Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1881-01-06
COUNTY DIYISION,
How n .sTaxpayer', Would Settle
a1Ae Question Of Repressn ~ ton Ae-

How n ..Taxpayer', Would Settle
anAe Question Of Exepres~n sAiio Ac-
QDdnnE 10 POpulauon-
+ correspondent Of the Middletown
TtsaWipt, writing of county division
under the signature of Taxpayer" says
A largo number of property owners and
electors of New Castle county have mani
tested desire to have the county divided.
and AZ any legislation to that end will assume
the form of a constitutional amendment II ia
important that timely action should be taken
to secure that result. Since the three lower
counties ceased to be colonies there have been
three constitutions adopted for this State.
The first one in August, 1776, soon after the
Declaration of Independence the second In
1892, after the adoption OF the Federal Con.
stitution, and the last In 1881. In them
all the State Is assumed to consist OF
three counties, and the Legislature no con-
stituted HI to have an equal number of repre-.
sentatiyeB for each county, and RS the present
constitution provides for al increase in the
number OF representatives it gives no
authority to change the ratio 30 that the
number OF counties, as well as the number OF
representatives being both embodied in the
constitution, it does not appear that either
the number of counties or representatives
can be changed without All amendment of
the constitution.
The increase in the population Of the State,
and the much larger proportion OF electors
being in New Castle county, it seems highly
proper that the Constitution should be so
altered III to provide for different ratio of
representation having respect to the number
of souls, rather than the quantity of acres.
and also for division of New Castle county
into two counties, the necessity for which
has become more apparent by the act of the
last Legislature, removing the seat OF Justice
from a nearer to more remote point from
the centre of territory, and, effected as it was,
| without regard to the voice OF the people of
the lower hundreds. As a preliminary step
| toward these ends. there should be Rome
concert of action on the part OF those who
| take an interest i'll the subject, by determin-
| ing what portion OF the territory within the
| present limits of New Castle county should be
set off for a new county, and what ratio of
| increase in representation should be called
| for.
| The result of the late census shows that the
county of New Castle has a population larger
| than the counties OF Kent and Sussex com
bined, and that the city OF Wilmington has
more than one-half the population Of New
Castle county, it being about $4,000. 1t is
| manifestly proper that a new county should
be erected out of the seven lower hundreds
OF the county, retaining the name of New
| Castle, and the city of Wilmington, with the
hundreds of Brandywine, Christiana and Mill
Greek should compose the other county, TO he
| named wilmington. In point OF area the
seven lower hundreds embrace 1879, 900 acres,
while the three upper hundreds, with Viii
mington, contain less than "A, 900 acres.
II to each of said new counties were allotted
seven Representatives and three Senators, il
would very nearly equalize the ratio of Rep.
resentatives with the other counties Any
alteration in the division of the counties viii
involve change in the Judiciary to the
extent of appointing one new Judge for the
new county, and that might lead to an altera.
ton in the arrangement of the courts, which
has been thought for some time by the pro
fession, and by the public, very desirable to
be brought about.
Tho great want is more efficient system
and Court of Appeals less imperfect thar
the present. How that shall be accomplished
will require some consideration but it cal
easily DC arranged without disturbing tn,
tenure of Office OF any Of the present incum
bents.
Should the members from Kent and SUSSEX
refuse to pass bill providing for the amend
ments by the necessary two thirds vote Their
may still be found majority willing to yot
for special election to be held to ascertain
the sense of the people in regard to holding
convention. This they have the power to dc
and If the voice of the people OF this count,
IL strongly expressed, the Legislature will b
bound to give heed to 1t.