Daily Republican., 1889-03-20

Lional reform will recede, and all we will !
hear OF q new constitution eau be ex-
pressed In the words Of that good old I
hymn, I'm the sweet bye and bye" {
u did not come here TO vote against ,
what l think right. / am In favor of this I
bill. My friend from Brandywlne has {
told me OF half dozen different ways of
thought OF, and | am willing TO take any
of them"
Speaker Hoffeoker followed:
every one in this House OF Repre-
sentatiyes that took the oath on the ilrst
of the year felt as l did, that the oath
was sacred one. We
pledged ourselves by that oath to support
the Constitution of the United States, be-
cause Of the allegieuce due the States to
the National Government, and then the
Constitution Of the State of Delaware"
The speaker compared the progress Of the
State when the Constitution was adopted
to the present time; the increase In the
value of land from Smyrna to Milford.
Continuing he said: 1.-THE Constitution
was good one at the time 1t was made.
| subscribed to It and have kept my oath
up to the present time, and mean to until
the end of the session. ! do not think i |
violate my oath when take steps to pro- |
vide for a conventio |
We have declared that the vote was
sufficient. There are differences OF opin-
lon as to the uuexceptional mCde. The
wording lof the article 10 ambiguous;
while men learned in The law differ 1t
seems plain that there are other modes.
The vote OF 1887 seems to me to be sufii
cient to go upon. AS to the question Of
repre- entstlon this body has lite to do
with the matter. That is for the conven-
To-.
iess In the proposed convention. ] stand
here an advocate Of o convention. l am
glad that the two last speakers have de-
clared themselves In favor of a conven-
tion. 1t shows that this is not political
movement. 1t wi | be a bill passed by
the vo es of both sides. 1t should not be
n political quest on, as 1t ia one affecting
the people OF the whole state.
have given my reasons Tor nv vote
because everybody will be expected to be
questioned as tn their vote"
As Mr.. Whit man arose to reply to the
previous speakers there was general
murmer OF expectarcy.
His speech would In great measure
clearly Indicate the Democratic position.
None, however, eKpt cted so bril- liant an
address from so young man. He said
In part: "As to the necessity and advis-
| y
that there Is q unanimity OF opinion.
That phase has passed beg ond argument.
That 1t ought to be done, no one will
deny. How to call one In a constitutional
way Is the question before us. There is u
difference upon this both In ana outside
these halls. The ablest legal minds In
this State are at variance. therefore
speak ior myself. | stand now in the
same position that | did when the vote
was aserrtained. | opposed that reso-
luton when 1t was offered and 1t has
about the same elect as II this General
Assembly passed resolution that the
waters oil the Delaware should change
their course and 20 up an inclined plane
or that the earth Ia fixed and that the sun
is planet and moves around II.
Further than this 1t has no result othe
than to cause trouble for this question. A
close study and an analysis of the niuth
article OF the constitution brings me II
the conclusion that It is more liberal than
at first supposed. There has been three
distinct ways of changing the conBiitu
tiOn already referred to. The fret method
by the Legislature Is so Impractical thai
, it Is almost an impossibillty for three
: fourths OF one Legislature to agree tt
what two-thirds of previous Legislature
h IS agreed 10. The 81 cOnd, the calling o.
a convention by the au hority Of the peo
,, Pile. What do we mean by the authority
,, OF the people? The authority of n major.
lay OF The people. 1t is found Ms The car.
: dinal principles ot the constitution of th G
United Sta.es. There are two ways oil
amending that constitution, one by sug-
|, gestion Of Congress and the other by sug
gest;on Of the people. The people can
compel Congress- TO obey their plain die
tates. | conceive that our consti uiion
was framed with an idea to the same
purpose The people should not make a
complete surrender. l hold that the peo-
pie can meet the second Tuesday in May
OF any year.
II they vote for convention thtir
voice Of necessity must be heard. be-
lieve that the inherent right of the people
can call a convention unlcss the barriers
are too great In this case | am of the
opinion thst majority of the people
have failed to express themselves to call a
convention, yet we are asked TO snnibilate
the whole Instrument. regret that the
facts are such as to compel me to vote
against this bill. will go vote, What.
ever may be the consequences l am
willing to be the victim. | recognize
! that am creature OF the constitution
and will In no act assume to be greater
than my or ator. 1 will acquiesce In no
measure that will be fragrant violation
of that instrument Tor the purpose ol
',acIng my party In favorable position.
, No political party will be benefited
unless majority has expressed It's assent
, TO u constitution in a legitimate way.
Others may do what they deem proper.
My position as member sworn to sup
port the constitution, am persuaded u
. do other than vote against this bill
9 would tie violation OF one OF its plainest
e provisions. Whatever be done It must
oe by majority OF the citizens entitled
; to vote { r prest natives.
; What effort has been made to ascer'
: tain that votei Before the election was
+ held the journals ali over this State aud
= speakers In halls and on the s.unp de
4 c ared that IL was necessary to have the
0 highest vote. Popular sentiment ia on
P the side of convention, aud believe he
a is dangerous man who will advocate q
{ convention for that reason. To my mind
!, this bill is as much an act of revolution
as it was when Richard Henry Lee Intro
/: due d resolution that these colonies
n ought to be free and independent States,
n and much less justifable. We must lool
g on all phases OF this question. We liv'
It In day when tho seeds OF socialism
a communism aud anarchy are heing sown
l. and we have seen our sist r States sutfe
a from these causes. ThiDk OF the bold
/. ness OF those men In Chicago and thu
8 suffering that ensued; when we call II
q mind the insoleuce of these people 1
r. makes our hearts burn with anger an,
d resentment. We hope for the perm a
T. nency OF American institutions. VIII.
should we detract from their perma
J. neucy. If you do 1t you may look bacl