The daily gazette., 1881-02-08

IaWay from IL. buC, IN Doth case
the authorities consulted the thel
present interest of the public q
large, and forecasted that of the fu.
ture. The wisdom of such forecas
In quite apparent. Neither Lewes
with its old associations, and all it
present advantages, would compen'
safe for the benefit that the people
of Sussex derived from having to gc
L no further than Georgetown to at
tend the courts and transact theil
business; nor could the most senti
mental, or conservative now fine
any good reason why the Penn Gov
ernment should have required jury
men, Witnesses and suitOrs In the
middle county to travel to the bot,
tom of st. Jones' Neck, to attend te
theirs. While the people of thii
State will never, ! hope, cease to be
influenced by the sentiments which
association and antiquity inspire
yet 1 feel quite sure they will not al
any time, be controlled Dy them
when their true interests are in op-
position. The want of q new Couri
House building for the use of the
public of this county was presented
to The Legislature by the action oi
Its Levy Court, and authority to
erect 1t was asked for. Then came
the question-where the new house
should be built-and the decision
was here, in this city, whence ale
most all the business Of the courts
has, for long time past, come to
the seat of justice at New Castle
The change Of county seat, there.
fore, seems to have been at least as
quite necessary as was the case in
Kent and Sussex.
One OF the many reasons for removal
vas this: That if the courts were held
In Wilmington, there would be less
crime. 1t was argued that the hold
ing OF courts here would inspire the
criminally inclined with q wholesome
fear OF the penalties Of the law. We
trust there may bo no disappointment
OF this reasonable expectation. Il is
certain that, from some influence, no
outbreak against the law of the land
has ever occurred IN New Castle that
would make legal riot, nor has any
thing occurred to offend the public
conscience; whereas this city, not
long ago, was the scene of fragrant
breech OF the peace, characterised by
tumultuous and terrifying conduct on
the part of the participators in it; and
It was also used as theatre for the
promulgation of sentiments at war
with the religion OF the Bible. Bias
phemous language was used, near
where we are assembled, by an auda- |
cious disciple Of tho defamers Of re-
vealed religion, for the purpose of ex-
posing its doctrines to contempt and |
ridicule, and to what some consider /
the reproach of the people of this city
no man stepped forward to call him to
account for his defiance of the law of |
the Stale. / say to you that the law
OF this State is against the insulting Of
God by reproachful or derogatory Ian
guage, or expressions; and exciting
the passions of the people, by treating
their religion with contempt. No COM
munity, such as ours, can exist as a
healthy, moral organization, where
men are allowed to speak without
challenge against the very and only
upon which Il securely
rests-the over uling power Of Cod
When we dethrone His majesty, and
erect In Ills place our own notions of
tight and wrong, we shall soon pass
nto state of life not restraining, but,
n effect, promoting, our inherent pro-
1ensity to evil; for no candid man can
pretend that our impulses are not to-
wards the qualification, rather than in
o straint of our passions.
The crime OF blasphemy Is an an
ient common law offense, and was
Ilso punished by statute, passed so
ong ago as 1740, by our Colonial Leg
stature and such enactment, in its
ssential form, has been continued
own 10 this day. Under the act aboye
the punishment for the
utrage was the pillory, the brand and
tripes. After the constitution Of the
tate went into effsct, but not till the
ear 1895, he punishment was chang
d to fine and imprisonment but the
ffense remained, and 10 the same to-
ay as IL was in the 18th of George II. |
Ehen the old act was passed.
Long ago, In this State, an impudent
eyiler of Christ dared to utter his de-
amatory language in the face Of the ,
of the county, in speech
20 gross and offensive TO be repeated. i
10 was brought to Justice therefor b
nd, having been convicted by a Jury I
the bar of this court was sentenced n
= one Of my ecessors-John M. ii
layton-to the punishment his crime 81
sserved. Before doing 90, and in an b
yer to . motion in arrest of Judgment 9,
ade by the counsel of the defendant. 81
which the clause of the constitution IL
curing freedom of speech and Of the Ia
ess was much relied upon, and also tt
ter tho court had taken six months 70
consider the matter, that judge land 70
wn the law for our and your guild al
ce. 1t is our and your duty to fol-
" that law and whenever hereafter co
nan shall stand up in the face Of the VII
ople Of this county, while they re- In
lin Christian people, and insult pc
Dir religion, or bring il into con. Vi'
npt and ridicule, it will be the duty ys
the grand jury to bring such offence mn' m
the notice of the court, By present. Io'
mt as we'll as 1t will be that of tos
lers 10 arrest him for his open Of. Wy sl'
Sc. When criminal act Is COM " uO
tied in the presence of an officer, he ~ ~.
Y arrest and detain without war. n,s ns
It. 1t is, hope, hardly necessary Pa,l,H,
say to this cOmmunitY, and to as -