Wilmington daily commercial., 1873-01-02
WILMIYGT0E, DKL.
Thursdav Afternoon, January 2.
SHALL WE NOR ASK THE QUICKEST AVAIL
ARLE RELIEFf

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ABLE RELIEF
II Eue,y Eveniag sincerely wishes to aid the
movement for Equal Representation, it moves
by strange courses. Does 1t desire no heiorn'
unless it bosses the job ?"
We complain Of the obvious wrong done the
cause Of the people by attempting to estabilsh
for moment any doubt Of the ability OF the
Legislature TO increase the representation In
that body, and at the same time equAlize 1t. The
language Of the Constitution is plain. We Will
quote 1t, that all may read. Article II, Section
2 declares
aThere shall be- seven representatives
g chosen in each county, U'ltd a greater number
"of representatives shall by1se General Assembly
mbe j,ldqed necessary !: and ae'a two-thirds Of
teach branch OF the Legislature concurring'
they may by lao make prouision for n'creds-
"ing 1te same"
Section 8, relating to Senators, and immediate
IL following the above, has precisely similar
purport, with these words added
Hbut the number Of Senators shall never be
"greater, than one-half, nor less than one-third
uof the number Of representatives"
This last qualification being observed, the pow
or Of the Legislature it will be seen, is ample to
accomplish the desired reform. The number
of Representatives and Senators may be =" in
creased" and increased, Of course, in such man
ner as will be equal and Ijust, conforming TO
the principles Of Republican government.
This ia |. view, entertained, it must be under
stood. by the members OF the Bar, and we be-
lieve by the Bench, in this end of the State, and
while there are those who question it, their de-
sire to draw from the language Of the Constitu-
tion meaning which would prevent the equal
izinR Of Representation is undoubtedly 70 be at
tributed to an anxiety to defeat tholreforiKi
Certainly, the clauses quoted encourage no sueh
opinion except in q willing mind
Now. il we must wait for the constitutional
Conyention-whose assembling, for many other
reasons is eminently to be desired-the process If
tedious indeed. Let us name the method proVi'
ded by the Constitution. First, this Legislature
can call a special election, which can be held on
the third Tuesday Of May, next. The people
then vote for or against Convention, but there
must be, in order to have one, not only major
ity of the votes then cast, but "a majority o. al
the citizens IN The Sdte, and the number OF these
is to be ascertained by taking the highest vote
cast in the State at any one OF the last three gen
eral elections Thus, there might be maJori-
ty, at the May election, in favor OF Con
yention, but il it we're not more than half
the greatest vote polled in the State in the
last six years, the call would be defeated Sup
posing, however, this majority to be obtained
the matter then rests until the meeting OF the
next Legislature, in January, 1875, and that
body proceeds to make the call for the Conven-
tion. It might assemble, perhaps Ii the
Autumn Of that year, ror the Summer would
not suit the farmers, and conclude its work, be-
fore the coming ia Of 1876.
This is the process Of redress by Conven'
tion. why wait for it Why find construction
in the Constitution not apparent upon its face
and which s, at best, in opposition to the we'll
understood principles of our government Is
it not the duty Of every one who sincerely de
Hires the equalizing Of representation to press
for that measure Of relief which will secure 1t
most promptly and most easily? Is it not safe
to leave to the opponents Of reform the tasf
OF finding objections, and throwing obstacles IL
the wayI
1t is said in Ersry Ecening, that it does no
believe any Court would sanction the con
struction which Qawyers think) is obvious OF
the face Of the clauses quoted from Article II
We believe Just the contrary. But even suppos'
they did not What Court can control the oper
ations of the General Assembly, in respect Il
that which the Constitution explicitly places il
the General Assembly's CHARGE 1t is provided
(Article II, Section 6,) that
Each House shall be the judge OF the elec
tions, returns, and qualifications OF its owl
" members.n
We wish to say, very distinctly, that go ia
a. the efforts Of this paper are concerned, W
desire nothing more than to express and repre-
sent the objects Of the people. They wish 70
Justice we see our duty in helping them
They want q Constitutional Convention, t
effect many much-needed reforms, but tina
is slow process, and they ask the Legislature
on its part, to grant such quicke
redress Of grievances as is within the power o
that body. Generalization Of the public pul
pose ought to come from no quarter and W
shall be sorry to conclude that Erery Erenin.
protesting at times go warm a sympathy wit
Equal Representation, means now to COW dii
trust and disturb the harmonious efforts of thos
who pray for Justice.