New-York tribune., 1880-04-05
DELAWARE'S STATESMEN.
A SKETCH OF TWO STRONG FAMILIES.

In a small commonwealth like Delaware, men
like the two United States Senators from that
State occupy a different position in politics
than in larger communities. The interest of
political movements in the State centres around
the lew conspicuous men in o larger degree.
AT tins time, when attention is drawn to the
pOnticso Delaware by struggle which is going
On there, sketch of the Bayar and Saulsbdry
families seems appropriate, and is presented in
the letter printed herewith.
THE BAYARDS AND THE SAULSBURYs.
GOSSIP ABOUT THE TWO REIGNiNG FAMILIES OF
TIE DIAMOND sTATE-THE BAYARDS, FATHER
AND SON; THEIR CHARACTERS AND PECULIAR
lTIEs-THE THREE SALISBURY BROTHERS.
lFRoM STAFF CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUsEl
WILMIAGTON, Del, April 1.-No one can dip into
Delaware politics without hearing first last and all
the time about the two families that control tho af
fairs of the State and divide between them its rep
rcsentation in the United States Senate-the Bay
ards and the Sauisburys. In little State like this
great men are more conspicuous than in larger COM
munties. You can get no perspective TO measure
accurately their heg,t They always close to
yOu and there are so few of them that you can in
stitute no just comparisons. Like trees in small
meadow they are such striking objects in tho land
scapc hat the value Of their timber is often
estimated. Nearly every 1 have met in
the two days have spent here has talked about
the members of these two dominant political fam
lilies. and ] am tempted to repeat some of tic
gossip have heard. in common, no doubt, with
every stranger who takes the pains to ask ques-
tions about the public affairs of the State.
The Bayards are an old aristocratic family and
have played great role in Delaware politics ever
since the Revolution, but the Saulsburys are new
men of yeOman ancestry who did not como to tie
surface until after the death of John Clayton in
1856. ClaytOns active life. as party leader
spanncd the whole period of the existence of the
Wing party. While he lived he was the master of
Delaware politics. When the Wing party died he
died, which was tho most sensible thing he could
do. Before he stepp,d Off, however he predicted
the outbreak of the rebellion, tho success of tho
South in the early part Of the struggle aud the final
complete triumph of the North Some action of
Clayton's during the latter part of his career
awakened the censure of his party at home, and
delegation waited upon him and told hun that they
feared he was no longer Wing. The old man rose
from his chair and drawing himsclfup to his full
height said, in indignant tones "What, unwbig
me Ne, who was Wing when these gentlemen see
here were riding cOrn-stalk horses in their fathers
barnvartsl7 The dcputatOn asked his pardon and
went home.
The Bayarls anedatc the Clayton regime and
have already survived it quarter of a century
They are the only family in our history that has
held % seat i'll the United States Senate for three
generations. The grandfather Of the present Sena-
tor was u Senator. and was his father. Most of
the Delaware Democrats believe that when he re-
tires from public life of his will succeed
him. Such n transmission of political place and
power from sire to son would be impossible in this
country outside of Delaware, where the small size
Of the State limits competition in public lifc and
4, N thn ohcQf f1arn
strongly 10 the few men of conspicuous ability they
uO.scss confess to some admiration for this re-
mnrknbc fidelity to political leadership These
people believe in blood. They take OH trust the
son Of the man who has served hem well rather
than any new aspirant for place, however talented
or popular
James a. Bayard, the second Senator of the line,
isstil living at an advanced age. lIo is quite
broken in body and mind. and is seldom seen out
side of his house, plain substantial brick building
standing Market-st, the principal business thor
ouRhfarc. lie lives alone with two faithful servants,
hut has the constant care of married daughter,
whose house is just across the street He was good
lawyer in his time, fine orator and cultivated gem
tlcman. Ills son James destined to succeed him,
and was accordingly sent to college and bred to the
law. But the Young man did not turn out we'll.
and tho Younger son. Thomas. who had been edu-
Gated for merchant, his mother coming of n mer-
camille family. put to studying law without the
advantage of a collegiate course. Had it not been
for this change in his career brought abont
by parental authority. lie would probably have
made no figure in pnlitcs IIc became
n strong man at the bar. aud in the DAYS of his ac
tive practice noted for his great industry, his
careful preparation of bis eases and his manner of
i'll, ntilying himself completely with his clients in
tcrcyts HIS success was aided by his unusual
H., Il ali .l,,,- 4
all night on IA case and go into conrt next morning
as fresh and vigorous IA If he had just come from
bed. The lawyers here do not like to have him as
IN Opuonrnt not because he Ontmatchrs them all
in learning or III powers of argument, but because
he hclirycs in his client and in his clients
srongly rs he does in himself, and displays as
much senstivencss and zeal az though hc were
himself assailed In his pubic life the Senator II
more courteoIs and afablo than his father iiseu 10
he treating everybody with uniailIng pohtehesS'
hut ho - mt of a sociablo dspoStion and mngles
h,,t Ettlo i'm tho society Of the town. They do
pot credit him hero with much IlDcraiitF III
nolitics He is accounted an intense parry ".''''
who covers up the bitterness ol Ills pai''H"''"'p
under Il cloak of personal anlIapInty' "ep""n'""S
tat Le IL above all Things Democrat and sup
'"' ,'; rortv ripht or wrong. They praise hlm
f .,an1 unon the financial question. when
,,,a ,vos IN opposition to the views OF ma
;it,, of tbc Democrats of tho state, puU 'ncy uo
nt 6clicyc he is any more liberal or National IN his
views than the Senators from the states lur'nrr
snuth. or that lie is above using ior "IS own ".- |
vantage the ordinary methodS Oh Du'noVla"o poii,
t,a Tbcv cite rs an evidence ol tu's' Ills REFUSAL
t'cs Inv, to tbir appeal for a word of reproof of
10 rcS,o f ha marty associates in Delaware in at
.o 70 disfranchiso thousands of Republican
voters s nsyn Sy raT"S is not sss man.
o,nnsfolk r D' think he is worth perhaps. 100000.
towi,'n nm income they say, from his investments.
1o hao "' cooo+or hra attornevshin of tl,o