Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1881-03-10

Of New Castle county respectfully repre-
sents-That the increase of population in
this comfy since the census Of $50 has
made glaringly manifest the inequality ol
representation of the people of this
county in the legislation of the State, as
compared with Kent and Sussex counties,
and that it ought no longer to be allowed
to stand. The facts are, that Sussex and
Kent county. each with population of
| 10000 and fraction, have an equal
| representation in the Legislature with
New Castle county, having population
! of over 10000; that is, one man in either
! Kent or Sussex counties in representation
| Importance is equal to two men in New
Castle county and this inequality will
progress in larger proportion in the
next decade. Iii suggesting a remedy for
| this grievance we find one at hand, which
is as much needed as larger representa-
tion, namely, division of the county of
New Castle into two counties by line
beginning at the mouth of Christiana
| river and running by the centre OF it to
the mouth of Red Clay creek and thence
by said creek to the line of the State.
thus making the territory consist
ing of Wilmington, Brandywinp and
d
called the county of Wilmington. and the
residue of the territory of the present
| county, consisting of Mill Creek, White
Clay Greek, prncader, New Castle Red
Lion, st. Georges, Appoquinimink and
Blackbird hundreds into separate
county, to be called the county Of New
Castle. This last measure has become
necessary on account of the act Of the
la InCr s1ut tlrpa g
Justice from Wilmington to New Castle,
thereby causing great Inconvenience to
your petitioners as well as Il greatly in
creased and increasing amount of taxa
ton to support the great expenditures in
CURED in this change, without any
equivalent benefit. We therefore pray
your honorable bodies to pass an act for
the division of New Castle county. as
herein set forth, and provide by law
for a like number of senators
and representatives to the Legis-
lature for each of said new counties.
according to the number prescribed in the
| constitution; and further So to arrange
the present judiciary, without increasing
the number of judges, that the courts in
both of said new counties shall be held
by the same judges as are now required
DN lHe CONSTITUTIONS, anu authorizing the
Judge now in commission as associate for
New Castle county to sit in the new conn
ties when necessary for the purpose of
making quorum, and to perform in said
counties all the other duties OF the county
judge of said counties, as heretofore
required of him, under the constitution
for the county OF New Castle.
The power Of the Legislature to divide
4 county and make a new county cannot
be denied. 1t has been exercised by
almost every Legislature, and numerous
instances exist in the statutes OF the
States adjoining our Stat- where it has
been done. Under our Constitution it
seems to be the only way to enlarge rep
resentation without a change IN the
organic law. The constitution declares
that there shall be three Senators and
seven Representatives from each county.
As long as the counties are limited to
three, no chance can be made without
changing the Constitution. There is no
prohibition i'll the Constitution against
the pivision OF a county, and when done
the authority follows to give each county
the stated number OF Senators and Repre-
sentatives.
Adjourned.