The daily gazette., 1877-01-13
Letter from samuel Townsend.
For the Delaware Gazette.

For the Delaware Gazette.
Mr.. EDITOR: i see by the published
proceedings Of the Legislature, that
proposition for Delaware Work House
has been introduced by Mr.. Bird. |
think good deal of Mr.. Bird and there
fore ask him and the friends of this mea-
sure to stop and ponder on this matter.
Delaware has so far stuck to the plain
common sense remedies for small grade
villains, the pillory and whipping post.
Now it is proposed to add or supercede the
pillory and whipping post by building
work House, and one hundred thousand
dollars is asked for to build said institu-
ton. Taking past experience in appro-
priations and buildings it would cost at
least 100000 dollars, and the interest on
that sum yearly would be $1,000 dollars,
and % managers, superintendent, fire
men and laborers would cost about 500
600, and then add $4,000 as interest OIL
building and you have grand total OF
$35, 900 per year and thrown another ele
ment into politics--the patronage of this
said work house. Now what classes will
this work house effect? Farmers cannot
be put to work for you cannot raise corn,
wheat, grass or fruit, or dairy business
you cannot put ship builders, butchers
and many other tradesmen to work.
Then this great expensive work house is
to be used L suppose for shoemakcrs,
tailors. tin smiths, weavers, &C., and
every article that this said work house
comes in direct contact against the same
articles made outside by men who have
to pay for their own and their family'S
board and rent, therefore you build at
great expense house, and buy ma
chinery and fill it with lazy bummers,
and tax the people to feed them to run
opposition, undersell and break down
honest mechanics who manufacture the
same articles you make in your work
house. The buriness of this country is
deranged, politics is deranged. We wers
promised when Congress met on the first
of December the Presidential difficulty
would be satisfactorily adjusted. After
waiting six weeks, and during that time
learned Senators, Representatives, Judges,
lawyers and doctors have talked enough
over the matter to make sixteen millions
of volumes or more, and we are appar
emily no nearer fair, amicable settle
ment than we were six weeks ago, and if
you Delaware Legislators have more
money in the treasury than you know
what to do with, you had better let work
house alone and adjourn for six weeks
and go home, for really there is no use OF
your presence now at Dover. We have
more laws now than any similar number
of population have anywhere under the
sun. AT the end of six weeks it may be
possible that any funds then on hand may
be needed to put arms in these mems
hands. You propose to build woi k
house for political matters are in an ex
tremely unsettled condition and do not.
believe the people of Delaware are much
disposed to bother with Delaware Legis-
lation. especially as we have enough Of it
already to last until the Presidential mat
ter is satisfactorily settled, therefore |
hope the Legislature will re-elect Eli
Salisbury, and adjourn and go home un
til the people will be in a better mood to
listen to their new law programmes, &c.
SAMUEL TOWNSEND.
Townsend Jan. 18th, 1877