The Union. [volume] (Georgetown, Del.) 1863-1866, 1864-01-22
OUR LEGIsL. ATTIRE.

trust, in aippant style, or with unjust
imputations upon the members. We sup
pose they are, like most other party men,
anxious to secure their party interest, and
not whit more exclusive, or selfish, than
some other parties. We are disposed to deal
fairly with them, and whilst we condemn
the great waste of pablic money, and the
inutilityo f their Military Committee Iu-
vestigation,D and have strong doubts as to
the Gonstitutionality of their adjournment
from year to year, thus making annual, in
stead Of biennial sessions, and thus increas-
ing the taxes of the people; yet we are
disposed to accept the state of things as
we find them, and to make the best of
| them.
The General Assembly is in session
The questions proposed in our last may
now be properly considered. What have
they to do' What piW they do? And
what ought they to do? r
We are not aware thatthere was any untn-
isked business ofany importance postponed
from the last session, so we fancy they
have not much to do as the unfinished
business Of last session. We cannot, of
course, pretend to divine what they pciH
do, unless perehance, to revive, and CON
tiuue their military investigations, to
get up second edition, with additions,
cancellations, and engagements of the Re-
port of their Military Committee, for the
convenience and pecuniary benefit of the
DeIa,eareqn and proprietors. Itmay be,
too, that some divorces may be granted, fol-
in times when they complain Of infractions
of the Constitution of the United States
by the Federal Government, we hold that
it is not impossible they may, as has toe
often heretofore been done, violate the let
ter, and the spirit of the sacred charter OF
our liberties, which declares that enc
State shall pass any law impairing the OBJ
legation of contract" That marridg,
is contract, civi1, as well as religious, ne
man will deny, and that this class Of con
tracts is protected by the Constitution
seems to be clear enough, and especially
as the Courts are open" where the par
ties may & implead one another"
We hardly suppose they will seek to in
tensify their hostility to the Fedora
Government, by further legislation on the
subject of prohibiting the Government
from abolishing slavery in the Forts, Of
employing negro laborers therein. This
petty species Of spiteful legislation, canno
we fancy, commend itself to them, anc
upon their "sober, second thought "w'
can imagine that they are heartily ashame'
: of it.
: Then what ought they to do, as Legisla
9 tors of enlarged and liberal minds, a
: Statesmen, having the general welfare, nc
: only of this State, but OF the whole couI
try, at heart? We hesitate not to say
J that they should at once, as among the
first acts, rescind, repeal, those petty, o
fensive, insulting, lorovisos, hitched on
J the cession of piece Of bald sand-beacl
to the Federal Government, for the ere
: ton of Fort, &c., at Lewes. Such GU
! rageous proUisios are not merely an insu
+ to the Federal Government, but they al
unjust and impolitic, for they keep mi
lion Of money out Of Sussex County, an
= prevent the Government from acceptin
u any such grant, clogged with such spit
- full, insulting Proyisos. Let them, thel
at once repeal those proyisos. Again, a
+ can see hoac the Legislature might an
n ,coslld crown themselves with lasting hoI
~ ors, and clothe themselves with the praise
u and applaases and gratitude Of succeedin
:, ages, and that would be by their providin
Y Immediately for the gradual abolition (
t- slavery" in tsa State. Let them pass
OF Law, dsesaring that all children born
slave parents, after the 4th day of Jul
n 1865, shall be free at twsnty-one years
'cs age. Do this, gentlemen, and you ere
for yourselves monument more enduriI
ae than brass.
we Again, let the Legislature make pro
Va sion for the support of the families of c
patriotic volunteers, and thus discharge
'si- debt, not only of gratitude, but of sim
ION :. justice.
ny Further, let them make an appropr
oa ton of money to encourage yolunteeril
icy and save our people from the draft. L
'a' viii be popular. and popularity, we cpl
pa is commodity, that this Legislature wo1
gladly accept,
ise And yet further; let this General !
'ey sembly make provision in some. way,
a's finish the Junction and Breakwater r.
we road from Milford to Lewes, via Geor
''o' town. ~ d
Au' Now zoe are not Democrats, never b
been, but if this Democratic Legislat
'uiu will do these things, zoe will be loud,
W. IL. n.