Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1870-09-01
1elalrare Tribn,te
Thursday, scptcnibr 4, 1870.
poNDERs DOVER RESOLUTIONS.

Mr.. Ponder's delegates adopted, as usual, 6
aplatform,' at the recent Dover Convention
1t is a mouldy mass Of words. They declare
pist." This signifies nothing, whatever. We
d, not propose to dig up old sores, but as the
gentlemen present at Dover made their own
bed so must they lie in it, and it is too soon to
forget how poor and faulty was their devotion
to the Union, when il was in real danger. 1t has
been but ten years since they were looking IA
yoraby on emissaries of Secession, who camo to
ask Delaware to help destroy the Union. That
was their s'devotion" in the past! 1t has been
bat nine years since the Southern war upon the
Union began, and for months Delawares posi-
tion, under tho influence of the men who passed
those resolutions, trembled between Secession
and Loyalty. 1t has been but five years since
that war ended, in which, 30 unfathful were
many of these same gentlemen to the good old
Union of our fathers, that their sympathes
were continually with the armies which strove to
destroy it, "Devotion in the past" indeed I;
how soon would the American Union have per-
ished had it had no more faithful dcvotecs than
these.
They declare that the Federal Government
and the government of Delaware were framed
alone for the benefit of white men. This is not
true. The first Constitution of Delaware COLI
tanned no restriction of the ballot to white men.
On the contrary it expressly declared that any
freeman who gave evidence of permanent COM
mon interest in the welfare of the community
"hath he right Of Suffrage" Is it denied that
colored men have common interest in the well
fare of the community in which they live: II
not, here is the disproof Of this fourth resolution
Of Mr.. Ponder's servants, in the evidence that
the Delaware Constitution was not framed for
the benefit Of white men, alone.
They declare their opposition to the " extrava-
sance and "wasteful expenditure of Presi-
dent Grants Administration. What folly is this !!
Under the administration OF President Grant, the
revenues (Tith the same taxcs,) nave been
greatly increased, (because honestly collocted,)
over those of Johnson's Administration while
the expenditures have been greatly reduced.
Iohnson's Democratic officials paid of 10 debt i;
Grants Republicans have already paid or ocer
oae hnnhrd and Mirty millions of dollars. Mark
the cliange And yet Ponder's people have the
aldacity to talk of this honest and economical
administration as "extravagant and "waste-
full" Their words wither on their falsifying
tongues.
They denounce the Fifteenth Amendment
Enforcement Bill. OF course. The colored
citizens who by the declaration of the Revolii-
'ionary Fathers, :" hath the Right of Suffrage"
these gentlemen would have deprived of that
right. They did their btterest to that end, in
tile Kent and Sussex Levy Courts, and they
would have gone farther had it not been for this
isM, Right wrongs no man, and the enforce
men, bill secures nothing beyond the coored
riii1cn's just rights. But Mr. Ponder's delegates
denounced il, for that simple reason. 1t pulled
their teeth.
Six resolutions, including one already referred
TO, are denlncatory Of the colored voters, and
relate in some way to the "Whte Mans party"
that vanished fraud which is to be publicly
exhibited i'll conventions, but privately disre-
garled by Democratic candidates and their
canvnssers We have not space, here, to do it
Justice, but we deuounce it as cunning but
shallow deception, and by the conduct of the
very men who proclaimed it we will prove their
irincrrity.