Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-04-08

star Correspondence o. Gnzetie and journal.
Dover. April !. Without exception
yesterdays session of the Constitu
tlonal Convention was tho most in
terasting that has been held since thai
body began it's deliberations. The de-
bate was spirited throughout, and tbe
closing scenes recalled those usually
enacted in a national or State Lsrisla-
turo whom tactics designed to proven,
measure becoming law aru being
resorted to.
Capt Dasey occupied the chair in
the afternoon in committee of the
whole, and when. after the discussion
upon an amendment offered earlier in
tho day by Mr.. Herring OF Milford, to
create three Senatorial districts. equal
in representation. for the State, a vote
was ordered thersupon, several of the
members refused TO vote, left their
seats and retired to the ante room. so
as to break a quorum. Mr.. SALISBURY
moved that the sergeant. at arms be
directed to proceed to the ante room
and request tho members to resume
their seats in tie convention, but be-
fore the motion could be put several
returned and Mr. Ellegood at once
moved that the committee rise and ask
leave to sit again. This motion was
defeated. While the question was
being decided all the members were
on their feet and several were endeavor-
Ing to make themselves heard at the
same time. The yeas and nays were
linen called on the amendment offered
by Mr. Herring, and the amendment
was rejected by vote OF 13 to 4. Mr..
Hering then offered another amend.
ment constituting Senate of ID mem
bers, but nefore the amendment could
be put Mr.. Jnhnson interpolated
another motion that the committee do
rise, which was carried. AS soon as the
result OF this motion was announced
several members picked up their be-
longings and started for the train, Mr..
Burris being among the number. Mr..
salisbury moved that Mr.. Burris be
made president pro tempore in the alb
sence of Mr.. Biggs, and although the
gentleman from st. Georges protested
that he desired to catch the train for
hone, he was elected and with good
grace accepted the honor and picked
up the gavei. Ss soon as the committee
reported tl-s result of its deliberations
TO tho convention Mr.. Bradford moved
that the convention adjourn until 4. 80
p. m. Mr. Martin mDrsd To amend by,
making the hour 10.30 this morning,
but before Mr., Burris could put the
mutton the point of no quorum was
raised, and as under previous action of
the convention night sessions were
made the order of tho day il was neces
sary tha. the convention should re-
assemble at that hour.
When the convention assembled in
the morning, after the usual prelimi-
nary business had been transacted, the
report OF the committee on the Legis.
iature was at once taken up In ron-
mittee of the whole. The proposition
was as to the constitution of member-
ship in tine General Assembly, and the
report allowed five members to Sussex,
hve to Kent, five to rural New Castle
and two to the city of Wilmington.
Mr.. Martin offered an amendment
making the number of Senators l5.
apportloned equally among the three
counties, and Mr. Donahoe offered a
further amendment making the nun
per 10, and which also provided .hat
three should come from the city of
Wilmington. 1t was upon this latter
lhat the argument commenced, Mr..
Bradford opening the debate. He said,
t'oHE cthcN thihbds
Mr.. Chairman: There ia no equality
OF right when you deprive the citizens
of any section of the State of equal
representation In the General Assem-
bly,. There must be representation
according to population, otherwise
there is no equality of right. | be- |
liere that there should be equal repre-
sentation from Sussex, Kent and rural |
New Castle, because it is a we'll. known |
fact that there is little disparity be-
tween the total population. in Sussex
you have 81, 600 people; in. Kent they
nave 32,O0O, while rural New Castle |
comes to the fore with total OF 80, 900, |
LII an increase of membership in tho |
House Is conceded, without cor
responding Increase in the Senate, such |
concession would not confer one iota |
OF power upon the people of New Castle |
county. 1t would be but a mere busk |
with nothing in it. What wa ask and
want is tho power of affirmative leris. !
latlon, but such an increase as would |
confer upon the people of New Castle
the simple negative power to prevent |
legislation is not sufficient. This feel |
ing Of county lines is in my opipiop
one OF the greatest curses that ever
befel the people of this State, and IL is
simply preposterous to suggest that tho
doctrine OF county sovereignty should
be applied to the present case. The
census OF 1880, year before the con.
vention which formulated the Consti-
tuition undor which we are now living
convened, showed but a very SLIGHT
difference in population between the
three counties, and it was not until
1852 that Mr.. James A. Bayaru, in ths
held that year, protested go
vigorously against the proposition TO
increase the membership of the House
and not that Of the Senate. You have
all probably read the debates ON that
occasion, AMI there is no possibility
thnt any uttArance from 10y Inns could
add single word to the cogency of
tho reasons expressed by him on that
OCCASION Mr.. Bayard thought the
proposition at that time so repugnapt
TO his feslings that he arose from his
seat and left the convention, and | do
not blame him for having done SO.
do not advocate or desire any in.
;rease to be chosen by vote OF the
'ounty; it is by districts that the re-
port recommends the nomination and
Election OF members of the General
assembly. and the two methods are en-
,irely disslmilar. do not think that
am violating any confidence when /
say that the numbers of the committee
nad agreed among themselves to allow
sub committees 10 arrange these dis
.ricts IL had been decided that
Nessrs. Richards and Martin should