Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1873-02-08
COUNTY DIVISI0 N,
The Meeting al Middletown - Another
Report Of its Proceedings

AbfeAN Va @h'
Pursuant TO call previously published,
a meeting Of citizens of New Castle county
without distinction of party, was held In
the Hall at Middletown on Thursday, the
30th inst, for the purpose OF considering
the proposed division of New Castle county.
As but few days notice of the meeting
had been given, the attendance was unex-
pectedly large and strongly Indicative Of
the interest felt in the question.
Many Of the most intelligent and infu-
ential citizens Of the county were present.
The meeting was called 10 order by
Robert A. Cochran, Esq, and organized
by the election Of Mr. Eli Blddle, Chair
man, and Edward Reynolds, Secretary.
The Chairman having stated the object
Of the meeting, George Gray, ESQ.,, Of
New Castle, offered series of resolutions
10 the effect that division of the county
would afford the only practicable aud sat-
isfactury solution Of the vexed questions
of presentation, Court house removal,
and the like, and therefore resolving That
New Castle county should be divided and
that committee of Eve persons be ap-
pointed by the meeting to prepare the ne
cessary constitutional amendment for that
DuIPubts hhu ray VIC shlhc btAJi0 WV NNh-
eral Assembly at Its present session.
Mr.. Gray supported his resolution by a
very clear, temperate and cJgent argument
of the questions involved. He stated that
there were but forly-fye counties in all the
Union havinga population rs large as that
of New Castle county, that for long
time the need of Increased representation
had been seriously felt, and especially since
the recent rapid increase Of Wilmington
in wealth and population that whilst all
men throughout the State recognized and
admitted that remedy should be applied,
still they were not agreed upon the exact
form of remedy that the long settled
habit of considering each county as OF
equal dignity In respect to Representations
had created and fostered strong terrific
rial prejudice and Jealousy against any
scheme of representation which would
make either county UNEQUAL to Its sister
county in this respect. Hence, that II was
necessary to form fourth county in order
to secure for this county, and especially
Wilmington, due representation that no
other plan afforded the slightest hope or
prospect of allaying and disarmlng the
sectional county feeling on the subieet, ,and
thus obtaining the cooperation OF hent
and Sussex in our favor. Wherefore, he
favored the proposed division. He added,
also, that the division would secure for
Wilmington the much coveted Court House
In conclusion he said tina. the apportion
ment of the county buildings and othel
property could be readily adjusted, as il
had been elsew here in such cases.
Mr.. Gray was followed by Samuel Town
send and Edwin r. Cochran, Esqs., anC
other gentlemen in support of the measure
On motion of MIR. Townsend the White
CLAY creek was made the dividing line
thus placing Mil Creek hundred in th'
upper county / and on his further moti31
the committee was raised to six persons.
The resolution, as amended, was theI
unanimously adopted.
: Whilst the cilizers Of the respectlv
hundreds were engaged In selecting IN
proper gentlemen TO compose the commit
tee to prepare the measure for legislatiy
action, Ignatus c. Grubb, Of Wilmington
offered the following preamble and resolu
! tion favoring an increase of representation
: for the city oil Wilmington;
WHEREAS. The increase of population an
} property in the city Of Wilmington makes
Inanifestly proper that New Castle count
and especially the city of Wilmington, shoul
have an increase Of representation and
, WHEREAS, This object should be hough
, in an amicable and practicable name
] therefore, -.
Resoiued, That we deem it proper that II
{ General Assembly, at its present sesslo
: should make the necessary provision Tor
!. curing 70 New CASTLE county four senate
and nine Representatives IN the Lcgislatu
D OF this State, three of which Senators Al
Il seven Of which representatives shall be vot'
= for only by the qualified voters OF the sever
4 Hundreds outside of Wilmington ana u
u additional one of which Senators shall
u voted for at large by the qualified voters
Il the city of Wilmington only, aud the ado
S tionly two of which Representatives shall
: voted for as follows One BY the said vote
OF the First Assessment District, and u
other by the said voters of the Second Asses
q ment District OF WILMINGTON.
In support of his resolution MIR. Grut
% remarked that it was useless to deny tn
$ the question of increased representatlC
l. now exercised d potent influence over u
citizens Of Wilmington. That they keen
: felt the need Of representative in u
'e Senate Of the State to guard and adyoca
a their interests iu that body. That the
e, varied industries, valuable property al
ii large population were affected for good
s. i'll by wise or bad legislation touching the
IT especially in the exercise of the taxi
h power. I hat the principle Of "no taxati'
without representation" was greylous
;, violated by the present total exclusion
es Wilmington from the Senate. That
I'd order to have their vast interests sery
e and protected it was necessary that lh
re should have representation in no
~ branches at the earliest day. That Il
d, could be accomplished by the act of
Id single session of the Legislature, viii
IN the division of the county would requi
)" the action of two successive Legislature
ly and The three-fourths vote of the secO
ot Legislature at that.
u. He argued that 1t was possible this W
might never be obtained, aud hence t
proposed division of the county fail.
showed how By the plan proposed IN
H. resolution the necessary three fOHrths yt
% might surely be obtained and the prOpos
In division secured.
90 He therefore called upon the citizens
er lower New Castle county to disprove t
u charge that they We're hostile to Wilmin
il ton, by adopting his resolution and urgl
" the Legislature 10 carry it into effect.
ne Said he, Wilmington wants an lnerea
nd of representation at once. The feeling
'ic gathering force there and will in I'll
ID. burst all barriers.
a The time will come when all Of us SD
10 be compelled to heed it. Let us do 1t wi
lis out compultion. Give Wilmington I
or resolution calls for.
ed 1t will suffice for her pressing needs q
nd will allay the unpleasant feelings VIII
no. have been engendered. In return let
bt withdraw her influence in the election
,at your representatives nominated from
.nt agricultural districts of the county.
,is her vote only within her own limits
"a her own men who properly represent
he commercial and manufacturing inlere'
wv whilst your .agrculturists vote only
fnl YOUR own men who represent your o
peculiar interest which are essentla
nd different from hers.
he This will practically be a division of
az county, and division secured, too, wi
he out delay and uncertainty. OF coui
He this is only temporary, and merely prel
80 iuary, and intended to be auxiliary to
ZEN proposed division of the county. In
no. there is mutual benefit, and on this p
il form we can mutually stand and unit'
his asking Kent and Sussex 10 concede
1ot trihing an addition of representation
no favor Of New Castle county, aud in uIg
cd. the Legislature TO carry it into immedi
led effect.
nd In conclusion, Mr.. Grubb explained t
niv he did not assume to speak for Wilmi
,na ton, or 10 express the views of her CitizC
lge lie merely spoke for himself, and with
nie view OF giving his own ideas on the ye
il question before the meeting in conn
She with other gentlemen.
in Upon the conclusion of his remarks
ed. Samuel Townsend rose TO oppose the r.
ced luton, and with more or less (rai
md more, perhaps, than lsss) graphic and
ted orous "SaIon" denounced the 'Wl
hat thing as a Wilmington trick TO gobble
i'm AppOquinimiuk hundred' specially
son the rest of mankind generally. Mr.. To
a.. a. a.at.l .lal1 :