle for the future and yet Ii
saws he is favorable TO the district system ant
the principle of representation i'll proportion t
population. Sir | should like to see som
amendment which would accord with the gen
teman's idea and carry out the principle q
representation in proportion to population.
have in this amendment provided against an
fanciiul or real danger which may have existed
as to the growth of large city, as some gentle
men suppose Wilmington will day hC
The amendment, by its own terms is cntircl
future. 1t cannot take effect for seven or egll
wears to come vet the honorable gentleman
opposed to it, though he favoIs the principle
representation in proportion to population. W
have no amendment from him which approx
mates TO that principle in the rcmotcSt dcgrct
TO talk to me about allowing ten members
the House of Representatives to New Cast
county, as an approximation to that principle
is like giving stone when one asks for brcat
Sir, it is a moekcly.
Mr.. Chairman, / can Of course see, i'll the PR
yious votes of the committee, what will be Il
fate of this amendment. 1t does not astonis
me. Men will seldom rclinquiSh power eve
for the sake of principle, but hope and IN
licve gentlemen will find, chat iii republic
a principle which no man on this floor dare
deny, will finally triumph, No man here pr
tends to deny the equal, civil, and politics
rights of every citizen, no matter in what pa
of the State he may reside yet gentlemen he
vote down a proposition to secure the cnio,
mcnt Of that right. To what must this cour
lead What is the meaning of it What
the fact with regard to gentlemen here! Nt
represent land and not men. Yet you CT
yourselves Republicans Wings or Dem
Gratis. You say there shall be certain local div
sions; that those local divisions Of land sh;
be represented, and that the political right
persons shall be equal or unequal, according
The particular territory in which they happen
live | believe that that principle will not pl
vail with the people of Delaware, when tn,
hear the question discussed. 1t shall be Iii
cusscd. waive all further discussion Of it
this assembly; but it shall be discussed befo
the people Of this State. Iknow the formidat
influence of county jealousy and county fcelin
l have endcavorcd to preserve my State fro
the continuance OF the increase Of that feclin
hv the amendments which | have offered