Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-01-13

Trenton. N. j., Jan. Il. LIN his an.
u ual message, presented tn the begl6
lature yesterday. Gov. GriIga had the
following to say regarding the hnundary
limo suit between New Jersey and Della
ware:
IN the year 1877 auit was begun in
tho Sunremo Court Of the Unitoi Stntes
nv the State of New Jersey aganat the
State OF Delaware, to HscertuIU, dn
terminus and settle tho true territorial
Voluntary lino between tho snid States
and the extent and jurisdiction Of Zach
Of said States in tho Delaware River
and tho waters OF the Delaware Bnv,
This suit was brought in pursuance Of
the authority and direction giyar in q
Joint resolution Of the Legislature az
proved March 3Oth, lS7G.
Pursuant 10 tbs prayer Of tho hill Of
complaint in the cause, preliminary
In JUNCTION w6a issued Out Of tue
Supreme Court of tho United States,
Oh the .}lat Of March, 1877. command
ing the Stats OF Delaware and ita nili'
GERS, agents and servants, TO dnsist and
refrain from impnaing my tax, ASSESS
mint, or imposition by way Of license
| fee or otherwise upon any citizen o.
resident of TIN State Of Now Jersey
and from requiring them or any Of
| them 90 take u iCon5n from or undni
the state a Delaware right ar authority
| tn fish in thu Delaware River, and from
Rrrestng, imprisiaiug, trying, lining
ar 10 any manner furnishing or Fpizing
| holding or selling any property OF any
| citizen or resident of New Jersey for
fishing in said liver as aiuresani, until
the raid rputt should make othor order
to tho contrary.
On Aprll 25d, 1877, an order WAS on
tered directing the state of Delaware
to plead, answer or denur to tao bill
of complaint on or befGre the secon'
Monday Of October, 1877. Nothine
further was done in tho cause until
May "a, 1892, when stipulation wa.
entered into between the Aiturns"
General Of New Jersey and the counsr.
Ut tho State 1T Delaware, hv which thr
suit WAS suffered TO etand in the cnn
dition in which it then was without
any plea, demurrer or answer having
been filed, provided that tho Defendant
might be at any time required to plead,
apswer or demnr on 90 days notice
from the plaintiff: or the defendant
might of its own motion, at any time,
plead, answer or demur with the sam,
e5oet as il tho same were dupe unhei
tho origipul order last above mentioned
liy my direction the Attorney Genera
Of this State, on tho 18th day Of July,
1891, served notice on tho counsel fui
tho State Of Delaware, requiring it t.
| plead, answer or domur, rs prnvidnt
for in the agreement of May I'd, 1892,
within 60 days from the date of service
Of said notice No plea, answer or do
inurrer has bsen filed by the State O
Delaware, within tha time go limited
and it is now competent for the Stat
Of New Jersey TO taxa decree prt
coniesso and proceed 10 take proofs II
support of tho claim mRdn 10y it's bill
Of complaint in order to obtaina iina
decree in accordance with tho prayo
of the bill.
] am advised that there is no dis
position 90 hohalf OF tho anthoritiea o
the State OF Delaware 10 further ques
tion or contest the right of tho Stat
OF New Jersey to full and uumplet;
jurisdiction aud territorial rights owe
the waters Of the Delaware Bay cast o
tho middle limo of tho Delaware Rive
and Bay within inc known as Tn,
twelve mle circuit" above New
Castle Court House, / understand fur
Their that tbs Statn Of Delaware woult
probably be willing to agree to
declaration of rights and jurisdiction
in accordance with the claims of til
, State of New Jersey, If suitable com
missioner or commissioners we're ap
pointed on behalf OF New Jersey /,
draw up and execute such convention
, | therefore recommend that you an
, point one or moro persons as com
| missioner or commissioners, with puwp
to frame and execute. on behalf of th
State Of New Jersey. declaration ant
agreement for the settlement OF thi
question in accordance with the con
tention of this State.