Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1873-01-25

a DEFENCE OF HON POM NJ. CLAYTON AND
THE WHO'S BY KENT CoUNTIAN.

THE WIGS BY KENT CoUNTIAs.
Messrs. Editors Dear Sirs, | know not
what authority you have for the reiterated
assertion, In the columns of the STATE
Journal, that either the late Wing party
or Hon. John VI. Clayton, both alike now
numbered with the illustrious dead, respon-
sible in its day for the existing constitutional
laws of equal county Representations in the
Legislature but know that il is not true,
and that the history of the State and of
the constitution itself proves that il Is an
unjust reflection upon the vcnerated mem-
ory of each of them. The principle pre-
vailed in the legislative representation Of
the counties 40 ur6s condiia, ard existed
prior to, and at the commencement Of the
American revolution, under the sanction
and charter of William Penn, to the PEG
pie and freemen of his three lower counties
on De aware and the still more memora.
BILE and lllustrOus Wing party of 1776 was
the fret To incorporate It as Il provision
In the primitive constitution of the new
born STATE, adO.ted on the twentieth day
Of September in that year, just Two months
aud half aftri the Declaration of Amerl-
can Independence. And II was after
wards incorporated in the constitution Of
! 1909, and al-o IN the present constitution,
adopled ~ 1881 but on neither of the
occasions referred to, not even in 1881 was
the disparity in the population lu the
several counties of sufficient magnitude to
render it a matter of any consideration or
importance TO either Of them, and couse-
qlently there was no effort made 10 obtain
a mod hcatiou or alteration of it, and 1t
accordingly remained the same as In the
preceding constitution. The population of
New Castle county, and particularly OF
the city OF Wilmington, has, however,
greatly Increased, and In a much larger
ratio than 10 either Of the other two eoUn.
ties, In the meantime, until many persons
IN both Of them are now beginning to
recognize not only their right to bal the
growing necessity for some modification
of It as soon as tue people Of your county
and city are prepared to acquiesce In the
method Of accomplishing it. But they will
probably never consent TO give your city,
as proud az they are Of II and It's rapid
advancement In wealth aud population, to
merge In il the entire sovereignty OF this
little State even, until they are ready per.
haps 10 see the very name Of II sunk Into
that Of the Citg and STATE Of Wilmington.
Nevertheless, did not take up my pen
for the purpose Of adding so much on this
particular subject, as to admonibh You
that If certain political partlsans 10 your
ilk seek to shirk the Inevitable issue, or to
evade the Inevitable event which already
begins TO cast It's portentious shadow be
fore them, by falsely inslnuating or Ere.
tending that there was any provision IN
serted In The present constitution for the
purpose Of either preventing or retaining
it,as friends Of the measure IN your city OF
county will Promote or accelerate the
object in either Of the two lower counties
of the State by ludulging In the slightest
elimination Of Hon. John NJ. Clayton, OF
the late Wing party In connection with thG
matter. Yours respectfully,
A citizen OF KENT,
Dover, JAM 2ist, 1873