Middletown transcript., 1875-02-06
For the Transcript.
Increase Of Representation.

Increase OF representation q
The minds Of the people are exer-
cised over many questions now before
the Legislature. and yet to be present.
ed; the most important Of which is in
creased Representation. How to best
accomplish this, and yet be secure in
all points Of adjustment. Nearly every
one has an opinion on the subject.
Some have more opinions than others.
VIM. Dean has expressed his views in
letters, petitions, &C., and goes so far
as to say be feels only half man. Well.
for half man William kicks round
considerably, and makes more noise on
less assets than any two other whole
men in the county or State. But does
he state facts? If he will examine the
census Of 1870, he will find that, when
a member Of the Legislature, he was
sent from one Of the smallest Hundreds
in the State, both in area and popula-
ton, and he will farther find, that while
N. G. Co. has ten hundreds and seven
Representatives, Sussex county has
thirteen hundreds (six Of which contain
more population than White Clay Greek
and twice as many acres,) has also
seven Representatives, while in Kent
county there's only one hundred con-
tanning as small population as White
Clay Creek. Hence the deduction is,
that if Mr.. Dean had looked into au-
thorities and statistics, before writing
bis epistles, he would have either not
written them, or else would have writ
ten more truthfully and consistently.
It is true, as county, that New Castle
is numerically greater than Kent and
Sussex counties combined. but it is also
true, that Wilmington Hundred and
City alone. contain this excess; that
outside the city limits, the hundreds of
New Castle, Kent and Sussex counties.
show fair average Therefore, New
Castle county must deal justly with
herself and her own people before she
can with any propriety charge Kent
and Sussex with dealing unfairly with
her. For instance, let this half man,
Mr.. Dean, get up petition to increase
the Levy Court Of New Castle county
ten members, giving to Wilmington
her just proportion, and see how many
persons outside Of the Republican camp
would endorse his views. The fact is.
Wilmington meets with more political
opposition from the hundreds south of
the Christiana river, in New Castle
county. than she does from Kent and
Sussex both. Nevertheless, it is true
as a whole, New Castle county has not
her fair share Of Representation in the
Councils of the State, but if man re-
siding in White Clay Greek hundred,
whose population in 1870 was 262O. is
but half man. with one Levy Court
Commissioner what pro rata of man
is be who resided in Wilmington Hun
dred, with one Levy Court Commits
siener) whose population is 35, 900?
New Castle county should have more
representation, but the increase should
be confined solely to Wilmington Hun
dred. She is the only hundred suffer-
ing any inequality IN representation,
and the only hundred in the State that
has right to complain and has she a
right to complain? Has the manage
ment Of her municipal affairs. by the
dominant faction, been of such char
acter as to induce the honest masses of
the State to increase her privilege? Is
it not a fact, that while the State and
county, in the hands Of Democratic Of
icials, have steadily reduced their in
debtedness. that the city Of Whining
ton, controlled by the Radicals of the
Kellogg stripe, have as steadily issued
new bonds increasing the city's liabili-
ties, whilst the city taxes in proportion
to the county and State combined, is as
three to one? Is it not further fact
that. while the rural districts hold free
and fair elections, the city Of Whining
ton has been prolific in importations Of
worthless negroes, Republican pets,
with whose aid, no matter how wrong
fully obtained, she has controlled New
Castle county? She has done this in the
past, and if her representation should
be increased to sufficient numbers. Will
mington would SO far control the ballot
Of this State that the recent acts in
Louisiana with all their atrocities tight,
nay would, be enacted ID Delaware
Wilmington should. under a better
condition of affairs, have more repre-
sentation, but first let her deserve it;
let her honest masses rise up and con-
sign to political oblivion the apologists
for Grant and his thieving horde of
office-bolders for Sheridan and his
dastardly acts at New Orleans; for
Kellogg, for Clayton, for Butler, &C.,
aud avow herself in favor Of the chart
cred rights and privileges Of the whole
people, and respect them accordingly.
Let her manifest an honest spirit in full
accord with the Declaration Of Ipdepen-
dence, and full determination to do
nothing but what is just to all men,
and then will the time come to increase
her representation, but with the daily
acts Of the Republican party staring
the people of Delaware in the face they
would be wickedly foolish to open any
door whereby this faction, fraudulently
dominant in Wilmington. should get
any chance to override and destroy the
results of honest labor in Delaware.
APPOINTMENTS.
Feb. 8, 1875.