Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1889-01-02
wEDNEsDAY. JANUARY .. 1899.
The message Of Governor BiQgs

The message of Governor Biggs,
published yesterday, Is a remarkable
document. He offers number of
suggestions in regard to the care OF the
insane, primary elections, our common
schools and other public maltere, aud
In speaking on the Constitutional Re-
form question Gays:
Without expressing to you my vieSA
at this time upon tie necessity Of the
calling Of C0uvestion 10 change our
organic law, deem it my duty, however,
10 advise you that Ia consideiin ing the
question which wi without doubt be
presented to you Tor action, that you
should exercise great care and diligence
In arriving at 4 conf fusion Of how you
should proceed In this matter. | believe
that in the consideration OF this
matter you will show that regard and
reverence for the prov sions OF the Con-
sti'ution which are justly dus them. You
will at the outset be confr nted with the
grave question, whether or not, you rs
LEGISLATORS, have authority under the pro-
visions of Article TX, 70 call a Con ven
ton upon the basis of he vote cas- IA
Aforesaid No rash measures should be
resorted to In order 10 secure the calling
Of . Convention for the purpose OF
framing New Con Ititution. Il Is better
TO make haste slowly ia securing that
which lie deemed necessary and which the
increase OF popu'at'ou aud needs of the
State may require, than It would be II at.
tempt to secure it by means seemingly at
least. revolutionary
This certainly shows decided
Change in his Excellency's views sine
he spoke on this question couple Of
years ago in the Opera House, this
city. He also deplores the use oil
money at elections, and recommends
that there be some legislation to pre-
vent 1t, but forgot 20 say ANYTHING
about the bogus tax receipt business
by means (which / 800 illegal Demo
cratic votes we've polled in this city
at the recent election. In speaking O
suffrage he says;
think IL not improper ia this connec
ton 10 remark that II seems to have be-
come common OF late for the ignuran
and misiniormed In some other States
from motives unworthy OF comments
ton, to misrepresent the laws and gov
eminent IN this State in respect to tn
right to just aud equal exercise of thu
elective franchise by It's Ct liens. Ever
those who assume the Office Of cnlighten
ing public opinion as editors Of the pub
lie press In other States, have abused th
otli:e they haye assumed IA this respec
by grossly disappearing the laws c
Delaware, and her pc pie who make thos
Laws. feel no hesitation Il
declaring as the Executive OF this State
that there is no other State in the UnioI
where the proper exercise Of the elcctiv'
franchis is more properly and fully 81
cured wi hut restriction or qualification
in respect TO race. color, or previous Coz
dition OF serVitude. than 1t Is In this State
But in the same paragraph he sug
gests that law be passed making ii
misdemeanor for county tax collsc
tor to refuse TO receive the tax of
qualified voter, and in this connectio
comment is unnecessary. He is oppo,
cd TO the Legislature granting divorce
and suggests that such business shoul
be left to the courts. These are ii
principal points Of the message whic
10 certainly remarkable in more r,
spects than one.