Delaware State reporter., 1853-04-26


to be somewhat cautious. | do not intend to
vote here under a menace. intend to vote |
freely, without reference to persons certainly, |
and to vindcate my votes.
It is not true. that according to the princi- /
pies of our government, as carried out by the
States of the Union, that you must invariably
settle down on the number of men who shall 4
he in particular district. | admit that the
general principle is representation according to
population, but that principle has made vali-
ous circumstances to bc modified TO a greater or
less extent. | intend to adhere 10 this prn
ciplc, and ] intend to offer some proposition
which will give to New Castle county, in the
House of Representatives, representation in
proportion to her population.
The relative number of Senators is another
question TO be considered hereafter. The States
do not uniformly carry out eithcrof the positions
for which the honorable member contends, and
the United States donot, in relation to Senator's.
But did not rise TO discuss the question.
rose merely for the purpose of stating that I
think | understand what want, and that
large proportion Of the members of this body
understand me; and even if they did not,
should vote according TO my ideas of right
MIR. BlGGS. Mr.. Chairman, ] beg leave to
entertain the Committee for a few minutes in
order to explain why it is that | shall vote for
the amendment offered by the honorable member
from Wilmington. Sir, as he Justly remarked
this morning, men who have power love to retain
it; but from the manicS' ations which have seen
ever Since the Convention has been in session,
believe there is libcrality and charity on the part
of its members, and never until the vote taken.
this morning have been led to believe that they
felt any disposition whatever TO prevent New
Castle county being fully represented in the
halls of the Legislature according TO her popula-
tion. 1t seems to me- that gent cmcn from Kent
and Sussex must have fancicd in their own minds
dangers, for the supposion of which there is no
foundation. The amendment now before us is
certainly calculated to Danish from their minds
I any apprehcnsons as to their interests being
ovtrhome i'll the future legislation Of this State
! New Castle county has population of 42,7S0;
| Kent and Sussex counties combined have popu-
lation of 1872; making a difference of only
G,0O0 between the population Of New Castle
alone and Kent and Sussex cambncd In 1902,
according 10 the United States census, the popu-
lation of New Castle county was 25,36l; of
Kent county, ~, bod of Sussex county, 1888 /;
making the aggregate population of the two
lower counties, 3S,al2, leaving difference of
1881 in favor of the two lower counties. There
not, there fore, at that time, as the honorable
member from Wilmington very justly remarked.
the other day, any glaring inequality. But
since that time, Mr.. Chairman, New Castle
county has increased until She has now within
5000 Of the population Of the other two counties
combined.
ask any member Of this body as a conscicn-
tious man, as a man of integrity and political
honesty, how lie can, by his vote say that New
Castle county, with population of 42,TS
shall not have more representatives. in the i4cgis
laturc than Kent county, with % SIG inhabi-
tants, or Sussex, with 5,936. What have Kent
or Sussex counties 10 fear from giving to New
Castle county her just rights Is thercanything
in New Castle county Of which they need b(
afraid! DO they fear that New Castle county
will seek i'll the Legislature to deprive them 0
: the full enjoyment Of amy portion of thti
property! That danger has been guarded
against in the latter part of the amendments o
the honorable member from Wilmington.
refer, of course, TO the question Of slavery, il
! which Sussex is more largely interested thal
$ any county i'll the Satc. The inhabitants o
the agricultural portion of New Castle county
f arc as deeply concerned for thcintcrSts OF Ken
and Sussex as those counties themselves. g
further and say that believe there need be IL,
) fear Of danger from the city of Wilmington
Q But even if there We're, the honorable mcmbe
{ from Nilm n2ton he's guarded againS, it, bccaus
@ he has inserted provision i'll his amcndmen
f that her representation shall ntvcr be so grca
40 W SNC cI lONCl W ijulC any IuItiol VI III
f State. think, therefore. that in this view Of tn
r case, our friends from Kent and Sussex ought tC
vote to give us lcprcScn a ion according to popu
& lation. ST, the citizens OF Appoquinimink am
e st. Georges hundreds are as much intercstc
/ upon the question OF slavery as some portions {
o Kent county. But all danger on that score i
c guarded against by the latter portion Of til
: amendments Offered yesterday by the honorabl
# member from Wilmington.
| Suppose Mr.. Chairman, that instead Of bcin
V assembled here to revise constitution we wcr
l. here to make constitution and form govern
: mcnt for the State Of Delaware do vou belicv
}. any member would say that because he lived o
\ one side of Duck Greek, lie should be entitled I
i double the political rights ofa man on the othC
IS side Off =! That is virtually the case now. a
If individual in New Castle county has only ha
e the political influence Of man residing in Kcl
i county. Now should like 10 know ON VIII
G. kind Of meat these men in Kent or SUISSE
1f county have fed that they have grown so grea
lie They have got the power and they wish
G, retain it, But they will not retain ii
| have better opinion of them than to SUI
pose they will do So They only intcn
g TO show bold front. Why, sir, it leaked OF
lc from the honorable member from Dover that
III intends to propose giving us representation al
N preaching to population. That is one stcl
c, We will pulSuadc him TO take it, for we do n
Is intend TO attempt to force any man. We W
G. show him that according to reason and iustic
III heou9ht 10 take that other step which is, nsc;
rt Of giving us representation approaching to pop
re lation TO give us representation according
v population. lfany member from Kent or Susst
sc can show me 4 good and valid reason why Ne
is Castle county should not have rcprcscntatiC
III according TO population shall yield the poi
III and vote with him. But until some one CT
o. produce reason why the inhabitants Of Ne
i Castle county should not be fully represented
III the halls Of legislation, | must vote for t
of amendment. | call upon the members fro
to Kent and Sussex, to look upon the rcasonabl
to ness and justice of our claim. You may,
e having the power, now vote us down, but y
ey are standing upon principle. You may cru
s. the truth to earth, but it is mighty and "
in prevail. If you refuse our request now, bcfo
ro ouothnr ccoro IF wears roll ronnl in the State