The daily gazette., 1877-01-02

quickening their sense of responsibility,
and preparing them to appreciate more
highly the value of popular education and
TO aspire after higher standards. The
compulsory, system may make good sub
jects for arbitrary governments, but the
other will better fit men for the duties and
responsibilities of free citizens.
| i ought not to leave this subject with
| out bearing testimony to the fidelity and
efficiency with which the State Superin-
Itendent has performed his very responsi-
BILE euties. These, in their whole range,
are severely onerous and engrossing, esI
tpeeially so from the necessity of an an
nual visitation to each school, which
must be made within the season when
the schools are in operation. These wish
| tations, to be of lasting benefit, should
be deliberately made, SO as to bring each
school, its condition, methods Of instruc-
/ ton and necessities under careful lnspec-
ton by the Superintendent, enabling him
to give considerate advice and to bring
himself into sympathy with the teachers.
believe the requirements OF the present
llaw have been fulfilled as efficiently and
usefully as can be done by one officer
alone. .H
The Annual Report of the State Su-
perintendent contains much valuable in
Formation, the circulation of which
would be highly useful in making the
people familiar with the condition, pros
poets and necessities of their schools,
and exciting an interest in their well
fare and efforts to improve them.
therefore recommend that the State
Board of Education be authorized to
compile such information as they may
deem important, and have the same
printed in convenient form and circulated
in the school districts.
THE BOUNDARY QUESTION.
Since the last session of the General
Assembly the Fishery controversy" has
been renewed between this State and
the State of New Jersey, involving the
Jurisdiction of the respective States over
that portion of the Delaw are river lying
| within "the compass or circle of twelve
miles about the town of New Castle" to
low water mark on the New Jersey
| shore.
On the 2Sth of March, 1871, the Gener-
al Assembly passed an act declaring it
| unlawful for any person, not being a
lc itiZen of this State, to catch or take fish
| of any kind in Delaware Bay or river, or
| any of the creeks emptying into the
same, within the limits of this State
without first paying twenty dollars, for
| the use of the State, to the Clerk of the
Peace for one of the counties, for an an
nual license therefor, A Supplement to
said Act passed at the same session, de-
clared it also unlawful for any resident
or citizen of this State to catch or take
shad, for the purpose of sale, in Della
ware river or bay, or any of the creeks
or rivers emptying into the same, within
the limits of this State, without first pay
ling five dollars for an annual license
therefor for the use of the State.
The enforcement ofthese provisions by
the arrest of citizens of New Jersey en-
1 EgI,, I, ,,..a A.
the Delaware river lying within the
twelve mile circle was promptly opposed
by the authorities ofthat State with
claim of jurisdiction over said river east
of the middle line, and of the legal right
of her citizens to fish on the New Jersey
side of the river without the license of
delaware either within or without the
said circle.
| The controversy arising over this ques-
ton of disputed jurisdi ction, led, during
the year 1877, to a CORE spondence and
subsequent conference between the late
Executives of the two States which final
ly resulted in their agreement to bring
the subject to the attention of the Leg
islatures OF their respective States, and
recommend the appointment of Commits
sioners on the part of each to settle the
matter in dispute. Their recommends
tions were accordingly made and Joint
1
bers from each State, and comprising
lawyers of acknowledged Learning and
ability, was appointed by legislative
authority. Shortly after iacir appoint
ment a Joint Resolution OF the General
Assembly suspended all laws requiring a
license to fish for shad within the waters
OF this State. pending the negotiations be
tween the Commissioners of the two
States.
| But all efforts OF the Joint Commission
crs to reach Il satisfactory basis of def
mite settlement of the matter in contro-
yersy having failed, it was finally agreed
| between them, as i am duly informed.
that the Commissioners from each State
should prepare and present to the other
a written or printed statement of the til
tie and claim involved in the controversy
OF each State, with the grounds upon
which the same were based, which might
be reported by them to their respective
States. am also Informed that as early
as July, 1874, the Commissioners from
this State duly delivered the statement
asserting and vindicatiDg the claim and
title of Delaware, but that the Commits
sloners from New Jersey have as vet
| wholly failed to do likewise in behalf of
| thelr State. This omission on the mart of
the latter, having continued until March
26, 1875, was construed to be an implied
abandonment of their case and fact re-
llnquishment of their alleged claim of til
tie and jurisdiction. The General Assem-
ely of this State accordingly, on that day,
adopted a Joint Resolution declaring
that the Commissioners on the part Of
this State, having fully performed their
duty and reported the result of their Ia
borSs, were relieved offurther duties as
such Commissioners.
The effect of this resolution was to alb
rogate their authority and terminate their
negotiations, and to revive the suspended
license laws. it thereupon became my
imperative duty, under my constitute onal
obligation to ''talIc care that the laws be
faithfully executed to sign and cause to
be issued the licenses prescribed by the
acts have referred TO. Immediately up
on his receiving information of this fact,
! was solicited by lis EXcellency Cover
nor Bedl, of New Jersey, to meet him in
J y ppiilladelphia fora conference upon the
subject, with n view to some amicable ar
rangement for the temporary postpone
ment af the execution of the law in ques-
tion until the necessary proceedings
| could be had for the final settlement of
the controversy by some competent au-
thority. But desirable as it was to secure
an amicable adjustment of our differences
and TO avert any disturbance of the