Wilmington daily commercial., 1875-03-06
A RADICAL MEASURE OF CHANGE UNsuP
PORTED BY GOOD REASONS.

80 Taulch CuhuSc tuc VI sho /
State as the division Of New Castle county, |
whose unity has now been maintained in harmo-
ny and prosperity, for nearly two hundred years,
should not be made without the strongest rea-
son. The arguments in its favor should not be
merely plausible they should be Irresistible.
In order to justify such step, it must be shown
that its results are of the highest Importance
and that they cannot be attained by less objec-
tonAble means.
Now let us consider the arguments for county
division. II they are not go cogent and so ire
sistible as we have described, the proposition to
divide must fall. First it is said that division
will settle the question of Equal Representation.
This is not true. 1t will not permanently dis
pose of the question, nor will the adjustment,
whether temporary or permanent, be sstisfac-
tory one The county OF Wilmington, pro
posed, would contain forty thousand people, the
county of New Castle, only twenty-five thousand,
yet each would have ten members of the Legis-
lature. This is not equal represention, and it
does not settle that question. 1t is not adjust
ment principle IN fact the principle of giving
equality Of voice in the Legislature is not con-
sidered at all. The rapid growth of the city of
Wilmington, in future, would still further in
crease the disproportion and magnify the impro-
priety of this PRESENCE to settle" question by
an expedient instead of principle
Nor would the adjustment now made be good
one. 1t would give ten members of the Legs-
lsture to Wilmington county. Who would elect
these ton members Naturally aud certainly the
vote Of this city. Their selection would be COLI
trolled here They would be the choice of such
political forces as Glanced at the moment
TO be in control of the city's patronage
and power The hundreds Of Brandy
wine and Christiana, whose united popuia-
lion Is less than one-third that OF Wilmington.
would be tied to the heel of the city. Is this
the adjustment desired? Is this what the peo-
pie of the hundreds want An increase of
representation has been again and again asked
for ION the district system" but this would be
the district system, with vengeance.
The second reason assigned is that it would
settle the Court House removal question. But
it would not. The records of the county would
remain at New Castle. The difficulty Of access
TO them would continue to exist. For years, it
would be necessary to go there TO consult them.
1t has been proposed to copy them, and the cost
has been estimated at d small sum. But
calculation carefully made by an officer
in the record Offices at New Castle shows tthat,
at seven cents folio, a very low price, the ex-
pense would be from forty thousand to tfty
thousand dollars Copying is then substantially
out OF the question, unless propose lavish
and reckless expenditure OF the peoples money,
and consequently greatly increased taxation,
and the difficulty remains almost as great as
ever, after division.
Thirdly, it il insisted that the Levy Court is
tyrsnnical and that division would open the
door for this city's escape from its oppresrions
We are taxed, it is said, for the bridges and
roads of the lower hundreds, while they refuse
to vote US the erection of the bridges which r-
need. Supposing this to be true. would it be
just to place Chrlstiana and Brandywine
under the complete control of Wilmington,
to be taxed for our bridges? On the Other
hand, is not the remedy for this difficulty o.
bridges ami roads easy one Let eeperate
taxes be collected for their construction and re.
pair, aud let this city spend her own and the
rural districts their own. Let us build what
bridges We need. and they may do the eame. /.
not this the proper remedy for the trouble al
legged 1t it the simple, ea-y, and direct one.
IIfhese are the three chief arguments for dlyi
sion Each instead Of being unanswerable. il
open to the most severe criticism. Instead Of
being strong all of them are iirnsy. The pro
posed division will settJe nothing. 1t is an at
tempt to produce results indirectly which should
be approached directly. 1t - making mistake
and committing wrong, upon the ground tina
thereby some other error or wrong is to be cured
II vii! make two county organizations, instest
OF one, for the people to support it will destro,
the simple of form the State as 1t has existec
so long and 80 happily it will greatly increas,
expenses and swell taxation; it wall place the in
terests OF Brandywine and Chiistlana completed,
atthe mercy of this city; and after all, it vii
not secure the results for which itz promoter
al ;ge they desire it.