The daily gazette., 1876-02-01
From the Jacksonville (Miss) Press.
Letter from DeLds0dre.

NEW CASTLE, DEL., Dec. lO, 20,
Editors Jacksonville Press:
Delaware is, with the exception of
Rhode Island, the smallest State in the
Union. She was one of the original
thirteen; was not laggard in deciding
for freedom and independence and
was the first of the States to ratify the
Constitution of 'S7.
Three counties-New Castle, Kent
and Sussex - compose the State; of
which, the fret named contains more
than half of the population, and a still
larger proportion of improved, taxable
properly-which is largely due to the
fact that, Wilmington, city of 40, 900
inhabitants, the seat of the most varied.
and some of the largest manufactures
in the United States, is therein To-
Gated.
" Ask why God made the gem SO small
And why SO huge the granite.
Because God meant mankind should set
The greater value on it."
Although dwarfed in stature, by
comparison with her "huge" sister to
the North of her, and denied many of
the metallic, mineral and other natural
resources with which most of the lar
ger rcommonwealths have been blessed,
her history, from first to last, shows
that she has ever been able to furnish,
in ample proportion, to the query Of
the poet
"What constitutes State?"
his appropriate reply in the person of
her children,
"Men, hlgh-minded man."
Indissolubly linked with the inltia-
tory movements-as entreaty for JUS
tice, protest against wrong, and earn
est warning of resistance to oppression
which eliminated in the immortal
declaration, and eventuated in the
triumph of glorious revolution, and
the establishment of the independence
of the States, are the names of Rod
ncy, Reed, Bayard, Bassett, Bedford
and others, whilst the pages of history
which recount the heroic deeds of
war, are emblazoned by the names of
Haslctt and Hall, and are illumined
with especial effulgence by those of
"the company of Delaware, under the
brave Kirkwood, to aohom," says Gen
cral Uighthorse) Henry Lee, In his
"Memoris." "none, could be superior"
1t is an indisputable fact, that little
Delaware, in her Rodneys, Reeds, Bay
ards, Claytons, etc., has ever contribu-
ted her full quota Of patriotism, cour-
age, talents and craftsmanship to the
councils of the Republic; and full well
is it known that nothing but the small
political influence of the State, because
of her diminutive proportions and in
considerable population, has kept some
of them from reaching that highest
station in the gift of the people, to
which their great abilities and valua.
die services entitled them-the Presi-
dency.
Tho unusual degree to which high
order of intellectual capacity has been
transmitted from parent to child,
through as many as four generations,
in the Adams family of Massachusetts,,
has often been the subject of remark;
but that instances, similar in kind and
degree, have occurred in at least three
Delaware families, is not so generally
known.
OF the Rodneys, after Caesar signer
of the Declaration of Independence,
and prominent member of the cont
mental Congress-came Caesar A. ,vho
was distinguished Senator in Con-
gress, and United States Attorney Gen
eral: Daniel, who served with ability |
in both Houses of Congress, aud was, |,
also, Governor of this State; George |
b., who, with no less ability and dis.
tinction, served two terms in the lower
House of Congress, and, withdrawing |
from public life, devoted himself ex-
clusively to the profession of law, and
reached, and still holds leading DO.
sition therein, and John f., who, |
though young man, gives abundant
evidence that the reputation of his |
family, now, in large degree left to
mis- keeping, will not suffer thereby.
OF the Reeds, succeeding George.
the signer of the Declaration, and a |
distinguished member of the Continen |
tai Congress, are George, jr. ,one of the |
ablest lawyers and most eloquent ad- [
vocates who has ever practiced law in
this State; then George and VIM. T.,
both gentlemen of uncommon ability |
and fine culture, eminent at the bar,
but who neither aspired to, nor held |
pablo stations. The exhibition of |
talents in this family, has not been re-
stricted to the male lire, for Miss Ma |
rian Reeves, (Fadette) daughter, and
q granddaughter of the last George,
nave, each as author, added Iustre to
a distinguished name. Wearithorn,
one of the sweetest of Miss Reeves
stories is about to be dramatized for,
and to be put upon the staAe by the
celebrated Maggie Mitchell.