Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1875-03-18
COUNTY DIVISION.
Meeting AZ Institute Han.


ONLY ONE sIDE or THE CASE ARGUED" FREE
| SPEECH" FOR DIVISION, BUT NOT Al INsT-AD
DRESS OF WILLIAM G. srRuANcE, EsQ, AND 9TH
ERs.
| 1t is proper to say, first, that the meet
ing at Institute Hall Oh Saturday evening, was
large one, the Hall being very well dl|ed. Blu
it may be said with equal truth that H>wAs
gathering of little comfort to " managers
Whatever Of unsnimity Of tselid there WAS i,
favor Of division seemed u tha e
where the leading spirits Ii ID
and seizing control Of the n 81
start conducted it to the cl1 Cry
thusasm was manifest, lliS amdd
veins Of the speakers than their arguments ii
| favor OF separation. As Il manipulation Of publ,
sentiment in the direction OF division, which wa,
the sole purpose for which tho meeting WA
| called,i was an absolute failure. as the seqne
| will show, and OF which tile originstors them
selves were evidently fully impressed.
The ORGANIZATION.
Promptly at o'clock organization was effect
| cd by calling William Reynolds to the chair, who
proceeded to state the object Of the meeting,
interspersing his remarks with frequent "we's,
| meaning th3 Dividers, Of course, and referring
70 we as the originator Of the meeting, there
by revealing its true character. The following
vice Presidents we're chosen, all of whom were not
present on the stage or in the meeting. W. 8. Nc
Cauley. Chas. B Lore, G. Hill Brinton, J. Brad
ford, W. Bush, Patrick MCCARTHY Jn5. Townsend,
=. Bancroft, Jr, John Given, E. Belts, Preston
Lea and Edward Bringhurst. Walter Cumn
motion a. van o hsa%g SsGs ses elected Ss %
Cd the movN, J. Park Postles and Preston Lea
committee on resolutions, during whose ab.
sence VIM. G. Spruance, ESQ.,, was introduced.
Mr.. spruance occupied considerably more than
one hour in his speech, the first part of which
resolved itself into
THREE PROPOSITIONS,
being the reasons which have heretofore been
assigned why the county should be divided, viz /:
l. Because Of the inequality Of representation,
showing this both in population and in wealth
O. Because it will secure increased facilities for
the administration Of justice, celebrating the
many advantages which he claimed would flow
from the location Of the county buildings in the
city. 5. Because it will secure what we have not
nova just and fair division of the county taxes.
In the discussion Of this proposition, Mr. Spruance
dwelt at some length upon the manner in which
the amounts raised by the city were expended in
tho hunareds. Claiming that it was sometimes ap-
Piled In violation OF law, as in certain improve
ments the hundreds are required to undertake
them by the expenditure Of their own taxes, but
instead Of this they draw the necessary amounts
from the county fund.
That portion OF Mr.. Spruance's speech which
was Of greatest interest was his reference to the
cost OF division and his ideas OF the
SOURCE OF REVENUES
| with which the expense shall be bcrhc. He
| claimed that new court house will soon be
needed for the county because Of the lack Of ac-
commodation which the present one affords both
for the records and the faclitation Of the county
business, and inquired il the people Of Whining
ton were willing to erect it at New Castle, assert
ing that such would have to be done unless the
county should be divided. Kent county, he said.
had just built new court house. at cost OF
s3G, 900, which is ample for either Wilmington OF
New Castle counties. With its previously erect.
cd fre-proof building for records the present
value OF the building is fis, 900, and he was sure
for $4,000 Wilmington county might erec,
| such q court house as is needed, with ample
room for records, etc. For an additional S25,
900 city building might, he said, be added to it
and for s25, 1000, more than the cost Of the pres
ent Jail at New Castle, suitable prison could b,
secured, Or 4100, 900 in all.
TIE COUNT AsAsss =
with which he would erect these buildings b.
stated II fel'ows, placing AL estimate Of $50, 90
upon tho almshouse property, which he though
the lower county would concede to Wilmington
If the latter would transfer its right in the pres
ent county buildings. Jail aud tho Hare's Corne
| farm to the former tho 9Th street square, $50,
600; the City Hall property, $4,000 The basil
lot at 10th and Market, S7O,00O-in all $3.50, 900
enough to erect the county buildings aud pa,
out clear the whole expense Of division. Thl
Court house he would erect at 10th and Market
and the jail tho 8th street lot, further bacl
on the hill. between which he would have
"blsck maria" established, 90 as to avoid th'
pestilence Of the city hall cells and place tbt
prison outside the limit Of habitstion.
THE COUNTY RECORDS.
he thought, might be amicably disposed OF b!
the appointment by the Legislature Of Com
mission (for he claimed there would be mucl
| 10 perfected) which shall inspect the records
and apportion to whichever Of the two countie
those parts which shall have the greatest inter
est in the same, while for hens he would limi
| their validity TO five years, after which the,
should cease to have force. The cost OF copyini
the records he thought had been exaggerated
and as for the idea that the copies would hsv'
no binding effect he thought it an absurd prop
| osition in the face Of enActments by Congress b
which copies Of records In one State are mad
evidence in any other State, and our every-da
experience in regard to probated wills, &c.
TIE RESOLUTIONS.
Upon the conclusion Of Mr. Spruance's speec
the Committee on Resolutions reported the FOL
lowing:
WHEREAS, A proper increase of represents
ton from New Castle county in tho General Az
sembly Of the State is justly demanded by q
classes OF cltl2enB
AND WHEREAs, There is an urgent necessit
for seat Of Justice with increased Court facil
ties in the city Of Wilmington
AND WHEREAS, 1t is the right Of the citizen
OF ths State 70 have submitted to them til
question whether the division Of New Castl
county will not best accomplish these desirsbl
ends therefore
Resolued, That We request the General Assem-
bly, to pass an act proposing o constitution
amendment for the division Of Now Castle couI
ty to the end that the people may have the OF
portunity to discuss and vote upon the came
the next general election.
"oAo."
AT this point IN the proceedings the ohsirna
advanced to the front OF the stage and eXtende
general invitation to any one present to ''spes
to the resolutions" when a number Of cal
were made throughout the room for "Lemon
LEMON" referring, of course, to Mr.. d.
yid Lemon, an opponent OF dlvisio
during Mr.. Spruance's address, whom the chai
man very coolly remarked ''that as the opp
nents Of county division had no prepared spea
ere present suppose they abandon the discu
sion," thus cutting Oh the privilege Of Mr.. Len
on or any one else from speaking, whit
bold movement an attempted conversion
! tre meeting into one.sided affair. Thus vi
Stree speech made not free, and even b,
there been any one present who desired to rep
W euy PO1Hto Au tho PioSSuhe pPcSSu WV
would hardly have departed from the proprie
Of the occasion and done so.
Before the Introduction Of the next speak G
Mr.. Geo. W. Wells arose and offered the ft
, lowing
AMENDMENT TO THE RESOLUTIONS
WHEREAS, We have been for years suderil
from the injustice Of taxation without represe
3 tation;
AND WHEREAS, Under the present coastru
: ton OF the Legislature there is no hope Of r.
: dress, therefore
) Be IL Resolcei, That the people of New Ca
0 tie county are requested to sign q petition 81
: ting forth their grievances aud asking the &c
4 eral Congress to give the Sta te OF Delaware
Republican form Of Government, and that Il
, chair be authorized to appoint a committee
{ draw up the petition.
i This was wholly unexpected and created 30,
h surprise, the chairman at first ruling the reso
{ ton out Of order, but after an explanation Of
8 manner OF its presentation 1t was entertain,
d and laid aside for action with the other reso
tions.
mo. H. RODNEY, EsQ.,
Q then briefly addressed the meeting, the au
" ence in the meanwhile beginning to thin O
:, saying that he had come ali the way from N,
u Castle over bad roads to express bis sympat
with the movement for division. He said Il
ther that the consnmmation Of tie measure
only question Of time, and that this is but
entering wedge to separation.
II JOHN oBYRSE, ESQ,
$ was the las, speaker, and delivered hims
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