Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-12-13

Stltutlon lie came from community
which has contributed to American states
manship some of its most illustrious
names and worthiest achievements.
Liberty has no foothold stronger, patriot-
ism no shrine more sacred. the home no
tie more tender than in the heart OF
Delaware boy. Ali that is most char
acteristic of American life all that
spings to the mind most quickly
and joyously at the sight of the
Stars and Stripes, was his birthright and
becomes the motive power of every throb
that sends the red blood through his body.
In the journeyings Of his disposition he
can never go far from the principles that
make him good citizen, for they blow in
the air his childhood breathes and are con-
stituent with the nourishment that de-
yelops him. He may Jockey the peach
crop just q little, but he will never figure
as disturber OF social order. Behind him
are two centuries OF that devotion to the
American idea of liberty which is the
pledge Of just and equal laws. His belief
i'll true democracy is Il part OF his origin.
1t came to him with the baptisnal drops
that pledged him to an honorable life, and
in sunlight or starlight it has been warmed
and cherished. Nowhere in these united
sovereignties is the home more thoroughly
American than in the three counties of
Delaware. Out starts the Delaware boy
bonded to the principles that have made
our landthe mine OF opportunity and the
minister of progress
CHIEF Justice Lore followed. He was
introduced as follows:
The judiciary of Delaware of the
present day has well won and worthily
worn the ermine of their predecessors,
that has descended upon them like the
mantle of elijah upon Elisha the prophets
and judges of old. Such men as kinsey,
Brown, Bassett, Bradford, Ridgiey, Har-
rington, salisbury, and host of other
legal lights, are pictures for the living to
copy, and while it bchooves us not to
speak in too tlattering terms of the living,
| simply voice the opinion of all i'll eN-
pressing warm approval of the appoint
ment OF SO distinguished a iurist to the
chief place OH the supreme bench. as the
gentleman who has llonOred us with his
presence ut our board tonight, Chief
Justice Charles i. Lore, whom | have the
pleasure TO introduce.
The Chief Justice said:
M. Chairman: The sentiment to which
| have the honor to respond, is a fitting tri-
butte to the jursts who in the past have
worn the ermlne and administered justice
in our beloved little State. They were viril
and pure public servants. We of the pres
ent, are clothed with much that is bor-
rowed from their greatness, From their
lives and works we gather much strength.
Our light i'll the present, is largely the re-
Election of their light in the past it is fit
ting, therefore, that in their name we
should respond to your hospitality.
The first dispenser of justice in Della.
ware, was the Swedish Governor Printz in
1913 He weighed 400 pounds and took
three drinks at every meal. His commits
sion from the King Of Sweden, was to
Render justice without distinction, 80
that there might be no injury to any man,
and to decide all controversies according
to the law, customs and usages OF Sweden"
Being military Governor, of absolute
power and unlearned in the law, his deci-
sions were like his drinks, very mixed,
and rs he was sometimes both plaintiff
and judge, his decisions have not been
considered authority TO bind his sue
Cessors.
In 1865 the dutch succeeded to power,
justice to suit the mixed Swedish and
Dutch people. In 1868 is found the earliest
recorded appearance of an attorney within
the limits of Delaware, and some are un.
kind enough to say Delaware would have
been happier if no ally ever had appeared
in her courts. He bore the name OF Schel-
luyn, and was the prosecutor against
Skipper Derrick Cornellissen Heinrich for
smuggling.
The English succeeded the Dutch in
1864, and Governor LovelaGe supplanted
Dutch with English courts and forms.
The arms OF the King OF England were
emblazoned OH the walls Of The sitting
places of the courts, and borne aloft on
the slaves of the court officers.
The first jury trial, occurred upon the
Delaware in 1863; when Long Finn, who
claimed to be the son of the Swedish Con-
ingsmarke. was tried for instruction,
before u jury of twelve good men to be
empaneled." He was found guilty, and
part of his sentence was, That the said
Long shall be publickly and severely
whipped, and stigmatizeu and branded on
the face, with the letter r, with the in.
| scrlption written in great letters and put
upon his breast" Thus you observe, the
whipping post has the flavor of ancient
law, and still continues to be much in
vogue among the virtuous.
With the exception of the temporary
return to power OF the Dutch from 1873 to
| 1874, the English continued to govern the
| Peninsula until the Revolution OF l776;
| dispensing Justice through proprietary
| Judicial tribunals aud methods. The
common law of England was the basis of
| the system, but i'll practice, the arbitrary
power of the provincial Governor largely
| prevailed.
In the time reasonably allotted to re-
marks like these it would be impossible
| W hNCtt unOI Itlb iluilGS ana lives Vi IDS
| many men who have adorned the bench
i'll Delaware We must coniine ourselves
TO few who come within our present
scope
The Judges of the United States district
| court tor the district of Delaware, begin
| ming with Cunning Bedford in 1889, fol-
lowed by John Fisher in 1872, then by
| Willard Hail. the father of the Whining
| ton City common school system, then by
Edward G. Bradford. and in 1854 by the
| present judge, Hon. l.. Il. Wales, were all
men Of distinction and large influence Ill
| the State.
Of the Chief Justices of the supreme
court of the State of Delaware, Richard
Bassett was the first incumbent under the
| Constitution of 1892. His commission was
| dated lIY3. He was not only all eminent
lawyer and iurist, but at different periods
| of his life was governor OF the State, mem
! Der Of the old Congress in 1851 United
States Senator and delegate from Delaware
| to the convention which framed the Con-
stitution of the United States in 1850. He
was man of large wealth, and had three
| homes; one in Dover. one i'll the Bohemia
| Manor and another in Wilmington; among
| which he divided his time. His daughter
| became the wife of James A. Bayaru, ST.,
the grandfather OF the present Ambassa-
dor to England. Bassett was strongly
avcrse to Methodisn, and so disliked
| blshop Asbury, who by his pure life and
ministry hud won Bassett's wife to that
faith, that he would abandon his home
whenever lie knew that Asbury was about
TO make visit Once he threatened to
sell all his possessions in Delaware and
move away to get rid OF the pestlferous
set; yet shortly thereafter he was con-
| verified to that faith, joined the church and
became the leading spirit in Peninsular
Methodism. out Of his own means he
built the first N. L. Church in Dover lie
was everywhere recognized as masterful
man.
George Reed, sgner of the Declaration
/ of Indanenlnncn and one of Lhn nlnst die