Middletown transcript., 1870-12-10
For the Aiddletown Transcript.
The Proposed Renewal of the Old Court
House War.

The Proposed Renewal OF the Old Court
nOuse War.
The election is hardly oyer, and the
Democratic White Men, not yet done con-
graduating themselves on their late victo-
ry in this county, before a movement is
made up this county to reopen once set
tied question by baitot, the moving of the
courts New Castle county, from the town
of New Castle to Wilmington. The OPEN
ing of this matter now looks like trick,
to divide and defeat the Democratic White
Mans Party, for if carried out it would
affect the two strongest Democratic White
Mems Hundreds in this county-New Cas-
tie by decline in property, and Apo
quinimink Hundred by increasing her dis
tance miles to the courts. The excuse
put forward is the great amount of busi-
ness at New Castle, and lack of room in
the Court House. Could not some of you
lawyers point out remedy, if you cannot
or will not, farmer as | am, l will try: first
make the attorney-generals Office a salaried
office of one thousond dollars per year, no
further emolaneat or pay: second, every
man who presents a case to the attorney
general, or grand jury, not to be allowed
to give more than five names for witnesses,
his oUn included, and he bound to sign
his name and appear as first witness, and
pay the cost of the other four witnesses if
no bill is found by the grand jury; third,
compel the Encouragement to commence
with cases that go before the grand jury.
at either one end or the other of the county,
and proceed in rotation of the hundreds. [
saw at the present court, dozens of wit
nesses, from the lower part of the county,
there four days without being called, l my
self, was summoned the first day of court,
to go before the grand jury. lost an en-
tire week and was not called the second
week paid no further attention to it and
did not go to New Castle. Now protest
as one Democratic White Man against the
getting up Of this new feeling on Court
| House removal
l know all about the old trouble, and
the prescription of Wilmington in politics,
of both parties on that question. A meet
ing of Democrats was held there, Mr.. Jas.
A. Bayard among them. At said meeting
it was determined to run William H. Rod
gers aud two others upon the legislative
ticket and William H. Jones, Esq. was
requested to get out the split tickets, but
he, from the love of the regular nominees,
| did not get out said tickets, and when 9TH
ers did it was too late, and the whole regular
ticket was elected. Mr.. Rodgers and the
two others by small majorities. Now l
only mention these dygones, not to hurt the
feelings of any person, but to show in
those times how men were led astray on
local issues, and human nature being the
same nor as then, may not q like occur
renee happen again that is through excite
ment let local question override great
State, or national question--for instance,
the right and interest of white men to rule,
Delaware, and the nation; therefore ad-
wise every Democratic White Man to stop
short in this court house crusade If it is
still advisable to hold together as one coun-
ty, make needful reforms to cut down pet,
ty spite actions before the grand jury,
the public has been aware my proposed
remedy for several years, for their court
house grievances which is to make two.
counties out of New Castle county, the.
four upper hundreds, including Whining
| ton, to make a new county, with the same
rights as other counties-court house and
Jail any where they please in said new coun-
| ty; the six lower hundreds to make one
county with the same rights as the other
counties, to be called as at present, New Cas-
tie County, capital the same as at present;
we of New Castle County to relinquish our
right to the poor house, hospital and
grounds to the new county; the new coun-
ty relinquishing all claims to court house,
JAIL offices and grounds, and other public
county property to New Castle county, as
formed of the six lower hundreds of said
county This is fair way of settling the
whole matter, and think would be con-
sidered satisfactory to great majority of
the people of this county, without respect to.
party, and would forever settle this remov-
al of the court house question satisfactorily.
The Legislature and Governor are all of one,
party, and could amend the constitution
with the assistance and consent of the vo-
ters. l am willing to shake hands for a
separation, to make two counties, but to
move the court house from New Castle,
while it remains one county, l will fight
against it to my DEATH and 1 call on the
Democratic White Men of Kent and Sus-
sex, to note this movement before the leg
islature meets, so they will be prepared to
prevent the sacrificing of the rights and
interests of the two strongest Democratic
White Men Hundreds in this county-Ap-
poquinimink and New Castle Hundreds
SAMUEL TOWNSEND.