Wilmington daily gazette., 1874-07-06
Mr.. Lofland's inoompetency.

The State Sentinel desires TO say something to
encourage the Radical party to stand by the Del
aware "Congressmau" In the Lower itoxse. But
it tuds this an up hill business. 1t, however
gets off paragraph which we copy, 1, shows
that Mr.. Lofand is very unfortunate and very
unpopular with the white people, while II does
not prove that he has gained any popularity with
the black people-having voted both ways on the
Civil Rights Bill and voted to ilx his pay at high
rate and dodged the bill to repeal the salary grah
Of course his conduct is roundiy censured, lhe
Sentinel states in the following:
"Our representative in Congress- Col. James
Il. Lofand, 10 q wel-abused man. No can
deny this. Do what he will. he gets nothing for
1t but blame, from his political opponents. II he
does not vote, he is blamed for that Ii lie hap
pens to be abeent when q vote is taken in the
House. he is called to account for the absence. II
be goes home, at any time, Oh visit to his fami-
~, he Is censured for IL and he Is now censured
because somebody thinks he has found phrase,
used by the representative In his speech, which is
lobe found in somebody else's speech"
We must differ with the Sentinel. We do not
understand that a representative in Congress is
"abused" when bis official cosrsc is objected 10
as not being in accordance with wisdom and that
policy which the people Of his State demands al
his hands. The Sentinel knows that Mr.. Lofand
voted very seldom in Congress and tha. he Is on
10th sides OF important questions. How, there
fore, was it possible for him to escape censuree
HE record is actually weaker than that of any
Representative within our recollection. The six
thousand dollar salary bill was carried by one
vote and Mr.. LELAND voted for it but when that
was rejected by the s hate and a bill came to
the House reduc ny the salary To the old pay Of
T. 900 Mr.. I.onaud dodged. His was the only
vote of the Delaware delegation that was not
given in accordance with the wishes of the peo-
pls Of his Slate.
When Butler called up the Senate Civl Rights
Bill with view to pnt it on its passage Mr.. Lof-
] lind's voie was recorded in favor of the motion
1t was defeated by six votes. Had Batter sue
csed that bill could have been passed, even with
must have known this. lie, therefore, did what
he could TO have the Civil Rights Bill passed and
Gully voted not to take it up when he knew his
vote would not avail. And THIS is the plea that
Le sad his friends now make 10 the negroes
They demand the reason why lie voted against the
bill and are informed thst Lofand saw OF knew
that his vote wonld not make up the necessary
t~o'ILirds, and therefore he hoped 10 make him
self popular with the white people al home by
voting TO leave the Civil Rights Bill where il
could not b. reached until the next session, and
the election will then be oser. II will then vote
for its adoption, no doubt. lie must do this or
oppose the policy of the Republican patty in the
House, where, ont of lG9 Republicans only about
a bakers dozen voted not TO take up the bill.
Had it not been for the Sc Democrats in that
House the Senate Civil Rights Bill would have
Teen a law to-day, and The negroes would have
been III our public schools, or the whole public
school system which it has taken forty years TO
build up would have been crushed. MIR. Leland
tnds that the negro votes in Delaware are neces-
sary TO keep him and his party in power and lac
will vote for the Civil Rights Bill 10 secure these
votes. Let our white people show by their votes
tnat they appreciate their schools more than a
inero partizan triumph.