Delaware State journal and statesman., 1862-02-11
LETTER FROM DOVER.
Interesting Legislative Proceedipe

interesting Legislative proceedings
From ouf own Correspondent
Dover, February 2, ls62.
MIR. EDITOR
The week just passed has been
decidedly the most exciting Of the session.
The leaders of the Democracy Of this
County haye been very busy circulating re
monstrauces against what they are pleased
to term the Abolition bill and when it was
ascertained that said bill would not be pre-
sented at this session, certain Joint Rosu-
lutioHs-by whom prepared | am unable to
say-were presented in the House on the
9TH instant by Mr.. Robinson Of Sussex, who
moved their adoption. They are as follows !;
"Whereas, there has been circulated
among the members of the General Assem-
bly, IL printed draft for law to be entitled
An act for the gradual emancipation of
slaves in the State of Delaware, with nst
compensation to their owners and whereas,
many Of the members Of the General Assem-
bly, have been requested To support it and
whereas it is uncertain that said proposition
will be submitted to this General Assembly
for its action, nevertheless viewing it to he
unworthy Of their support, they desire TO
cons
demnation Therefore,
Resolrea, That the members of this Legs.
! lature were not elected with view To tile
passage of any act for the emancipation Of
slaves, but with the understanding, either
expressed or implied, that legislation upon
the distracting subject of slavery was hos
| tile to the public peace, and therefore to be
avoided that the passage Of the act afore.
! said, iuasmuch as il renders Congressional
action necessary would, upon the apparent
| application Of the State Of Delaware, intro.
duce the slavery question into Congress,
would encourage the abolition element
therein, and rortify il in lis purpose 10 de
stroy entirely all property IN slaves, and
furthermore would be injurious to the quiet
and harmony that prevail in this State
2, That it is the opinion of this General
Assembly that Congress- has no right 10 ap.
propriote a dollar for the purchase OF slaves
and that such proposal, coming from the
source to which it is traceable evinees u
design, on the part Of some Of those having
the control OF our national affairs 10 abolish
slavery in the States
). That when the people Of Delaware de.
sire 10 abolish slavery within her borders
they will do so in their own way, having due
regard to strict equity that any nterier
ence from without, and all suggestions oil
saving expense to the people, or others o
like character, are improper to be made IL
an honorable people such as we represent
and are hereby repelled that though the
State of Delaware is small and her peopl,
not Of the richest, they are beyond the reacl
OF any who would promote an end by i'm
proper interference and solicitations
Prior to the adoption of the resolutions
Mr. Appleton offered the followinu ma ,
substitute for the third resolution therein
contained, viz:
Rssoiusd, That this General Assembly re-
cognizlng the legal existence of slavery il
this State, is opposed to any act for freeina
or emancipating the slaves of this State, un
less based upon the principle Of just com
pensation to the owners.
This as a matter of course the Democrats
would not accept, and the Resolutions as re
ported, were adopted by the House. Be
fore the adoption, Mr. Belts called attention
! to the votes of Messrs. NJ. w. Bates anC