Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-11-29

must excuse us from Keeping company
with them any further Those resolu-
tons may express the opinions and pur-
poses of turbulent Anarchists; but they
do not suit this journal. The men who
drew up, approved and passed those in
fammatory resolutions may count us
among their unflinching enemies. We
stand for law, they for commotion; we
for justice, they for violence; we for
truth, they for partisan falsehood; we
for government by constituted authority,
they for mob rule. They have put
themselves in a position where we can
do nothing less than oppose and de-
nounce them,
Their first resolution is one devoid of
truth. They resolved that virtue and
honor have departed from the Democ-
racy of Delaware, and that the party
has made might right, and the heavier
weapon, the only authority unto which
the people may appeal"
The reference to virtue and honor"
coming from followers of Addicks and
Higgins, need not worry the Democracy
of Delaware. Our criticism goes directly
to the latter part of the resolution which
declares that "the heavier weapon
is "the only authority unto which the
people may appeal" That is a procla-
nation that Delaware's courts arc closed
to justice.
Such statement was probably neces-
sary for the position of mob rule that
they wished to assume; for the natural
conclusion from their "Whereas, the
crime has been committed in open dis
1 regard of law and in violation of sacred
oaths of Office" would be an appeal to
the courts Of justice. So they did not
hesitate to begin their resolutions for
the overthrow of law, by an infamous
assault on the courts. The courts of
Delaware are not closed, they are open.
The judges of Delaware do not make
might right; they administer the law
impartially and on the ancient principles
of justice. The men who wish to brush
them aside and to lift the ugly head of
revolution and anarchy, speak not the
words of soberness and truth about them.
The next resolution characterizes the
action of tho Sussex Levy Court as an
'infamous and reasonable attempt to
subvert law and nnllify the acts of the
sovereign people," That is an untruth-
full and indecent statement. lii electing
a Democrat for assessor in Cedar Creek
hundred, the Levy Court took partisan
advantage which we have condemned
but it did not violate the law. There
was nothing reasonable in the act, aud
nothing half so infamous as these reso.
buttons. The Levy Court simply acted
under the power given it in sec. 80 OF
chap. s, Of the Laws of Delaware, a:
follows:
If there be an omission to elect ar
assessor in any hundred. or il any othe
vacancy happen in the office, either by
death, removal from the hundred, o.
neglect or refusal to serve, or otherwise
the Levy Court shall appoint some person
being freebooter and inhabtant of tn,
hundred to fill the vacancy.
The third resolution is openly revo
lutionary and declares that the assessor
who were elected but failed to quaiif,
and have no authority to act, no com
mission, and have given no bond, shall
: nevertheless assume the responsibility
of office"
The fourth resolution, in view of tn
temper and reckless spirit of the Others
is surprise. 1t appeals to the Legis
, lature to abolish the Levy Court. Th
, surprise is that these Milford revolu
tionists did not attempt to abolish tn
$ Levy Court themselves by virtue q
their mere resolution and then under
l take to rally mob and put their will i
! force.
The fifth resolution is wild enough
however, to make up for the surfac,
sanity of the fourth. 1t is a declaration
Of independence by Cedar Creek hun
dred through the mouth of these blat
ant demagogues, declaring that 81
assessment shall be made upon be
!, property but by her own consent.
: They attempt to erect an Independent
Y sovereignty in Cedar Creek They def
! the Levy Court, which is the constitu
: tional government of all Sussex county
y and which these very revolutionis
" helped to elect, and staggering, say
o "phe Levy Court shall not force upo
q the hundred dishonorable official {
q its own selection"
The fifth resolution attempts to gi'
It Robert +. Hazard n sort of mob con
y mission from the sovereign people
% who had assembled in Windsor Hall,
!, be assessor without regard TO what Ii
IT legal claims may be- The sixth is simp
D. denunciatory of Samuel G.. Fisher, wi
II is the present member of the lie,
rs Court from Cedar Creek. 1t goes to Il
IN length of calling him traitor and
r eprobate-neither of which we belle,
l. him to be.
~ In view Of the character of these res
n lutions, it is indeed amazing to see Jon
~ than 5. Willis, u minister of the Gosr
~ and the Conglessman-elect from Del
10 ware, moving their adoption in viole
n address. 1t is not, however, surprisll
n that +. L, Bach Of this city was in NJ
~ ford stirring the matter up.
al The Levy Court violated sound Dem
~ cratic principle in the choice Of
Mills for assessor in Cedar Creek. y
re have expressed that opinion before Al
a. We repeat it now, We would like to S
ot Mr.. Mills resign in Mr.. Hazards fay,
We But these Milford resolutions are no