The Union. [volume] (Georgetown, Del.) 1863-1866, 1864-01-01
GOVERNOR CANNON.


The schoolboy, ten years hence, will
find in his History of the United States,
conspicuously displayed as an important
fact, that William Cannon was the first
Governor of the little State of Delaware
who officially recommended the abolition
of slavery. Her position as border slave
holding State gives her prominence
in the record of these stirring times, which
perhaps she would not otherwise occupy
The eyes of the country are upon her as
they are upon her sister States, Maryland,
Virginia, Kentucky and Missouri. Her
acts therefore as connected with this re-
bellion, whether of loyalty or treason, with
slavery or for freedom, expand into as
much Importance and are scrutinized with
as much interest as though she were
Sovereignty of magnificent proportions"
That she has determined to shuttle off
this coil of slavery, and when the country
energies from the confusion of this bloody
war, that she will be free State are facts
as we'll known outside of our own limits as
to ourselves. By this political excoriation
which we are now undergoing, Delaware
will be cleansed of those proclivities which,
especially in her southern extremity, origi-
mated and fostered a reasonable sympathy
with the South, and positive repqgnance
to the liberties of our republic and%hen
she shall thus emerge, bright and lustrous
as free State of this great Confederacy,
with her people rejoicing in the transition
: and surprized at their own prosperity, then
Q will the name of our present Governor b,
: mentioned with even more love and re
4 spect by the people of his native State
than now. He is the first Governor o
r Delaware who has not considered it undig
t nifed and unbecoming in His E.ccelIen
cy," to study the wants of the people, ant
to devote his time and labor to the dis
. charge of his official duties, and to tn,
: promotion of our States interest Thu
: industry and perseverance of the man have
not been extinguished by the pride o
d place. He passes, to-day, among the PEG
= pie of the State, though their chief magis
+ trate, with as little display and exaltatiol
It as the humblest citizen and exhibits tn,
If same kindness and ciyilty of depostmen
d towards all since his elevation to ofic
y that he did before. His official robes in
e stead of initiating him with unbecomin
l. pride, have reminded him that he is til
re servant of the people, and thus unde
h standing the great duty dcvolving upo
e. him he has applied himself with comment
ID able assiduity to its complete performanc
That which the interest, welfare, al
IS, prosperity of our State require, he h
at diligently sought to discover. MixiI
he with the people he has inquired the
rs wants; familiarizing himself with the loo
els interests and feelings Of every section,
&c; has studied the general welfare, a
OF eonversant by experience with the bu
OF ness relations and monetary interests
ing our three Counties, he is peculiarly
lch quainted with our developing and mater
red resources. His knowledge of Delaware
I'M greater than that of any other man. l
Ion means for information have for years be
Toe various and reliable; his inquiries a
gas his acquaintance have not been confr
to the wealthy and inert classes of
community, but by his activity and in
ligence he has CLEANED varied and
tended fund of information from the
,og. cessitous and industrial mass of our ?
tho ulation, which renders him especi;
and qualified to judge of the practicabilit,
t;ee nroposed measures of State reformati
lves and the advantages derivable therefr
bey He is competent therefore, not only
and propose but to decide; and not onl.
the decide, but energetic and prompt, h
dis competent to execute. Thus constitu
and thus qualified he became, forum
ac- for us and fortunate for our posterity,
age, chief executive during the Southern
rom bellion. His penetration and his g
ners sense not only discovered the true or
Sc of of our national difficulties, but readily
de- closed to him the sentiments of this st
I'd in and the position which her present
the tercst and future prosperity demar
the that she should assume. Fully satiI
tates, that the abolition of slavery here wa
rned quired by existing events, and woulc
oped, conducive to our advancement in the