The daily gazette., 1879-07-28
FIFTH EDITION.
For the Gazette.
TRAMPS.

MIR. EDITORS II see by tne papers
that there was law of some kind passed
last session, called tramp law, or a law
In regard to what those solons conpos-
ing the Legislature called tramps.
Sa d law has not, that / have seen, been
published, but the town authorities of
Dover arrested and put fouu Ieen persons
in Jail. Icannot expose or do this sub
Ject up as some could do, for the more
think on it as Democrat or an Ameri-
can freeman, the more feel humiliated
at such an act of the Legislature. Are
not our public roads free for travel for
all persons who ride an elephant, down
to the person who walks? Is no. the
air fee for all TO breathe, and the rum
ming streams of water free to drink?
Was there not already law enough to
arrest and fine or imprison any human
being that invaded the premises of an
other and done any damage, or refused to
leave when directed, or commit
ted any assault or insulted any
person on the highway? Then why
n ed the be law passed called
a tramp law, aud define and proclaim
every man who walked in the public
road, and asked fr work or vituals to
satisfy their hunger Gas they were out of
money and could get no work) are such
persons to be shot down or Imprisoned,
because they have not the money to pay
for riding in railway cars, or in road
carriages, or on horse a k, has not our
law in this our boasted Republic lately
been governed to give men who combine
capital conclusive privileges in a great
many things, and does not all, or nearly
all, labopr saving machery tend to en-
| rich the few, and turn out OIL the charity
Of the world the many who heretofore
made living by certain emplOyments.
| All labOur saving machines are so, are as
so devils let loose on the bnman family to
torment IL with want starvation, misery
and death, and what tumults and
| troubles, rio; and bloodshed will happen
when this generation passes away God
only knows! As 10 tramps, some of the
best men that ever lived, were tramps
and some still continue TO be tramps
DIR. Franklin came 10 Philadelphia ss q
tramp, and tramped the streets as q
tramp with a loaf of bread under his
arm, that might for al know been giver
to him. 1t is said John Wesley tramred
it through Georgia, and part Of the lint
fed on ginger cakes, and scooped the sane
away to m, ke hole for er to fill il
so he could drink. The late Governor
William Allen, of Ohio, next in demo
cratic faith 10 Thomas Jefferson, ,trampet
it from Lynchburg, Virginia, to Ohio
Byard Taylor started as tramp ant
nearly al, great scholars.
Now, by what scale of democratic in
tice is it to be determined who arr
tramps? and not to be allowed to treat
on the public roads, or streets on foot, il
whose interest was this law got up, ant
passed? Certainly not In the interest o
{ farmers, and peach g,owers. Some as
sert il was for the protection of the rail
, road, because suppose some conductor
of freight trains have been so mean as +
throw some unfOrtunates- eff the cars.
Then as natural to the spiritual chal
acter of the American,threatsw were made
hence law passed, and persons of til
villages in Delaware, by this tramp la'
are called on as bull dogs and spaniels
arrest every por fellow that cannot pa
. railroad fare. l hated last winter 1
. Dover, at the proposition to pass such
= law, hut they did pass the law, and Sc
eral of them rode to Washington, whet
| ct UT 1lOb, W btc IL
to molest the trains do not know.
There is no property that costs so mu
and is so easily arranged rs railroa
and no freight engine Is SO heavily loa
ed but that they could carry a few n
, fortunate hNman beings who would,
, the train ran off the track or got in
danger, help to their fullest ability Il
railroad men. The principal portion
these men styled tramps come down in,
Delaware in the months of July, Au
ust and Septe mber, and for harvesting
threshing grain and picking peach'
are great help. At least l am satisfie
: of this fact, for and my Deighbors hay
! had crops of pea ches that we could M
have gathered without The help of thei
men, and at this time some of these veT
n men are helping to threash. We farme
r give some bread and meat ava
0 to them, as in this part of the Sta
r farmer never turns man away hui
: gry, and know Off kind hearted raj
road, and If these men had their way, I
}. damage would ever be done by the We
. geance of these men they call Cramps
for they would have no cause to enge
der hatred and devilment against u
railroad.
~ The only train that recollect bell
:, thrown off the track near here, WIS dol
4 by white man living and raised IN til
|
o talked with Judge Harrington, then pre-
y ident of the road, and We concluded
Q give the fellow a good reprimand. TT
. Judge asked me to do it, which L did al
n the fellow has behaved himself ev
since.
Now for over fifteen years, Mr.. Edito
0 we farmers have only been taxed abo
y three months in the warm weather
y these men who are ready and anxious
o work for ps. In your city it is in co
weather that the poor make appeals
\ your kind heai ted people. sOmetim
have to reflect against Wilmington +
i some of her shortcomings. but nev
y against her for her noble charities
feeding the unfortunates in the wint'
could not but laugh at our old kin
hearted friend, Col. Whiteley, when
was Mayor, for proposing when perso
called for bread to give them stone
rather show them stone pile.