Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1884-10-02

ratification Of the amendments proposed Il
Article vi. Of the constitution relative to the
judiciary, as necessary to the establishment oil
proper judicial system. The obvious de,
fects Of the present constitution demand the
application Of some adequate remedy,
especially in the construction OF the court Of
errors and appeals, and the accumulation Of
business consequent upon the increase OF
population and the development of new and
varied branches Of industry requires that the
energies of each Of the judges should be de.
voted to the consideration and dispatch OF
the legal matters arising out Of the exigen'
cies OF growing community. The provisions
of the existing system arc cumbrous and
antiquated and should be moulded into the
form which the experience of other states
has shown to be safe and judicious
ResoiUed, That we disapproye the amend.
ment proposed by the general assembly Of
tins State to article II. as being unjust,
illusory and miscellaneous 1t ia unjust because
it discriminates between citizens and denies
to the people residing in different sections the
equality OF representation to which they are
entitled It is illusory because it falsely pre-
tends to be an equitable remedy for existing
wrongs, and it is mischievous because, il
ratified, it will postpone for a generation the
adoption OF just and adequate measures Of
reform. Instead of this scheme, which
the possession of political power,
the Republican party proposes the
division Of the State into separate senatorial
and representative districts, allotting to each
its Just and equal proportion Of each, and
providing that the Senators and Representa-.
tives shall be chosen by the people thereof,
thus insuring equality Of representation as
among the citizens residing in different
localities, securing such representation to the
kbasv-
views and destroying the baneful influence Of
county prejudices and the undue preponder-
ance Of disproportionate county population.
THE TEMPERANCE PLANK.
The memorial presented sby the State
Temperance Alliance committee, request
ing the insertion Of temperance plank
In the platform, was identical with that
presented to the Democratic convention,
and bore the same signatures. Mr..
Smithers, in his most gracious manner,
assured the temperance advocates who
were present, that they must look TO the
dominant party for local option and pro-
hibition laws, and his convention could
do nothing for them.
TIE COMMITTEES.
The committee on res olutions was COM
posed as follows First district, William
G. Spruance, George W.Stone and Thomas
NJ. gilbert Second district. DR.. John
W. De Witt, Daniel W. Corbit and
Alexander Valentine Third district,
N. B. Smithers, Bsnish Tharp and W.
g. Hoffeoker Fourth district, DR.. b. b.
Burton, W. +. Reville and George p.
Smith.
The committee on credentials WIS :
Pirst district, John NJ. Dunn, David a.
Coyle and Thomas Curlett Second is-
triot, George Ellicott, E. B. Rice and E.
P. Kemp Third district, W. 8. Bargsr,
W. A. FAIRIES and Garrett L. Hynson ;
Fourth district, Simeon Pennewill, John
7. Long and DR.. John Messick. ....
DBPEAT FOR MASSEY.
The result OF the convention was q
square defeat for Massey, and in the
house of his friends. It Is noteworthy
fact that the Stslwarts had nothing to do
with the affair. With the exception o.
DR.. Hiram Burton, deputy collector al
Lewes, there was not q Fedora
officeholder present. In New Castle
county there were but five votes against
Mr.. Higgins. It was convention
composed almost entirely Of the
Blaine element OF the party, which
Massey led 70 gloriously to victory ct the
convention held last May. Then he wal
leader Of the hosts, but yesterday hi
own followers repudiated him for Spru
ance, Stone, Dunn and Higgins, and IL
the remote event Of BIaiue's election, the
voios of Massey will not prove potentia
in the distribution Of Federal patronag'
in Delaware.
SKETCH OF THE NOMINEE.
Anthony Higgins, Esq, the nomine'
for Congress, was born near st. Georges
this county, October LIST, 1910. Hespen
FIVE years in Newark Academy and Della
ware College, aud afterwards entered Yal
College, where he took the degree o
Bachelor Of Arts, in 1861, after which h
entered the office Of William c. Spru.
ence, Esq, as student at law. Il
spent one year at the Harvard
Law School, and in May 1864
was admitted to the bar Of New
Castle county. He was taken into part
nership by The late Judge Bradford. Il
September 1864 he was appointed deputy
by Attorney. General Jacob Moore, an,
after holding the position two or thre
years, resigned. He was chairman 0
the Republican State central committe
during the campaign of 1868. In May
1869, he was appointed United State
district attorney by President Grant
and after serving over seven year
was removed by Grant, presumably 10
having supported Bristow for Presiden
at the Cincinnati convention in 1876. Il
made no effort to retain the office.
At the Legislative session Of 1881 ,whe
Mr.. BayRrd was reelected to the Unite
States Senate, Mr.. Higgins was voted 70
by the Republican delegation that the
represented New Castle county.
Mr.. Higgins is an able lawyer, yer.
eift ctive speaker and has enjoyed larg
practice. His most famous case, how
ever, was one from which he resped til
least emolument. II was the celebrate
case Of William Neal, q negro, who wa
tried on charge Of committing an out
rage upon Mrs. Margaret Grosser, whit
woman Of Blackbird hundred. The tei
timony was convincing and the jury
q majority of which were Republicans
convicted him without hesitation and b
was sentenced to be hung. Mr.. Higgin
carried the case to the United State
Supreme Court, on the ground that b.
the laws OF Delaware colored people wer
excluded from the jury that tried Neal
and had the verdict quashed. A seoon,
trial was had in the spring Of 1881, wheI
Mr.. Higgins, by exercising the right o
challenge against ali Democrat
| until the panel was exhausted, afte
which he was aided by ex.Sheriff Clsr
In the selection Of talismen, packed
solid Republican jury, which include
two or three political ward workers. Il
the trial of the case the prisoners gull
was again established, and the defens
offered no evidence whatever, but hi
Higgins packet Republican jury sal
"not guilty, "and the negro rsvisher wa
allowed to 60 free.
FIRST DAY At FAIRYIEH.
| Opening OF the state Fair nt Fair