Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1890-02-27

nroihEon An New Castle Churro
Upon tho BemOcrats-sonie Eeat-
uses of thu New P0ilt.cal Regime
IN Sussex,
staff Correspondence Of Gazette and Journal
GEoRaETowN. Feb. 26.--The Repub-
heans OF Sussex county are making a
desperate effort to retain the political
control they gained by the accidental
victory Of the last general election, and
the partisan means they ere resorting TO
fairly outrivsi the most outrageous
practices charged against the Democrats
of New CASTLE by their brethren OF that
ooHnty. They are pa iding the assoc.
ment lists with the names OF negroes who
have no legal residence, they have
adopted the most arbitrary methods with
regard to the examination and purifiea-
tion of the lists, AND they have even re-
pudiated the tactics sought to be
employed by the Republicans of
New Castle through the aid of
Of the courts, and peremptorily refused
the right Of paying poll taxes by proxy
or power Of attorney. The only reason
that this System Of payment was pro.
posed by the Democrats was that it was a
privilege granted both parties for years
under Democratic regime, but now that
the Republicans are in control every
Democrat must pay hia own taxes, while
the Republican and negro taxablea will
be duly attended to and their tax receipts
carefully stored away until they are used
on the day of election. TO this latter
plan the Democrats do no. especially
object, as It is one of the
legitimate fruits OF political victory
under our peculiar electoral syBtem,
but they do protest against being denied
the tight of paying the taxes of their own
weil. known and legally assessed voters,
when they reflect how they permitted the
Republicans to exercise this right un-
questioned for years. They also object
that this plan may possibly keep q large
number of citizens from paying their
taxes, and thus mot only disquality these
men from voting, but rob the county
treasury Of considerable sum that
would accrue from their poll taxes, at a
time when pressing necessity requires the
close collection OF every item OF taxation
and the most economical expenditure OF
every dollar OF the public funds.
THE GEORGETOWN OUTRAGE.
The most conspicuous instance OF the
determination OF the Republicans to rids
rough-sh9d over law and established
usage in the matter of doctoring the
assessments, was the action OF the levy
court with respect to the assessment for
Georgetown hundred. 1t has alrendy
been detailed in EVERY EgEstNa but as j.
Frank Bacon, Esq, the accidental pro-
tege Of Charles Il. Treat, who waa cast on
the surface when the corruption fund in
the campaign Of 1883 bought enough
votes to make Sussex county Republican
has attempted to explain his undeair-
able connection with the unsaYory affair
IN long and labored public letter, some
of the salient features will bear presenta-
ton here.
The assessor Of Georgetown hundred,
Democrat named 2achariah Reynolds,
after be had honestly made his assess-
ment OF the hundred, was approached by
j. Frank Bacon and handed a lis. con.
tanning between 80 and 40 names, with
the request that he place them upon his
lists. Ignorant Of the law and believing
he would not be imposed upon, the
assessor pnt them on the list. Upon re-
lAting the fact to Democratic friend an
investigation was begun which dis
closed the fact that most OF these
uames had no right to be assessed. One
was o convict in Jail; another
young man not more than IS years of age;
another was o colored school teacher
named Cozzsns, recently from Philadel-
phia, and who, it is charged, voted at
the recent election in that city and there
fore cannot become eligibls TO citizen
Bbip in this State for year thereafter
Others were residents Of adjoining hun
dreds, and on four or FIVE, 10 fact, were
men who had bona fide right 10 be
placed on Mr.. Reynolds lists.
The assessor, being licensed at the at
tempt Of such an imposition upon him,
struck OF those that he was satiffi "a had
no right to be on and those whom he did
not know. He returned mis- list to the
levy court, and that the Republicans
might be aware Of his acton In regard TO
these Names hs gave the list taat Mr.
Bacon had handed him to the commits.
sioner for Georgetown hundred, SAYING
that he did not return them az assessad,
as lie did not believe they had right to
be assessed. He notified the cominis.
sioner, as o member OF the Republican
party, in order that he might have an
opportunity Of getting the men
before the levy court q. the March SEES
sion. The levy court, however directed
him to complete the assessment Of these
names by affixing thereto the amount OF
their respective capitations, whereupon
he appeared before the court with Msssrs.
A. p. Robinson, William II. Boyce and
u. 4. Marvel as his counsel. They all
held that the assessor had no right to
altor the assessment returned by him to
izsp levy court and accepted by that body
and under this advice la refused 20 obey
the courts request. Mr.. Marvel took
the position that II the asBesaor
had not performed his duty
the court had tue right to ordAr an
other assessment, and that il ho had ex-
ceeded his authority he WAS ansWeraEie
to the law. But that the levy court
could not alter an assessment daily re-
turned otherwise thGn as the law pre-.
scfihes, and 80 tho list handed in by Mr.
Bacon WAS net on tae regular assessment
return, the court, in order to get those
names CT the list, must either order 4
nav assessment OF add them NJ the March
session Of the c9urs, IA accordance wltn
the statute.
II vas then TINT j. Frank Bac7n, with
tagio mnin, prapeed around the room
Rhd violently declared that tbs Demo-
Gratis didn't CARS a earn about puia
ballot, and that the Democratic parry
had frsuduleuLty deprived honest citi-
HslE of their franchise And when Mr..
Marvel asked if the speaker intended 10
charge him with being party 10 such a
fraud Bacon replied In the affirmative.
With not the slightest iias Of forca OF
violence Mr. Marvel proceeded to Ylgor.
onSly denOunce B4pons insraation,
When the lAtter's brother, "a Bacon,