Daily Republican., 1882-10-23


his statement as being in the main cor
rect. Mr.. Bates gives the Democratic
party the credit of moving for a.ConsA-
tutional Convention in 1850; this credit
we will not detract from them he
also gives the disparity in the popu'
lation of the three counties ana
a want of equal representation In Nc"
Castle County as the cause of the move
ment for a new Constitution. This we
will not deny either. The population
at that time respectively was 22,slo for
Kent, 25, ,936 for Sussex and 42'7S4 for
New Castle. At this time New Castle
Hacked 1852 of the population OF both
the other two counties. The census OF
1880 showed that Kent had 1884, sus'
sex, 36,O1S and New Castle T,7lo, New
Castle having 1924 more than both the
other counties combined, and the dis
parity between New Castle and the
other two counties being in 1880, 1898
more than in 1850. II the Democrats
groaned beneath the oppressiveburthens
of unequal representation in 1850 their
pains should, by the same analogy OF
reasoning, have been uneudurable DUR
ing the last decade. Mr.. Bates mas
onlv verified what we have often before
said, that New Castle County at th@t
time was usually Democratic and the
two lower counties Whig. This, we
are safe in presuming, was the reason
wby Democrats were more in favor OF
a Convention at that time than thsy
have been since the political condition
of things have changed; the lower
coun ties becoming Democratic aud New
Castle Republican. And yet notwlth'
standing this fact the Democrats car
ried the State in 1850 and for the frs
thine Mr.. Bates says in 25 years found
themselves in possession of the State
lGovernment with William ii. Ross al
lGovernor. In all the proceedings lead
ling to the Convention the Democrat
seem to have had their own way. Ih'
delegates we're elected by the distr'c
system, and a majority elected wer'
democrats. Notwithstanding oil this
r the Democrats could not agree upol
) any satisfactory system of representa-
tion.
Hon. James A. Bayard wanted repre-
Q sentation according to population, ant
t because he could not get that he LEI
t the Convention. Others, q majority Q
Q Democrats, wanted only an increase Il
d representation, while others wanted tn
n district system of representation. Tn
r Wings in the Convention were as muc
O divided in sentiment as were the Demo
Gratis. But ort Of confusion came
Q constitution, giving each county fou
J, Senators, and to New Castle Count
o was given u Representatives, to Ken
s 8 and to Sussex 8. This was about
e near equal represent alton at that tin
o AZ it could be made, but no provislo
~ was made for gradual increase after
b wards, without resort to constitution
l. al conventions, which were dithcu
70 things to handle. This constitution
?. Mr.. Bates says, was sent before the Pc
le ple for their acceptance or rejection, an
9s was buried beneath 10000 maJorlt!
s. Tne Legislature that called the CONVEX
re- tion was Democratic, the conventlo
y itself, though elected on the district BY
l. TEN, was Democratic, and a maJori'
y ofthe votes cast at the last State ele'
s. tion, was Democratic, and yet, strant
n to say, the new constitution which gay
lg to each county four Sen ators and
le New Castle u Representatives toll Il
TO the two lower counties, was buried q
90 most out of:sight by an avalanche OF Y
ne ters. Even Mr.. Bayard, the elder, wi
to his son, took the stump against 1t, B
n. cause it did not provide for represent
n ton according to population.
cd Mr.. Bates did not presume to q
OF specific reasons for the silence OF t
IN Bayards since then on the question
in unequal representation. The burthe
at of disfranchisemen grew heavier ca
nd year, but neither father nor son rails
OF a voice in advocacy Of another Cons
on tutional Convention, to relieve the a
Is epfranchised citizens of New Castle
gu their load of political slavery. INT
mt voices that rang eloquent from Ma
3D. mans Creek to Cedar Swamp, in
he posing the Constitution of 1862 ever
for forwards remained silent. Mr.. Ba
Ze, might have told the reason why If
ne would. 1t is true the war came on
ro absorbed public attention. and 1t Is
he true that Mr.. Bayard, the elder, "
nd busily engaged in opposing the war
lch the preservation Of the Union,
To younger Bayard In deDouncing IL
the coins hirelings;" Mr.. Whiteley
lge pressing desire to kick the Republic
ing President. 1t Is too true that wi
'an thus engaged they lost all thought
md new Constitutions. But was this
Jon only reason why their voices have n
to ar since been raised for Constitutio
me Convention? Is it not true that 81
Iors the war New Castle on a fair vote
the been Republican and the two 10
riel counties have been Democratic? l
the not true that if equal representa-
top had prevailed in 1852, neither Bay
ons the elder nor Bayard the younger w
on have graced the United States SEM
see Even now what advance has
and Democratic party made over 1852