Delaware gazette and state journal., 1896-04-02
star correspondence OF tiazotto and Journal

staff Correspondence OF tiazetfo and Journal.
Newark, March 27.-The first gun in
the way of a Constitutional Convention
niassmeeting was fired hero ia. o.nigbt,
when large and enthusiastic gather
ing of citizens of White Clay Creek
, hundred assembled in Caskey Hall and
decided almost unanimously that the
convention should be a non partisan
body. AT about 8. 10 o'clock the Rev.
DIR. James l.. VallandIgham nominated
Hon. John Pilling to act az chairman,
and he was the unanimous choice of
the meeting.
Mr.. Pilling at once went on the plat
form and stated the object of the meet
ing He reviewed the history of the
present Constitution and spoke of hear
ing Hon. James A. Bayard A years ago
speak in Newark, on the spot whore
Caskey Hall now stands, in advocacy
OF a convention TO revise the Constitu-
tion. He also stated that he heard
Hon. John NJ. Clayton reply to Mr.
Bayard at "a public meeting held at the
Deer Park Hotel, when Mr.. Clayton
said that it would be impossible to
change the Constitution, as the door had
been locked and the key thrown away
Mr.. Clayton said the reason it would
be an impossibility to change the Con-
stitution was because a sufficient num-
Der of votes to call convention could
not be secured In the session of the
Legislature in 1891, :" MIR. Pilling con
.tinued, "there was an amendment
made to tho 9th article of the Conati
tuition, which changed tho day of vot-
ing for calling convention from May
,,,ttI ha .Ynnnral nln nh.,
very first time il was submitted to the
people they called for the convention,
and at the last session of the Legisa-
ture provision was made for the hold
ing of the convention in Dover next
December.
eat that session of the Legislature a
non partisan convention was recon-
mended, but. this is optional with the
people. The key has been found and
the door is open. Now is the time for
the people to. act. Some think it ls not
wise; some think it is wise to make
the convention non partisan. Some
think il would not be wise to send Is
of each of the great parties to the con-
vention, | think it is wise. | have
sufficient confidence in the people to
think that the best results would be
/ obtained in that way. am not afraid
to see 10 Republicans meet 10 Demo
Gratis, and | know ID Democrats are not
afraid to meet 10 Republicans. APP
plause. Now is the time for the mat
ter to be agitated. Your representatives
are summoned to meet at Dover next
December, and hope you will send 80
of the best men in the State there.
tApplause.
- am in favor Of a non partisan con-
IL l.~f.
ton" loud applause.
After making these remarks Mr.. Pill
ing told those present that the meeting
was theirs and invited them TO express
themselves lie then read letter from
Charles B. Evans of Wilmington, who
stated that he could not get to the
meeting unit late.
When he took his seat, Joseph b.
Handy was chosen secretary.
l.. Irving Handy being unavoidably
absent in the West his brother Joseph
b. Handy, was called upon.
The latter said he could not express
his brothor's sentiments, but h0 felt
assured that he was heartily in favor
of a non partisan convention. He had
heard his brother say SO. Continuing,
he said: "This is matter for all Of
the people of Delaware, regardless of
party, to consider. l do not see how
you could frame a Democratic or Re-
publican Constitution. We have out
grown the old Constitution. There arc
many things in the old Constitution
which are good, but there are many
things which need changing. The
question arises, What il the best
method by which a new Constitution
may be had?' A Constitution, in my
judgment, must be made in spirit OF
fairness. 1t can hest be mado by bi-
partisan convention. 1t is evident that
the representatives of the parties would
be their best men, and If they go down
to Dover equal we are more apt tn get
good results, and therefore we are more
apt to have new Constitution, one
that will meet the appreciation of the
,neople. III you want Constitution,
determine how you want 1T it made. ~
He expressed himself very fully and
strongly in favor of non bipartisan con-
vention.
DIR. Columbus Henry of this town
was called upon, but he was unprepared.
DIR. Vallandigham stated that he is
strongly and warmly in favor of non
partisan convention and non partisan
ticket and he hopes to see one com.
posed equally of Republicans and Demo
Gratis II am a Democrat, he said,
land L want to see non partisan con.
vention." Loud applause.
Harry Whiteman of Wilmington was
the next speaker. After few preimi.
nary remarks he said: "There can be
no doubt as to the authority of the peo
pie of the State to revise and amend thC
Constitution. by the people We near
those who are recognized as members
of the existing body polite. The au
thority of the people gives them the
right to revise the Constitution by
lawful mode. In tho absence of thu
power Of convention to enact, new
Constitution must be- presented to th,
people for enact,lant. With this in view
ii is iittingthaJ we should express our
selves impartially. 1t is proper that th,
people should assemble and advocat,
the best method of forming that Con
stitution. No one, in my opinion
questions the necessity of Constitu
tional Convention, but there are SOM
who are uncertain as to what shoult
be the political complexion of that body
Should any politics.l party gain ma
jority in that convention they nigh
legislate more for their own interes
than for the intereat of the people q
large. The demand for revision O
the Constitution is too general for pe