Wilmington daily commercial., 1872-03-06
WILMINGTON, DEL.
Wednesday Afternoon. March 9.
THE EXTENT TO WHICH EQUAL REPRE-
sFNTATION Is A PARTY QUESTION.

The proposition to establish a just and equal
svstenn of representation in she Legislature is
not of nature a party question. 1t concerns
Democrats, as we'll as Republicans All classes,
all shades of politics, are equally interested in
securing Just and fair hearing in the legisla-
tive body of the State. The injustice and injury
now done to New Castle county, with more than
half her population virtually disfranchised, and
to the City of Wilmington which, with one fourth
the people OF the State, has but oae-thirieth OF
the membership of the Legislature are wrongs
inflicted upon men of all parties, and under
which all must alike groan.
But it is useless to deny that relief from these
burdens is likely to come from but one political
organization in Delaware. Equal Representa-
ton can be had Of the Republican Party, and it
cannot be expected, or even hoped for, from any
other. In this sense, it becomes party ques-
ton. In the light Of this fact, voting for DEM
ocratio candidates is voting against Equal Rep
resentation, and voting for other than Republic
can candidates would be, at the least, throwing
away the franchise.
We are ready with the proof of this. SO long
ago as 1866, six years in the past, the Republic
cans Of Delaware, in their State Convention, re-
solved in favor of the system of Equal Represen-
tation, both in the composition of their State
Conventions, and in the apportionment of the
Legislature. To that resolution, they have ad-
hered. 1t is the rule of their party, to-day. The
two Conventions of 1865 and the one of 1870,
were composed of delegates sent upon an accu-
rately ascertained apportionment according to
population. The Convention of the present
year will be thus constituted, tits only just that
it should be SO, and the Republican party is a
party of equal and exact justice.
On the other hand, the Democratic party main
tains, to this day, the most 1agrant and unrea-
sonable system of unequal representation, every
where - not only in the Legislature of which it
has had control for many years, but in its own
conventions. New Castle county sends to a
Democratic State Convention no more delegates
than Sussex or Kent, and Wilmington Hundred
sends no more than Red Lion Hundred 1t is
the party which worships, and hugs to its bo-
som, unequal representation. Its spirit has not
only had no divorce from that system, but it
seeks none. They are congenial and well ma
ted.
If the Democratic Party were not opposed to
giving the people proper hearing in the Legis-
lature, why has it taken no measures to secure
that result 1t had, lastyear unanimous vote
in both houses of the General Assembly Il
has had majority of that body, for twenty
years. 1t has never established Equal Repre-
sentation. Nay more, it has voted down pro
positions to establish it. In the House, at Do
yer, in February of last year, petition to givt
New Castle county membership in the Legala
tnre according to the numbers of her people
was referred to a special committee of three, Cal
Democrats, of course,) who reported That hel
deemed inerpedient to Jegislate on Tie subject ?
The House received and approved the report
And in the Senate, in March, day or two before
adjournment, proposition to so amend the
Constitution as to give New Castle county II
Representatives and Senators, Ga measure fall
ing far short of justice was voted down, Yeas
3, Nays G., the opposition being, of course, al
Democrats. Even partial measure like thi
could get onlyone third Of the Democratic mem
bers to sustain it
Such are the records Of the two parties. Ger
tainly no one can truthfully say that there il
ground, even for hope that the Democrats
party will establish Equal Representation. 1T
strength lies in the present atrocious and op
pressive system, Relief will come-and it onl,
can come-when that party is put out of power