Wilmington daily commercial., 1875-03-15
MIR. spRUANCEs ADDRESS.

The speech Of Ar. Spruance was the chief fea-
ture OF the meeting at the Institute, on Saturday
evening. Mr. O'Byrne followed with some skim
milk satire Ieveled at Col. Whiteley and Mr..
Higgins, and Mr.. Rodney, Qhe prudent Gray
not putting in an appearance,) made what
the newspapers are apt to call ga few brief re-
marks"
Mr.. Spruanoe made long and rather tedious
argument. which we do not need to recite in full,
large part Of it having already been sufficient
ly reviewed and answered in our columns. His
recitation of the wrongs suffered by the people
Of this county under unequal representation
was strong and energetic though it is
nothing new, and is not now sub
ject in dispute, everybody agreeing
that so grievous an i'll needs remedy. The
real point at issue is whether we ought to petit
ton for that remedy which Of all that may be
applied is most Objectionable. Upon this point,
Mr.. Spruance stumbled. 1t is the fatal defect
in his case. The fact being that the Legislature
has penary power to grant remedy that will
satisfy all and offend nole, Mr.. Spruance never
theless joins Messrs Bates, Grubb, and Croas-
dale in insisting that we shall choose from among
the several methods Of cure that to which
majority of the people entertain the strongest
objection. When the Legislature may satisfy
everybody,we are bidden to ask them to dssatis-
fly the bulk of the people
Let us observe the reasoning upon which this
suggestion proceeds. We are hidden to petition
for county division, because its engineers de-
clare that the Legislature will not grant a Just
measure Of relief in any other way. They de-
scribe the Legislature, (and some of their
speeches, il printed perbdtim would be rare
reading for the members from Kent and SUSSEX,
as 80 deaf to all considerations of justice that
it will refuse any adequate increase of repre-
sentation, unless it is made by dividing the
county. They represent that the members are
unreasonable and unfair men, who, having con-
troll of the State by the unequal apportionment
of the Legislature will not equalize the repre-
sentation in any way but this. Consequently
we are told that we must beg and pray to have
our redemption from bondage granted with this
condition of dividing the county.
Now who authorized this statement as to the
Legislatures disposition and purpose? The
Legislature did not for it has taken no vote on
the question, and has had no opportunity, by
any formal method, to signify its mind. The
gentlemen who have been lingering in It's lob
bes may think they know its disposition, but we
submit that it il unreasonable to attempt to dra-
goon the people OF New Castle county into an
expensive, violent, and unacceptable measure
simply because three or four gentlemen who have
been to Dover think that nothing else can be OBJ
tanned.
Here, we say, in the fatal weakness of Mr..
Spruance's case. He describes the wrong of
our Misrepresentation, and then he insists on its
remedy by plan whose chief support is the as
serton that it is the only relief that this Legis
lature will grant
Suppose, for a moment, that the Legislature
i'd so bigoted as the engineers of Division repre-
sent. Suppose that the members from Kent
and Sussex having the control of the State in
their hands, mean to keep it, right or wrong.
Admitting this is it possible that they will give,
even with division, as many members above
Duck Creek as they have themselves below
that line? If they make two counties out of
New Castle, with ten members each, they will be
granting away that very control which the ell
gneers of Division tell us they mean to keep
Is it not, therefore, most reasonable to conclude
that We have had inaccurate word from the lob
bies, and that when we are hidden to take Divi-
sion or nothing, it means only the latter
The concluding portion of Mr.. Spruance's ad-
dress upon the cost of county buildings, con-
tanned singular defect. He has included in
his estimate of Wilmington county's assets VII
mtngton city's property. He doesn't suppose,
we hope, that the cityis going to give this away
The City Council offered some of it as all in
ducement to have the seat of Justice of the mi
ted county located here, but if this is to be diyi-
ded, the new county buildings will be put here,
of course, and our city taxpayers have sufficient
burden, we should say, not to be throwing
away their property i'll presents to parties who
have no claim upon it. The new county would
have to take case of itself, of course, and the
idea that the city would waste its valuable reser-
voir grounds, public squares, Sc. i'll the way
suggested would be met no doubt, by general
derison, if it came to a practical issue. Per-
haps, indeed, to prevent grievous waste.
an injunction could be asked for-an object and
proceeding with which Mr.. spruance is not nm
familiar.
Mr. Spruance referred to the separation of
Wicomco county from Somerset and Worcester