Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-06-20
COL. DU POINTS CONTEST.
Republican Politicians Havo Made Him
Believe He Has Some Claim to Seat in
Sanufn

Believe He Has some Claim to a Seat in |
the Senate.
Delnwnreau, June 18th. e..
Col. Henry A. du Pont has announced |
his intention of attempting to secure |
seat in the United States Senate as q
Senator from this State. He expresses
his approval uf the alleged protest OF
Senator Alrichs against the participation
OF Governor Watson in the proceedings
Of the Joint assembly on the 9th day OF
last May, and declares that he proposes
"at the proper time and in tho proper
place, to have an adjudication made not
only of my claim, but of the right OF the
people of this State to be fully repre-.
sented in the Senate of tue United
States"
Col. du Points decision in the matter
causes some surprise; for since the ex-
element and intense party feeling at
tending the close of the late session OF
the General Assembly have so largely
subsidized, the extreme weakness OF the
Colonel's alleged "clailh" is very
generally conceded. The legal opinion
commonly held In regard to the Coloners
"claim" is indicated by remark made
by one of the leading Republican
lawyers in Wilmington to the editor OF
this paper that ''the Senate might admit
him on his visiting card"
We believe though that some of the
Republican politicians have really made
Col. du Pont believe that he was elected
or has some sort of claim" to the
scat in the Senate. II he entertains
such delusion, it is all right to have
his alleged claim "adjudicated." How
and where does ne propose TO have it
adiudicated? 1t has been suggested
with good deal of force that a Della
ware court is the right place for the
adjudication of the question, as II in
wolves and is solely dependent upon the
right under the Constitution of the State
of Delaware of the Speaker Of the
Senate exercising the Office of Governor
to exercise the prerogative OF State
Senator. But 1t is the general opinion
that Col. du Pont will not seek such an
adjudication of his alleged claim, but
will apply directly to the Senate of the
United States for admission, with
out certificate of election signed
by the Governor or any other proper
credentials. 1t requires no sor
of adjudication to determine "tht
right of the people Of this State to b'
fully represented in the Senate of the
: United States" 1t is a right given ther
by the Constitution of the United States
: But ii the State fails to take advantage
{ Of this right there seems 10 be no remedy
. The failure to elect q Senator was
= reprehensible dereliction in duty on tn
I part of the Republican majority in tn
!. Legislature, and that majority deserve
A all the censure which Col. du Pont ca
:. bestow upon it. The State has twic
n before lost half of its representation i
r the United States Senate through tn
n failure of the Legislature to elect. Blu
what does the colonel think of the rigl
of Kent county to be fully represente
in the Senate of the State of Delaware
AS matter of fact Kent county WI
= fully represented, by three Senator
legally elected and qualified, at the ioii
TO session when Col. du Pont claims
ie have been elected. Now, why shouI
" the people of Kent county, through l
fault of theirs, be deprived of part
&c their representation