Daily Republican., 1880-03-04
J uatiee Outraged.

Levy COurL mas no ulsp0sltiVn Whatosoi
to offer any facilities to unassessed citi
zsns TO have their names placed upor
the assessment lists, for out Of consid-
erably over one hundred who applied
yesterday to be assessed from Will.
mington, only twelve were accepted and
one rejected. We did on the first day
Of the meeting Of the court indulge the
hope that the Levy Court would act
fairly and honorably in assessing those
who might appear before it, but all
those hopes have been dashed to the
ground, and We are fully convinced
that every imaginable obstacle is to be
placed in the way in order to prevent
q full and fair assessment. We have
only to look at yesterdays proceedings
to be fully convinced Of the utter insin-
cerity 4 the Levy Court. About one
hundred. citizens Of Wilmington, white
and black, vent to New Castle to get
assessed. Had the court desired that
number could have easily been placed
upon the lists and all other business
that was transacted could at the same
time have been attended to. 1t is sur
passing strange that court from which
justice and right are expected, should
lay itself open to the deserved censure
which 1t must expect from an injured
and outraged people. From the time
that the first applicant from Whining
ton appeared before the court yester-
day morning until the session closed at
four o'clock in the evening, there was
apparently a deliberate studied and
successful attempt to prevent the as
ssssment Of voters. To the three first
names that were offered and which
were understood to be the names Of
Democrats, not word Of objection was
raised, not question was asked. They
had Democratic voucher and that
was enough. But the first Republican
applicant, though white man, had to
undergo a series OF CROSS questions
asked for the purpose Of making the
applicant entrap himself and 10 kill
time. Thus it took half an hour at
least to place the names Of six Repub-
licans upon the assessment. At this
very particular juncture, the Recorder
OF Deeds felt it in his soul that he must
have his records re-indexed, and just
at this time letter from him with
numerous recommendations from mem
bers Of the bar had to be read. When
read silent consultation had to ensue,
records had to be searched, examina-
tioas had 10 be made, and silent eau.
cusing had to be held to know what to
do with the letter and recommendations.
This was very important business. The
time had como when Recorder Holcomb
could not get along any longer without
having his records rs-indexed after the
Campbell system at an expense Of some
five thousand dollars to the County.
The time had come just then at that
particular moment, when some particu-
lar Democratic politician must be put on
the way Of making an extra thousand
dollars from the county. These hun
drsd citizens who have already lost
three days in trying to get their names
put upon the assessment and who were
then waiting in breathless expense as the
last opportunity must stand aside, and
finally be disfranchised while the Hon
orabls Levy Court dilly-dallies over
the indexing Of record. The subject
is finally disposed Of by referring the
question to q COMMITTEES of three. 1t
was then within ten minutes OF twelve
o'clock, and in that time the Court
actually placed three more names on
the assessment, when, at a wink from
one Of the members, motion was made
and carried to adjourn to half
past one o'clock, to give the members
an hour and half in which to refresh
and strengthen weary nature after an
intense heavy labor Of an hour and a
half. Instead of meeting at half-past
one, the Cour: did not meet until ten
minutes before two o'clock, so there
were twenty minutes disposed of al
ready for the afternoon session. As soon
as the Court was called to order it was
very important that the committee to
audit the report Of the County Treasur-
er should report, and after that it was
Of the utmost Importance that Mr.. Polk,
Chairman Of the Committee, should on
that very afternoon read the report all
through Item by item, what was paid
to each Grand Juror, what was paid tc
each Petit Juror, each bailif, each wit
ness and everything else imaginable
that transpired during the whole year
Two O'Clock sped by and Mr.. Polk read
on. Half-paSt two came and he had
reached the jurors. Three o'clock came
and We could hear him say something
about the witnesses, the oonstables and
the bailiff3. Half-past three came and