Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1896-12-10
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION
Action of Republicans in Ac-
cepting a Compromise.
A SUBJECT OF MUCH DISCUSSION
Partisans Sharply Criticising
the Arrangement.


the Constitutional Convention at Dover
has been the subject of much dis
cussion. There are members of the |
party who hold The position that the |
Republicans should not have gone into |
the convention but should have held |
one OF their own. These men raise |
the cry that all or none of the Kent Re- |
publican delegates wore elected, and |
they criticize harshly the action of the |
New Castle and Sussex Republicans |
who agreed to go into the convention |
with an equally divided Kent dele
cation. In view of tho interest in the !
matter it would seen, worth while to
understand the position OF the Repub-
licans In taking the step they did in
the critical period before the con
yention assembled. In order to have
the state OF the case set forth re-
porter of The Gazette called upon
William @. Spruance and Edward g.
bradford. prominent Republican mem
bers OF the convention.
Mr.. Spruance was seen at his residence
Friday night and he then gave the fol-
lowing statement on the matter in
question:
of canvass OF Kent county the question
U Whb W tuc hupJctt vi
very serious consideration for several
weeks before the meeting Of the Con
stitutional Convention. Upon examina-
tion Of the subject was fully satisfied
that, in the absence of any constitu
tional or statutory provision upon the
subject the convention was the judge Of
| the elections, returns and qualifications
| of it's own members = that these powers
| had always been lodged in Legislative
| bodies by the uniform practice in Eng
| land and America before the Revolu-
ton; that the provisions of tho ConHti-
| tuition of the United States and of
| this State as to the exercise of these
powers by each branch of Congress-
and Of the Legislature we're merely q
| recognition or declaration of com
mon law right belonging to bodies OF
this character; and that no court could
control or interfere with tho convention
in the exercise of these powers. As to
tine correctness of these conclusions
there is ! think no ground for any
difference of opinion among lawyers.
tine next question was, how will
the convention exercise Theses powers?
sought diligently for information
upon this subject, and was soon salts
fed that there was grave reason to
apprehend that the Democratic ma
jority would seat all of the 10 Kent
county Democratic candidates. Illegal
and outrageous as had been the con-
duct of the majority of the board Of
cauvass of Kent county il was claimed
that the plurality for the Union Repub-
lican candidates had been secured by
bribery, fraud, &C.. and that the con
vention would be justified in refusing
to seat them, and in seating their OPP
ponents, without regard to the regu-
larity or irregularity Of the certificates
OF election which might be returned
. to the convention.
until Monday afternoon when we
went to Dover | had no opportunity to
consult with but one or two of my Re.
publican colleagues. On Monday even
ing the Republican delegates from New
Castle and Sussex, nine in all, held O
protraGted conference. This was not a
caucus in the sense of binding all by
the decision of majority, but con
;. ference having for its object an agree.
ment as to tho wisest and best course
to be pursued 10 the serious crisis
I which confronted us We called tt
our aid, before reaching any con
:: clusion, several of the Union Republi
, can delegates from Kent county ant
> other prominent gentlemen of tina
a county.
= GAN of the nine Republican dele
= gates were sincerely and earnestly de
sirous of seating all of the 10 Uniol
Republicans from Kent, but this J
q was conceded was beyond our power
j. All agreed as to the illegal and revolu
}. tionary actions of the board of can
u vass of Kent county, and hoped for th
| Of TIM f,aplfnn ,ror, q,
II proceedings, but all were Obliged {
p admit that il successful in the superio
A court writ of error would probabl
k be taken, which might result in th
:. reversal Of the decision below, an
a would certainly delay a final decision
N beyond the time of the sitting of tn
IN convention; and further that if legt
!. and true certificate of the result of th
Of election should in any reasonable tim
d he returned TO the convention,
= would no diSrogarded by the Demo
j. cratic majority on the claim OF frau
and bribery in the election.
1--WE were nearly unanimous tha
:. unless We should have some salts
- factory assurance that the 10 Demo
~ cratic delegates would not be seated
~ we would not go into the convention.
~ "Wo realized that il this cnurs
~ should be taken and persisted in,
=. would probably end in the defeat
- any. amendment of the Constitution
70 result which We all regarded us il publ
IS calamity
70 ''While our conference was bein
l. held, Democratic caucus wac
session, and we received from time
time information that great pressur
"a was being brought TO bear for the sea
i. ing Of all the 10 Democrats from Kent
1e and that thare was every indicatio
as that this would be done.
le Having receive no communicate
,d from the Democratic caucus, as we
i'd expected, at a late hour of the night v
determined to send to them a con
mittee with a proposition that IL
Kent delegates b. divided--six Unto
of Republicans and four Democrats twhic
rs would make bipartisan convention
I'D and that the offices of the coventiu
On should ia divided. The eommittt
he was accorded a respectful bearing;
y, expression of opinion was then given
to our proposition, but we were TO
that u committee would wait upon
LATER
OF 'ln an hour or two after the Dem
w cratic committee called upon us al
iie announce that their caucus had y
eL iected our proposition, and now offert
OF to divide the Kent delegation equal
as that this result had been attained viii
great difficulty and with much o.
position, that it was the beet TIM
n. could do and that il it was n