Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1883-09-06
REPRESENTATIONS AMENDnrENT.
The "Delnwarean" Answered and
the Nature of Its Mares Nest Ex-

The ssDelnwarean" Answered and
the Nature of Its Mares Nest Ex-
posed.
Editor Sfote Journal: Much ado has
been made over the editorisl suggestion
In Saturdays Dsiavdredn OF "ilsw" or
"ambiguity" in the representation
amendment. Careful consideration, how
ever, seems to lead to the conclusion that
the de feet ia rather in the Deiaud cans
understanding than in the amendments IL
its meaning ia correctly presented in its
illustration OF the otjsotion made.
The prospect of it's illustration is that
the voters of a minority party, who reside
in the county outside of Wilmington,
might vots for the four nominees OF the
opposition party in that city, and SO de-
feat their election because ''they were
voted for both by city and county"
"This," says the Deiuoarean editorial,
"is the suggt siion that has presented it.
self. This is where the ambiguity arises"
Now, can not the Delduarean see that
its own reason is confession OF the
unsoundness of lis position aud the com
pete refutstion of its own theory For
II the four Wilmington nominees would
be defeated because the resident voters of
the outside hundreds Joined in voting for
them, is not this an admission that said
voters could not lawfully, under the
amendment, vote for Wilmington's can
didates The fact is that the discoverer
of this "isw" has failed TO note the pre-
cision and force of the exact words of
the amendment he criticises. They
are as follows "0f the IL representa-
tives from New Castle county four ehsll
| be chosen by the citizens residing in the
city of Wilmington, and seven of the
| citizens residing in the residue Of said
county" The Deiawareans error is in
| arguing as II the words ''voted TOR" had
been used instead of the word chosen"
In the amendment, while ita suthor
has been careful to employ the latter,
and avoid the former words. "Chosen, I"
In the sense used, means that the citizens
residing in Wilmington shall elect four OF
the eleven representatives. II these
must be elected by those particular pre-
scribed citizens, then it follows by force
Of the very terms Of the amendment, that
no one in the outside huudreds-no more
than in the outside counties or the out
side states-osn lawfully vote either to
elect or defeat them, and consequently
that any such vote would be as thrown
away. For when it is expressly prescribed
that certain representatives shall be chosen
by the voters resident in certain dis.
trict, 1t simply is not necessary to add
that those Of different district shall no,
interfere, or participate in the election in
the former one, for such will bs til.
necessary inference.
But even il the Dslawarean suggested
l a
IL could not be cured as it supposes by
merely prescribing that Wilmington,
four members should be residents Of tina
city. Bscause II 'chosen" means hvoteC
for" as 1t argues, then tn,
outside voters could still vot,
for their election. They woult
OF course have TO be elected from viii
mington but might be voted for by out
side residents. Indeed, under oul Con
stitution as it is the Dstavarean might
according to its theory, quite as logical,
argue that the representatives from New
! Castle county can be voted for by tn
residents of Keut or Sussex county.
= 1t looks as il the Dover "Disooverer'
o has really only discovered what old folk
a would call "mare's nest" after all. 1t
i, theory Is as untenable as its information
regarding New Castle county nomination
: is unreliable. Members of the Legislator
! are nominated here by ballot aid not b
g county conventions, and hence the cas-
! put by tie Deiamarean's editorial illus
/ tration can not possibly arise i
j. this county. Possibly it ma
l. not be lar amisb TO presume tbs
the author of the proposed smendmer
was New Castle county man, that L
understood our situation and needs, an
Vt that he used language appropriate to til
IL object sought to b' attained and exactl
is suited to our circumstances.
IL In both Wilmington and the outsid
1, hundreds of this county, the members
"a the Legislature being nominated /
la ballot by the respective residents there
Ia at their several voting places, it is sbsui
y to suppose, as it is improbable that Il
u people of Wilmington will nominate the
ID share Of members from the outside hui
Or dreda, or the people of the latter fro
h Wilmington. Since Wilmington's nor
is inees will therefore be rssiden
Or OF that city they will doubtle
n be voted for by those who nominal,
them. If so, then the citizsns outside
Wilmington can not lawfully, by the
votes, favor or oppose their election,
the amendment presoribss that they OF
10 be chosen only by the voters resident
the city. And, since tho vote in W
e. mington is counted separately from tn
IN outside thereof, it will bs easy to separa
o. the latter if unlawtulIy cast, from Il
~ lawful vote given in the city in choosil
ID its members.
10 The DeldDrean will have to. wipe /
IN spectacles and look again, and the Ne
ID must once more desist from calling II Il
IN "Grubb amendment" and again stiemati
Iy it as the "Saalsbury infamy."
l. .". DEMOCRAT.