Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-04-26

to q state OF general disaffection pre-
vailing among the people of Sussex |
county. There is danger that Lord |
Dunsmore will recruit among the dis.
affected with success. The counoii oil
safety have proposed part OF an lnde-
pendent company TO the county, and q |
company OF the Delaware Battalion IS
preparing to march. In a letter ao-
ccmpanying Mr.. Halls message 1t is
estimated that there are six Gisaffeoteu
men to one firm man for America. Col.
Haslett was directed to station one
company of the battalion under his
command at Lewistown and to march
the remaining seven companies to Will
mington, there to await further orders.
Another step towards constitution
for the Delaware government was taken
July 26th, 1T76 The Assembly had in
, mind the resolution of May 10th,
their own resolution of June 10Th, and
the Declaration Of Independence, and
, was of the opinion that some speedy
, measures should be taken to form
. regular mode of civil polity." They
, do not think themselves authorized to
do this important work, and they
therefore recommend to the good
people of the several counties to choose
] deputies, ''to meet in convention,
! there to organize and declars the
! future form of government for this
State" They favor the number OF
; ten delegates for each county and Fix
! Monday, August 10Th, as the day OF
=. election. The election is to be carried
: on according to the laws for regulating
elections of the members of Assembly,
s with the exception that inspectors will
a be chosen by the electors ON the morn
] ing of election day. Tuesday, August
n 9th, was fixed as the date for the
: meeting of the delegates in convention,
3 and New Castle was fixed as the meet
!. ing place.
t The way was now open for consti-
u tutional convention. But it was neces-
d sary for it's advocates to be diplomatic
9 in their actions. Cesar Rodney, writing
If from Philadelphia 10 Capt. Thomas
it Rodney at Dover, gives him some good
o advice upon the matter. He favors the
70 holding out of more of the patriot than
IS the party man, and questions the ex..
10 pediency of proposed inquiry add
N examination before the COMMITTEES.
n Because the convention is un-
y doubtedly tine most important as
i sembly that ever was chosen in the
Dr. Delaware government. he advised "the
avoiding Of every kind Of violence,
le and the use of 1.-THE utmost diligence
ct and persuasion to procure as man,
es friends to liberty on the return q:
Of possible.
al In Dover on August 18th, the election
d. day, an address was delivered to thu
d, voters, in which it was said: VIVA
I'D YOU have to do 10 to choose suitable
g. men, men who have skill and inteerit.
I'd to the business you are sending then
to upon The Congress bath pronounced
ey you independent and free; it will res
in with your convention, by their judi
10, cious management, to secure TO yo'
mt the happiness and safety that may re
in suit from that declaration. Tn
he speaker was not altogether 10 favor @
tie the test which the judges of electio
might put to voters. If meant only
on restrain the disaffected ones it wa
on we'll, but If it kept out some of tende
nd and scrupulous cunsciencos, who wer
no othel wise good friends to their country
les 1t was ri.y.
rto The election was duly held and th
as delegates selected assembled at Ne
ia Castle, August 9th in a constitutions
to convention. The following is list {
,n- the members:
in For New Castle ccunty-Nichol,
iir- Van Dyke, Richard Cantwell, Ale!
his ander Porter, John Thompson, Abr
ham Robertson, Thomas McKeai
yas George Read, John Evans, John Lee
by John Jones.
ent For Kent oounty-Thomas Collin
bly, Charles Ridgely, James Sykes, Richal
So Bassett, Jacob Stout, John Coo
ing Samuel West, John Clarke, Thorn
his White, Richard Lockwood.
ust For Sussex county-Jaoob Moor
the James Rench, Isaac Bradley, Joi
ges Wiltbank, Isuac Horsay, William Poi
me Joshua Hill. Peter Hubert, Philli
the Kollock, Alexander Laws.
an These men were farmers and me
nid chants, with a few lawyers. Prom
the nent among them we're: Inomas III
the Kean and George Read, the 'signers
the and Nicholas Van Dyke, afterwar
tent governor of Delaware.
less The members of the convent
lied made and subscribed to ar ''oath a.
dis affirmation Each member pledg
himself to support and maintain
was Independence of the State, and to G
net deavor to form such system
d of government as ne thought might
the best adapted to promote the happin,
lree of the people, and to secure to tbs
has the enjoyment of their natural, civ
uate and religious rights and privileg
u.s." Each also professed faith in tie III
and Trinity, and acknowledged the HI
g1tS scriptures VI tuo oiu nbu VOW LES
and ment to be given by divine inspiratic
the George Read was elected preside
thew Of the convention. On September
the committee was appointed, with n
riod Read as chairman, to prepare
WED declaration of rights" The rep
tiop was presented on the 18th, and at
lures debate and amendment. was adopt
also The title of the declaration Is as
very lows: "A Declaration of Rights 6
d be Fundamental Rules of the Delaw
con- State, formerly styled The Governm
ouse of the counties of New Castle, X
nsti- and Sussex, upon Delaware. III
con. appears the name of the State
afterwards drafted in the Constitut
or in itself.
the The declaration contains twer
on of three sections. 1t sets forth THAT
eies- government of right originates II
other the people, is founded in compact oil
such and instituted solely for the goot
plted the WHOLE" 1t declares for freedom
with conscience in religious worship,
nd in for the Liberty of the press. The re
shall ation Of the internal police rests v
Q the the Iecple. Persons entrusted with
,rica, legislative and executive powers
olony responsible to the people, VINO,
.ulat- good cause may reform the old,
,olice establish new government Elect
90 in. ought to be- free and frequent,
d the freemen showing sufficient permar
common interest and attachment to
| ~ baua riUht IN ynta