Smyrna times., 1886-12-22
The Legislation of Delaware.
WHAT THE CHANGERS THINK AROTT
THE SENATOR, NEW CONSTITUTION.
TAXES &c.

WHAT THE CHANGERS THINR ApOrrT
THE SENATOR, NEW CONSTITUTION.
TAXES &C.
The Delaware State Grange held n
two or three days meeting in Whining
ton last week and had a number of i'm
portant matters before them of interest
to themselves and the public. The
position of the Lodge to public Oues-
tlons may be obtained from the report
OF Worthy Master Thompson, a svnop-
SIS OF which we herewith give. After a
complimentary reference to their An
nual Reunion the passage of the Oleo-
margarine bill and the Winter course
OF agriculture at Delaware College. the
Report says:
IL behooves US, in connection with
these questions of Congressional legis-
lation, to look well to the legislators.
Are we sending the right kind of men
TO represent US, the people of this com
mon wealth, or do they represent the
corporate and mOnied interests of the
country.
one of the most important duties of
! the Legislature, soon to assemble at
Dover, will be the selection of United
| States Senator for this State. That
Legislature will be composed of large
| majority OF farmers, and all being of
one political faith. the selection does
not partake of partisan political action.
! WIZ that Legislature of farmers send
TO the United States Senate from Della
ware for the next six years a senator
| who represents their interests, or will
they obey the behests, of party, and the
lash OF the bosses, and give their sup
port to one who has voted in the past
In direct opposition to their expressed
desires.
Patrons this is the question? Here
IS an office to be filled for long term.
six years. Who can foretell what
questions of vital importance to the
American farmer, will come before the
United States Senates in that time. and
what assurance from past record have
we from the gentleman who is slated
for that position? Here is work for US.
Politicians can and will laugh at our
protest now. When will farmers learn
to protect their own interestsP Ileave
the question with you.
1t is an admitted fact among our
best informed and thinking citizens
that the constitution under which we
are governed as a state, is inadequate.
ana unsulted to our needs. The Judi.
clal system, the present method Of an
pointing, instead of electing county and
other officers, the plan of representa-
tlon IN the laW-making bodies. our as
sessment and collection laws and MANY
matters of minor importance need re-
forming, to meet the wants of an en-
llghtened and progressive people.
The refusal to meet this popular
demand by those having the power to
do so should be visited with our severe
condemnation, and no patron who
gives his aid, sympathy and support to
the men who refuse is true to the Obli-
CATION he,has taken as a member of the
order.
The order of Patrons of Husbandrv
has adopted the following as a part of
Its fundamental principles We desire
a proper equality, equity and fairness /;
protection for the weak restraint for
the strong in short, justly distributed
powers. These are American ideas.
the very essence of American indepen-
dence, and to advocate the contrary is
unworthy the sons and daughters of
an American republic
Have we in the past advocated
these ideas, have we supported them
by voice and vote? Is the power to
make and unmake laws Justly distribu-
ted? Is the burden fairly apportioned? {?
Are our assessment and collection laws
framed with proper regard for the
equality of all citizens, and are they
enforced in a spirit of equity and fair
ness?
" l appeal to you as fair-minded, un-
preJudiced, liberty--lOving men and
women, that they are not. That we
have not done what we should, as citi-
zens or as an organization, in these
matters.
No state that retains such laws and
enactments on its statue books. so con-
trary to the spirit of American institu-
tlons, and to every instinct of American
independence, can hope to reach high
degree of prosperity, or keep apace
with its sister states of the republic.
While we deprecate too frequent
changes in our organic law and deem
1t unwlse to endeavOr to create a senti-
ment or feeling Ofdistrust, dissatisfaction
and disrespeCt towards the present con-
stltution, yet we seriously question the
wisdom of the trainers of that instru-
ment, in their efforts to place it outside
the power of human possibility to
change or remodel it.
That the people are the supreme
power in this land is the very founda-
ton of our government and our proud
est boast. And for few men to as
sumo 90 or go years ago that this age
and generation should not be as well
able, as well equipped as they, to cope
with the great questions of self-gOVern-
ment, was at least presumptious, and
we say this without any disrespect to
their memory. We claim that the
Legislature soon to assemble have the
undoubted right to pass law submit
ting to the people, for them to decide,
whether or not, yes or no, it is their
wish to have a constitutional cOnven-
ton assembled, to prepare cOnstitu-
ton for their approval or rejection.
No constitutional government can
long endure in which the voice of
portion of the people is not on an
equality with other portion; where
the many is made subServient to the
few
The census of 1880 gave to New
Castle county, in round numbers, S2,OOO
inhabitants, while Kent and Sussex.
combined, number 10000 and the diff
ference is no doubt greater, after years.
The former contributes one-third the
members of the General Assembly.
On fair, just and equitable basis, the
State should be divided into districts.
each of which should elect represen-
tative, thus bringing each legislator
directly responsible to his immediate
constituency, and providing for a rep
resentatiOn of the minority, without
which no legislation can be pure and
wholesome, and giving to the people
representation on the basis of pOpula-
tiOn, and local self-government in its
simplest form.
" At the annual session held in Dover
four years ago ]. J. Rosa, then presid-
ing officer, in his last communication
to this body advocated prompt action
being taken; the subject has been dis
cussed at each succeeding session, and
the Grange placed itself on record as
an enlightened and progressive organi-
zatiOn, desirious of and striving for the
best interests of the whole people.
The levy court in each of the cOun-
ties is a cumbrOus, expensive business