Wilmington daily gazette., 1872-12-30
REPRESENTATION.

We copy an article from the Deiararean, o
Saturday, to which no doubt many Democrats al
well as Republicans win take exception. 1t is nj
follows: 4tUStIBsl xa.tt 44gr.
"a petition in favorof Representation according
to population u being circulated for signatures IN
New Castle county. As the prayer of these peti
tioners can only be granted by an amendment to
the Constitution, we would suggest TO them that
they might well save their ink and paper. The
citizens of the two lower counties, Democrats or
Republicans, will not consent to 1t, ana there the
matter will have to rest. The clause in the Con
stitutiOn fixing the representation In the lcsisla-
ture was the work of the Wings, who at the time
was the dominant party in the State, and 1t was
designed for the double purpose of securing po-
litical control in the State, and giving the two
weaker Counties whose interests were entirely
agricultural (land then rs now paying nearly all
the taxes) tho control of State legislation. Citi-
Zens of Kent and Sussex counties, irrespective OF
party, place high value on this provision of the
Constitution, and sooner than surrender 1t they
would be willing to let the City of Wilmington
seccde and set up State for itself They do not
intend, they can help 1t, to be governed by the
managers of the flOnting and irresponsible voting
force that serves to build up majorities, one way
or another, in Wilmington. New Castle county
does not suffer, represented in the petition
from taxation over and above her just proportion,
but on the other hand, the agricultural and land
ed interests of Kent and Sussex have direct ten
deney to restrain and keep down taxation, and
prevent the waste and extravaganza that would
follow should their guardianship over that inter
est be removed"
1t is not to be supposed tha, the people Of Kent
and Sussex are ready to agree TO the demands
that have been made by some jealous people |
In New Castle county for representation accord |
ing to population, as the vote is now cast. Nor
is 1t to bc supposed that they ready TO let Viii
mington secede, rs the article suggests. If the |!
district system was adopted, Wilmington would |
not ask or expect to be accorded, representation
according to population. The agriculture! inter
ests are the same in New Casie in Kent and
Sussex, and were the district system adopted the
State legislation would still bc governed by the
agricultural and landed interests. While we do
not see the need of a Constitutional Convention
In this State, and believe no adequate good would
result from one, We believe legislation in the d
rection of a more equal representation is desired
and demanded by the great mass of the people of
this county And ifa change is to he made in
this direction We prefer that it should be done by
the Democratic party Believing that if it is ever
done by the Radical party, tho State will be so
from time to time, that it will be
difficult to ever dislodge them from power
During the last campaign the Radicals took
equal representation as platform, and we do not
Wv tAs tnoy sucicoy oTove any ol iuCif voters 10
our ranks. Oh the contrary they actually carried
lhc county of Sussex for their Sheriff and made
heavy gain on the rest Of their ticket while their
gain in Kent was also Tremendous. Another such
election might reduce the Democratic mnjoritics
70 low that the scale could be made to turn either
way by avery small faction of dissenters at
domination convention or election.
Under the circumstances VIC think the Demo-l
rats should consider well whether it would not
'e bettert to take mp this question, and turn it to
heir advantage while they have the power.
Under the district system the Democrats of
New Castle county would have carried several
and possibly a Senator at the
ast election. As the matter rests they elected
zone.
ifthe Democrats in the Legislature could unite
'pon plan for districting the State, we think
hcy might secure to their party the control of
he Legislature for good many years to come
The results of the Inst election forces the conclu
lon that there is some truth in the slang phrase.
white man Is very uncertain" The .new re- m
rhits' dsd not amount to much, while the .new-
enfranchsed" were lively as experts in the
sc Of the ballot.
We do not know what bur highly yaluea CON. 30
'mporary at Dover thinks of this view of this ~
nportant question: and should be pleased to "
ave Its views on the subject. ~,
/