Daily Republican., 1884-10-20
I AlRD EDITION ,
Grubb's neutlmenr.

0E0DD AhmenOm0mus
A large crowd assem- bled in the vi.
cinity of Fourth and Shipley streets on
Saturday night, the occasion being n
Democratic mass meeting. Thomas NJ.
Og 10 called the meeting to order, after
which he announced John s. Grohs as
chairman, andj William H. Lee as sec.
rerary. &c. Grubb, ESQ, was the
main speaker, and devoted his time
prin cipally In discussing the constitu.
tional amendment TO be subm tilted TO
the next session of the Legislature for
its final adoption, and which provides
for an increase of the number of Sena-
tors and Representatives in the General
Assembly.
He spoke of the measure As being q
Democratic one, and that "to-day,
when the long deferred hope of New
Castle County is almost . realization,
Republican obstructionists obstinately
interpose every obstacle and objection
to the only practicable means (Which
our pending amendment is) of securing
its fruition."
He referred to the action of the last
Democratic State conventiop. in pledg.
ing their united support not only to de.
fend it, but TO commend 1t to the people
OF Delaware as proper and practicable
m easure OF needed reform. He spoke
Of the boast of John NJ. Clayton, who,
in 1881, had said that he had locked the
door of the State constitution and
thrown the key away
The speaker then said that the
people Of this county had since been
looking for another key to unlock the
door of the constitu ton, and get an in
crease of representation. " To accom-.
plish this requ Tres the devising of an
amendment TO the constitution, which
can successfully run the gauntlet OF
two thirds of each branch of the Legis
lature, OF the approval ofthe Governor,
and after two years consideration of
the people, OF three feurths of each
branch Of the next succeeding Legisla.
ture.
Con tinuing, the speaker said that Tin
order to successfully solve such a prob
lem, 1t IL necessary to view the subject
from three distinct standpoints of a
citizen of Wilmington, of the outside
hundreds OF our county, and of Kent
and Sussex Counties, always bearing in
mind, also, that the popula ton of viii.
mington, In the very near future, will
GU tnumber that OF all the residue of the
State. and, therefore, that Delaware is
political anomaly and in a situation
wholly dissiDilar TO that of any other
State in the Union. 1t will also he
necessary to consider that our rural
hundreds fear the growing population
and inn uence of Wilmington, and that
Kent and Sussex, in their turn, fear the
increasing population and resources OF
our entire county, ami, therefore, that
the means must not be aiven viii.
mington to eDcroach upon the outside
Hundreds, nor to allow Wilmington OF
our County to override the rest OF the
State.
II will also be found necessary 10
recognize that the rule of equality by
counties in Senatorial REPRESENTATION
which has been established for more
IMAM a century. can not yet be over.
the Repub lean Legislative delegation is
elected III this county it will defeat
the ratification of the amendment.
For, unless the New Castle County
Senators and Representatives vote for
It's ratification, it cannot receive the
votes OF three.fourths of each o the two
Houses of the Legislature, which are
necessary to ratify it,"
&c To the Republican objection that
TINS amendment will not give to New
castle County an increase in proportion
W hCi poPuidIiOIt WV hnsWtT III doe
not do 80, because Kent aud Sussex
whether controlled by Republicans OIL
Democrats, will not accord it, since A
will enable New Castle County now tc
control the Legislature and the rest OF
the State, and very sooa would euabl.
W.lm ington to control boil the rect OF
this county and the res;d " VI ,heSta.e
etc.
In reference TO estahlishiu, a Ciistric,
system, he said that while agirated by
men from New Castle, the project wa.
overwhelmingly defeated by the com
oination of both Wings and Democrats
OF Kent and Sussex Counties, and
further tina the plan has never been
favored 10 Delaware, and az opinions
differed so widely in the matter, such a
measurewas not included IN the AMeud.
ment, and the main object is to secure
An increase of representation.
To the objection that it expunges
from cur constitution the pretended
power to increase the Senators OF
Representatives unequally in one o.
more counties, this reply is given
First. No such grant of power is tx
pressed in our constitution, nor will
any sound Interpretation Of that in
strument warrant the finding 1t therein
by implication. 1t is true that three O
our five judges expressed extra judicia
opinions in favor of such power. Blu
these were not authoritative or binding
at all, az those judges at tine tim
frankly declared Secondly. But ever
If such power does exist (Which W
Geny), iC never has been exercise,
during the entire century that it ha
lain dormant in the constitution, AM
1t never will be, voluntarily, for tn
reason already mentioned, that Ken
and Sussex will never assist TO max
the two'thiIds vote necessary to it
less, and it's withdrawal from our con
stitution will really be no loss nor dis
advantage u our people.
- To the objection that the amend
ment does not abrogate the rule G
equality by counties in the Senate, W
answer From the origin of GU
State to the present hour equality i
both branches of our Legislature hs
unin terruptedly obtained.
Equality of representation in both tn
House and Senate, therefore, Is an init
rent aud constituent part Of our str III
ture and constitu tion of State govern
meDt. Quite as much so as equality @
state representation in the Senate {
the nited States, and this part of OF
state constitution can no more be alte
ed except in the prescribed mode ofcol
stitutional amendment, than the federi
constitution
Other points were dwelt upon
length, and the speaker denied that Il
adoption If this amendment woul
postpone for generation justice to II
nee Is OF New Castle County, as relat,
TO her representations but admitted til:
1t was doubtful if the end desired coul