The daily gazette., 1879-04-17
SECOND EDITION
IIOnOring a Representative

L.
Complinaented their Representative.
Hon. Ed,cin n. Cochra,,-A Pleasant
banquet at tie National Hotel-1ne
1oasts and Responses, etc.
Special Correspondence OF the Gazette.
MIDDLETowN, DEL, April II. For a
cohsti uency that truly Ionor their re-
plesentative in the local legis allure, and
sincerely appreciate his efforts for the
public good inthc capacity of legislator,
the citizens of st. Georges Hundred GER
tainly take the lead.
lu the fall of 1876, Hon. Edwin r.
Cochran, living near this town, was
| elected to represent ST. Georges Hun
dred in particular, and New Castle
| county in general, in the Legislature of
the State, AS legislator Mr.. Cochran
was success. He was apt in properly
interpreting public measures and by an
earnest advocacy of every proposition,
for the advancement of the public well
fare he earned the grateful admiration of
! the people OF the entire commonwealth
and the warmest esteem of the residents
OF his immediate neighborhood.
As natutal consequence, Mr.. Coch-
ran was renominated without opposition
for term in the ensuing legislaI ure, and
|
, the same brilliant record and sincere re-
gard for the public welfare that marked
his career in the legislature of two years
previous. His constituents were of
course delighted, and in order to appro-
praSely testify their admiration and es-
teenl, they arranged complimentary
banquet in honor of Mr.. Cochran, which
took place in this town at the National
Hotel last nj hit.
The gathering, though informal in
character, was most pleasant and agree
able, and included representatives from
all parts of tue county. From Whining
ton came Representative Jas. w. Ware,
ex-Secretary of State l. Z. Grubb, Ed. n.
| Vallandigham, of Ecery Eueai,ag and
I your correspondent. George Gray, ESQ.,,
| Prothonotary Charles Beasten, Recorder
| Thomas Holcomb, and Geo. Millington
represented New Castle. Columbus
Watkins came over fiom Odessa, ex-
| Congressman James Williams brought
| up the fraterDal greetings of Kent county
while j. Is. Foard, chairman OF the com
| mittee of arrangements, Nathaniel Will
| iams, Alex. Comegys, VIM. Green, VIM.
| b. Cochran, Purnal j. Lynch, w. Scott
Way, OF the Transcript, and two score
| more of the leading citizens, represented
Middletown and st. Georges Hundred.
Gov. Cochran fully expected to be pres
ent, but as he was suffering from slight
indispositIon he was kept at home by the
rain that prevailed during the night.
PEACH TALK.
Previous to the banquet the company
assembled in the parlor of the National,
and discussed current topics. Of course,
l ampuU co tpapu farvparc naaob toI x.yo @
prominent in the minds of most of those
present. Mr.. VIM. r. Cochran informed
me that the peach prospects just now
| were of the most excellent character,
| that the trees were in fine condition, and
unless some extraordinary combination
of adverse circumstances prevailed, the
coming crop would be of large dirnen-
sions. AS to its reinunerative character,
he could not speak, but could only hope
that the growers would realize comfort
able profits. Mr.. Cochran has been one
of the foremost growers in opening up
new peach markets in Pennsylvania,
New York and the East, and thinks that
in a few years the shipping arrangements
may be such as to eifectually prevent
those annoying and extensive gluts in
the peach markets of New York and
Philadelphia, that recent seasons wit
messed, no matter how large the crop
may prove.
THE BANQUET.
AT $3.50 o'clo ck the entire company re-
pared to the dining-room, and there sat
down to one of those handsome feasts
which Mr.. Alex. Maxwell, who now has
charge of the National, and his excellent
wife, know SO well how to prepare. The
tables were adorned with handsome bou-
quetS, and We're substantially decorated
with oysters, terrapin, spring chicken,
salads, aud numerous other delicacies, to
which ample justice was done by all pres
ent.
THE ToASTS.
When the appetltes of all were satisfied
the mental programme was entered upon,
aud was opened by Columbus Watkins,
Esq, who read letters from Hon. Thomas
+. Bayard, and Hon. VIM. G. Whiteley
The letters expressed the regret of the
writers at their inability to be present,
and contained the warmest expressions
of regard for Mr.. Cochran as citizen
and public legislator. Mr.. Watkins
then announced the regular toasts, as fol-
lows:
l. "The Guest of the Evening"" Ex-
Representative Henry A. Nowland, of
Middletown, in response, said IL was the
first time in the history of st. Georges
Hundred that such an affair as the pre-
ent had been originated. The reason for
this was, in his opinion, that the wishes
of all the people of the Hundred were
found expressed in the votes cast in the
Legislature by Mr.. Cochran. Mr.. Now
land paid glowing tribute TO Mr.. Coch-
rams brilliant record as a legislator, and
closed with the following appropriate
sentiment to the guest of the evening:
"Intelligent, faithful and true: may his
Legislative record only bs eclipsed by his
record as a private citizen" Applause
Mr.. Cochran made a feeling response
to the remarks of Mr.. Nowland. He said
the o oecasion to him was overwhelming
and embarrassing. Because a man had
done his plain duty he could see no rea-
son why he should be praised and patted
on the back. Are the times SO morally
disturbed, he inquired, that he should be
thus honored simply for performing his
duty? Abiding to his legislative career,
Mr. Cochran said he earnestly supported
the bill for funding the State debt into
four and-a-half per cent. bonds, because
he believed it TO he a wise measure, and
would have saved the State $4,000 per
year in interest. He also approved the
act for the appointment of Railroad
Commissioners, because he believed it