Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1896-12-03

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"And 30 1t is with all these election
districts. These respondents say that
by the selection OF these voters as
sistants there was complete organiza!
| tion among the members OF the Union
Republican party not to promote a
legal expression of the popular will,
but to suppress fair expression of the
popular will, 80 that the elections in
these places were elections only in
form that 1t was mere auction. And
when these respondents say that, they
speak as truthfully as though they
were reading the truth from the Bible.
And nobody will dare make denial OF
1t. IL stands as fact; and | confess 1t
casts shadow on the people of this
State, under which we have to labor
when we pass beyond its borders.
Tell me that a legal technically is
to shield such an offence az that (!
Breaking up and preventing an election
In one district and buying enough of
the people to make majority in other
districts! Tell me that a thiLg like
that is to have the mantle OF charity
spread over il; and say we will make
these inspectors do certain things In
order that these offenders may accom-.
plish their object through these cor.
rupt agencies and instrumentalities!
Talk about what will be the result
What will be the result? My friend
Mr. Watson spoke of what would be
the result If such things as these were
to prevail. Is 1t to lie doubted that
those people in Duck Creek hundred,
who prevented that election, are guilty
OF high crimes and misdemsanors, and
are not liable TO indictment? But put
these people in Office, and would defy
this court or anybody to produce con
viction, and they will 20 through this
world unwhipped Of Justice. Revou.
ton Revolution, may il please your
honors! 1t woulG be vol for this
honorable court to study the relation
Ut cause and effect. Where did the
revolution originate! II thore is a
revolution ii originated at the pols
on the day Of the election, where the
people had assembled to express their
will, to cast their ballots--the mightiest
weapon of freoman's will. There ia
where the revolution began. 10 East
Duck Greek hundred, by circumvent.
ing an election and in other parts Of
the county by purchasing an election.
l. will call things by their proper
names.
do not know that I should have
referred to these il allueion had not
been made to them on the other side.
Now, they say revolution, Well, L
think am charged with saying on one
occasion that desperate diseases re.
qulre desperate remedies. So they do.
do not ask your honors to violate your
Conscience. do not aek you to violate
iii Il l.
with authority sufficient to back you
up in doing Just exactly what: we ask
you to do, then | would say do as you
please ana act in accordance with the
law, and in accordance with your con.
scientious convictions of right.
"But these gentlemen say that We are
relying upon mere technicality. What
do they rely on? They relied upon
technicality on the day that the board
OF canvass met to shield and protect
their crime, and their wrong, against
investigation and inquiry. did they
not?
Suppose these respondents rely upon
a technicality to prevent them from
going back aud ratifying and endorsing
what these people did on election day,
and thereby giving the sanction Of their
position and their character to such
criminal conduct? j
We think We come into this court
with sufficient facts TO show your
honors that really this board OF can
vass was Justified In doing what it did. |
But these REALTORS come in here now, |
asking the rigid enforcement OF the |
letter Of the law, and at the same time
trampling beneath their unhallowed |
feet the law that was enacted to protect |
the purity OF the ballot box and the |
very fountain of the popular will and
power. Coming here with their guilt
stained hands, pleading for the rigid
enforcement Of the letter of the law,
and yet at the same time they have
violated the law upon which we rely
to protect us against the invasion Of |
these criminals and against this kind
Of conduct.
Just as Shylock, who wanted the
pound OF flesh nearest the marchant's
heart. Why? Because it is nominated
and written in the bond. Not think
ing of the mans life. not caring any
thing about it So these people want
the strict enforcement of the law, not
caring about any man, or the life and
purity OF our institutions aud liberties.
"As my friend, Mr.. Pennington, said
this morning, If these people had come
INTO this court with clean hands, they
might have demanded the issuance of
This writ OF mandamus commanding
the board of canvass to do their first
works ovcr again, with more propriety.
Mr.. Ward need not take that down.
'or the purpose OF extracting a little
loney from it. | do not mean 10 con
'ed6 single proposition or single
Joint, but mean to say that they
night have come in here and urged
ms case with great deal more pro-
lriety than they do. But whom a man
ZONES into this court and there are
'trewn around him the laws that no
las broken himself, and asks you to
'nforce the law against others that he
las broken himself, that is different
question.
What does this writ of mandamus
mean? You may phrase il as you
,lease. l do not care what kind of
language you couch it in. That makes
10 difference, but it means that this
,oard shall go back, 10 the writ of
nandamus issues, under the sanction
u this court, to fasten the crime and
utrage that has been committed upon
he people of the county of Kent.
care not bow you may express il,
hat is the plain Anglo-Saxon Of it.
Certain 1t in, this court has ample
authority and support to sustain ii,
cd not only that, but the wishes OF
his community will go with you an.
rowing and applauding the act, where