Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-10-19
Chicago Herald.


| Make a Delawarean Feel Proud.
Chicago Herald.
Delaware makes in its State building
a fine, almost unique, appearance. The
amount of money the Worlds Fair man
ayers had for the purpose of erecting
the building and for furnishing and sup
plying it with historical relics and "foot
notes"was not large-only some $4,000
but excellent use was made of what
had been given them. The design for
the structure was by competent archi-
tect, and it was faithfully worked up to
in all pf its details. If every oneiof the
manyinteresung objects of colonial or
early State origin should be absent and
only the chairs and tables and sofas al
lowed To remain, the Delaware Building
would still be notably attractive. This,
decidedly, is not saying that the attrac-
tiveness would be the same were the
lady managers and hostesses not there
to greet with smiles and CHEEKY talk the
visitors. Heard of now and then is the
gentleman OF the old school. He is
extant in some sections. Why comes
not into view the lady Of the old schoolg
She, too, exists; and upon some of the
younger generation the influence of her
kindly, dignifed manners is evident.
In and around Dover and Wilmington
and New Castle, DEL, one should look
as expecting to find ladies, as we'll as
gentlemen, answering to that descrip-
ton. They are there, and their influ-
ence Is by no means unfelt in the pretty
building their State has placed in
Jackson Park.
Only the first story of this building is
occupied, owing to the inability of the
managers at the last moment to bring
hither the superb collection Of colonial
relics that all Delawareans boast but
that few people outside the State ever
see. But the second story is finished
deliberately and in the same style as the
first. s"You should remember" said
half apologetically one of the lady
managers, "that ours is a small State;"
and then as ii recalling herself she
!, added that sin the Senate of the United
States we count for as much as New
!, York or Illinois, and sometimes for
rather more. For Delaware has had q
Clayton, and the Saulsburys and the
Bayards, and history gives the State
, credit for high patriotism at the critical
period when the constitution was in de-
!, bate.p THIS claim Is notdisputable, and
tferefs upon the wall of the principal
room evidence of the fact, which it will
| be of interest to note.
1t is not forgotten by the intelligent
, reader that Congress in session at Phila-
!. delphia in 1887, though it received from
, the Federal convention the draft of the
| new constitution at Washingtun's hand
with his affirmative Endorsement upon
ii, the Congress itself declined to do
more than barely submit to the Legisla-
lures of the several States. Opposition
j was so great tnat the majority of Con-
gress dare not venture word of direct
: approval. Virginia and Pennsylvania
both elected conventions and both de-
layed to adopt the immortal instrument
! Came the people of little Delaware by
! delegates into State convention, and
while the two bigger States were cavil-
! ing and hesitating, they at once pro-
ceeded to decisive action. The original
evidence, showing how emphatical was
the action taken, has been loaned for ex-
hibition in the Delaware Building by
Thomas F. Bayard, Ambassador to Great
Britain. 1t is the record itself of that
action from the State archives. The
proceeding was by q resolution that was
, so phrssed as TO serve as rebuke to the
hesitating States. 1t was intended as
such, and as such it was accepted
Delaware, the first to adopt the consti.
tuition, by unanimous vote resolved that
We, the deputies of the people of Della.
ware, in convention met, having taken
into consideration the Federal constitution
! proposed and agreed upon by the deputies
of the United States in general conven-
tion held in the city of Philadelphia on
the 18th day of the year of Our Lord 1881
have approved, assented to and confirmed
and by these presents do, i'll virtue of the
power and authority to us given for that
and our constituents, fully, freely and Ell
tirely approve, assen: to, ratify and CON
: firm the said constitution.
7 Done in convention at Dover this 18th
day of December, in the year aforesaid
} and the year of the Independence of the
J United States of America the twelfth. II
testimony hereof we have hereunto sub
! scribed our names. The delegates voted
by counties, Sussex, Kent and New Castle
3 lin all thirty-one delegates.
:, The influence of this action, SC
l prompt and emphatical, was immediate
and great upon the other states. AnC
the rejoicing among the people of Della
) ware thereat was contagious among the
people of the whole country. Wha
9 wonder, then, that Delawareans are
proud of their little State? There /!
: that, close by this interesting document
: which testities of the universal glad
e ness. 1t is banner that was made by
q the women, and by them presented t
Il the men of Wilmington, and carried il
u the procession on the occasion of the
$ celebration in that town Of the State'i
G ratification of the constitution. Mr.
d Bayard has also loaned a lock of Wash
g ington's hair that was given by Wash
d ington himself to James A. Bayard, tht
= loaner's grandfather. Portraits of three
). of the Bayards have prominent posi-
u tions; not the least striking is that of tht
c present Ambassador to Great Britain
e In the same frame with these are por
y traits of three of the Saulsburys, who
e were all men of high distinction.
Delaware has great place in re
ligious as well as in political history
g The Methodist church was first founded
= there, and in its first meeting place thu
initial election of an American bishoJ
' occurred. 1t was in Barrett's Chapel
e in Kent county-it was located in th,
! woods, and there it stands to-day. Only
! the roof has been renewed. The frs
: preacher that exhorted in its pulpit wa
r Freeborn Garrettson; it was in 1880
!, Two years later was held in the chape
/ the first quarterly meeting. Bishop
Coke, who had been raised to the otflc,
: by Wesley himself in England, and
Rev. Francis Asbury both attended. Oh
that occasion it was that Asbury wa
,s consecrated bishop, and on the sam
| dav Ezakiai Noonar yva q apnointad m a.