Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-01-03

that the rights o. ali parties Void be
better secured and the sahctitp OF them
rage Tie be bettsr protected, by allowing
them them e deal with this question rather than
yourselves. IVA eCf
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION,
There Ia growing desire on the part OF
q large number OF our cltizsns for a revl.
sion OF the present constitution OF the State,
~ an act pissed ut the last session OF the
H5neral Assembly, q special election was
held on the day therein specified. At that
elertion the numbGr OF votes cast for con.
Ventlon - by many held under the provl.
Mons Of tue constitution 10 be insufficient
10 authorize you to call the same. or make
provision for Its calling. Article TX. OF the
constitution provides as follows: mo con
Ventlon shan be called but by the authority
OF the people, and an uuexcsntionabla
nooe OF making tEeir senee known will be
Tor thom at q special election on the third
Tuesday ia May, In any year TO vote by
nallot for or against u convention, as they
Snail severally choose to do; and II there
upon, 10 shall appear that majority OF all
thn citizens In the State having n right to
vote for represent lives, have voted for
convention, the General Assembly shall
nc 'ordlngly az their next session. call a
convention to consist OF at least az many
members as there are In both houses Of
tho Legislature, to be chosen in the
aame manner, at the same places and ut tha
same time, that representatives are BY the
cHi2Nns entitled to vote for Representatives,
on due notice gtyen tor one month, and to
meet within three months after they shall
% ele9ted," without expressing 50 you m
Views a. his timeiupon ice necessity OF I'll q
calling OF aconvention 20 change our or,
ghnic law, Ideern II my" hhty, h6waver. I'd
advise You thht in c6nsiderinsf lid q,isstiod
which will without doubt be', PRESENTED I'd
you for action, that you should exercise
great care and IdiIlgsnce 10 arriving a.
conclnsion ot how you should prnesRd in
tnis matter, | believe that Ia the considera-
tlon Of this matter you will show thai re-
Rari an I reverence for the provisions Of
me constitution which are justly due them.
You VIII ~ the outset ba confronted With
the crave question, whe'her or not, You as
LEGISLATORS, have authority under tho pro.
Visions Of Article tx, to call a convention
npon the basis OF the vote cast as nf)resajd?
No rash measures should b. resorted to IL
order TO secure tho calling Of convention
tor the purpose OF framing a new cnnstitu
tion. 1t IA batter TO make haste slowly 10
securing that which IS deemed necessary
and which the increase OF population and
needs of the State NAV require, rhau Il
would bs to attempt to secure Il BY means
seemthgly, at least, revolutionary. 81.
II n change Ia desired, the voters Of the
sig'o will, II yon should think It hest, have
eyery opportunity 81 seen Inn It bV follow
ns the requirements OF Article TX, 81 the
existing Constitution. 0ne well b Sing and
prosperity depends up1n ohsdlnnee TO the
fundamental law Of tue State, aud you as
legislators should In all your acts aeknowl.
| edge its supremacy by y ur recognition Of
L hndyour obedience to T. The Fundamental
law Of the State should bs changed only
upon mature reflection, and In con lidering
now you shall proceed IN this, which We all
acknowledge 10 DO a grave mater, lot me
urge You 10 act with that caut,Un which tn
grave nature o! the question demands, and
i ! sincerely trust that whatever course you
may determine upon It will De after due
elaboration and sobsrnaS5 of thought
What my individual views may 10 upon the
subject Il I, UNNECESSARY to 1t ~, and VIII n.
out indicnti them to You, fell II buI
right to urge that Ia considering thai which
must some time lnevi'ablYcOms, before yor
aet do 80 10 the manner | have already In
| dicated, for It not only when securet
Affects every Individual OF the State for tn,
present, but In all human probability FOL
years TO come.
PRIMARY ELECTION Law.
would Suggest that you take into con
slderatlon the enactment of q law govern
Ing the holding of all primary elections Il
this state. There IL, at present. no statue
regulating tho same excepting one relatinI
TO the primary elections In New Oastl'
county. Much complaint exists as TO th,
manner In witch the elections are now con
Quoted, and remedy should be provided
| TO rectify auy abuses which may exist II
/ the present mods OF conducting them
There should be such safeguards thrown
around them TINT everyone should free and
untrammeei, cast his ballot as he may soc
4 proper,
BRIBERY.
Tbs use OF money at elections everywhere
Is alarmingly on the Increase. That use
has, In this State become 80 great as to cal
forth q protest by all WIN favor the purity
Of the ballot. The present law upon fht
statute books does not seem TO meet thu
present needs aud the enforcement of IT.
provisions Is practically dead letter.
deem II my duty to call your attention tC
tho Wholesale bribery which has become q
main feature In elections and urge upoI
you the necessity of prompt action IL the
matter. 30 unblushing has the practice
become that the votes OF men are openl!
bartered for and secured. Little by little
the nvfl has grown until to-day the number
I of those who enter the political anctior
mart mud barter and sell their suffreges t.
tho highest bidder is HlArmiugly large
The evil has grown to such MAGNITUDE tina
the most strenuous legislation Ia demanded
! 10 check lis further increase. There shonlt
be law epnctad sufficiently rigorous
weighing heavlly upon both this buyer and
the sellet. Provision equally as exactint
| should be- made Tor the failure 10 the per
formnnoa OF duty on the part of those on
trusted with the execution of the law. TIL
safety of the State, its welfare and goot
name, demand rhat you should weigh care
\ fuliy this subject and by provision OF law
insist that every one ia the exercise OF tn,
Inherent right OF suffrage should exercise
ii freely and fairly and not tr m the intiu
ence OF pacunlary gain. In my iudgmen
I YOU can iegisiats upon no subject more i'm
portant than this. Every precau,ton shoult
be taken 10 secure the purity OF thr balio
and you, as the chossn representatives o
the tsouls, should enact those laws which
tend TO elevate, rather than by passivenas'
suffar tbose prncttaes to 'eontinue which
degrade the morals OF tho vOter"hit'' TX ent
Ea' f4ria srArE 1inRARY! re sa5}
| Your attention. is called 70 Tie con5lttol
osthe sata library. The shelves atn 9lread!
i il ilAH and hundn reds or hooks are piled upol
the flobf! mans ot which are iyeryivalusole
.andi are ising uinet Tor want 9ofsspace Ii
which they can be properly taken care Of
Something should be done 10 remedy thi
nrasent unsatisfactory arrangement. Th
humber OF volumes Is constantly increasing
The library is a large and valuable one ant
for want OF proper accommodation It 4
impossible to Keep II In that condition
which Its value demands.
nEPgIEvEs AND pARDoNs.
herewith ira stnit to yon list OF re
prIeyes ard pardons and my reasons 10
granting the sHme'
OYSTER INDUSTRY.
ON account u the multlfa'ious and con
iletlnc laws regulating the oyster Industry
isers i discomfort and complaint on thu
nart Of tho % engaged 10 Il. This Industry
ny proper attention could be made sou,c'
that baya had the opportunity have mad
n !" having one. Unher Que present law
.hnra Ia ltttls Il any, increase In th