Daily Republican., 1881-03-16

without the possession Of the mean
The citizens Of one section Of the Sta;
cannot protect the possession Of civ
= -lrights without the possession OF polit
cal power. They must have the righ
l. at the polls to protect their interests
: So that this Wanted, boasted principl
g Of the two great political parties OF tn
t oouutry. that all men are free aud squa
!, politically and civilly before the law
liz upon its face, unless the two grsa
parties In this State, and the part.
particularly row In power in this State
, shall act upon that principle ana do o
: they would be done by.
Il We ask the gentlemen from SUISSE,
and Kent 10 put themselves in on
place, and Low would they feeli W.
come down here representing q grea
deal more than one half Of the wealth
OF the State and q great deal more thar
one half Of the population Of the State
and yet We are absolutely controlled by
the representatives of smaller NUN
Der Of people. Now, l say this is wrong
and It cannot be defended.
| But, sir, to test this matter little
further: That resolution does not cal
for representation according to popn'
lation. II does not call either for coun.
ty represen 'ation or district represen
tation 1t calls simply for an expires
sion by this General Assembly OF its
sense that the present system is unjust,
Is ineq uitsbls, and that legislation
should be enacted calculated to remedy
the evil. That Ia the whole OF it. II
any Objectionable measure should be
rendered to this General Assembly re.
lating to repssntation, they can vote 1t
down; but let us at least have a
straight forward expression of opinion
by this body that there is an evil to be
corrected.
Nov, sir, this thing cannot run on
forever. The people, political parties.
won't stand 1t. With respect to the
parties In New Castle county. there Is
dissatisfaction on this subject, and it
ID growing from year to year. 1t is
not cor fined to either Of the political
parties. II tspreads through both and,
in my judgment, the Democratic party
Of this State can no more afford TO be-
little this application, to belittle this
movement, than can the Republi, /,
can party. The thousands in the
city Of Wilmington, who vote the
Democratic ticket, the men in the
workshops and In the factories they
feel it. They do not propose to have it
said that ore man in Kent or Sussex ia
equal to more than two men In New
Castle county aud they are right, and no
man can dispute the correctness Of their
opinions.
Now sir, do no! want to be misun.
derstood upon this matter. Ihave not
dropped q word to indicate that for
one would be in favor OF any sy stem of
representation which might possibly
put the control Of the State in the
hands Of Wilmington. do not 60 that
far; but this resolution is perfectly
proper. 1t merely recognizes that q |
spirit OF fairness aud justice demands
that representation shall be placed |
upon such basis gs will afford at
least an approximation OF equality of
representation for the people Of all por-
tions OF the State. As | said before.
the passage OF that resolution will not
commit this General Assembly to the
adoption of any proposed measure,
which may be Objectionable or unob-
but this is a matter for
But do claim that we are
bound, as fair men living under q re-
publicsn form of government, living
under q government which the oonsti-
luton of the United States guarantees
'kall be republican in Its forming, that
We are bound to do away with the pre-
'eut iniquitous system of representa-
lion. II will not stand any test. IT.
8 wrong; and l 90 believe that the
lime will come when, If a proper meas
Ire be bot adopted, that this thing will
'e righted by what before termed q
political whirlwind, and the only safe
md proper plan Is to adopt such meas
Tres now as will put this matter upon
IS nearly proper basis as possible,
nd in future. from time to time, read
ust that basis according to the require.
lents OF the shifting population OF the
tate. | do trust that no member oil
his House will vote against this rssolu.
on, for 1t is right and Just.
TIE OPPOSITION,
Following Mr.. Bradford came DR..
omlinsoD, who spoke in a pleasantly
atrieal way, OF shuddering at the dole ID
III prospect Of the Democrotic party Q
ietured by the gentleman from New 4
astle. He did not like the resolution ,
ut would sooner have'a bill introduc. i
d at once. The resolution was intend v
d 10 pledge the Democrats from the
over counties.
Mr.. Robinson said there was not
noh inequality of representation if s
Wilmington was not included and this u
ronght Mr.. Bradford to his feet again b
ith forcible report about disregard. N
'g o city Of 43 900 inhabitants, who a.
ad done more for the State than all OF
10 towns In 1t put together. uI
Pending motion made by DR.. Tom %
nson to lay the resolution OH the
BILE Mr.. Pillipg made an able address
which he pitched in in his mphs,io
yie, declaring that the refusal to Ei
We New Castle Just representation VI
10 tyranny, which could not and Al
'uld no! be borne, and urging that the tn
solution pass. The speech had a all
'rked effect and even Mr.. Pillipg sur. sn
ssed himself. tn
Mr.. Bradford hoped that the resolu.
q would be fairly killed and not de
ted In the under hand way prcpcs-
This led 10 Dr.. Tomlinson with. mi
'wing bis motion, and then there S.u ~.
8 more talk, during which Mr., Ca: PIC
II, more frank than the rest, made ple
remarkab admission that tho ren. tea
entatiVea from tha two to~. me