Smyrna times., 1901-03-20
NEW CASTLE GOVERNORS
GIVEN TO DELAWARE STATE
ADDRESS OF FRANCIS II. HOFFECKER
ESQ.,, BEFORE SONS OF DELAWARE
Passing Review of New Castles Thirteen
uOVernOrs and Their Part ia Making
History, Interestingly Told.


County" was assigned to Francis H
Hoftecker, Esq, of Wilmington Della
ware. He said:
Mr.. President, Ladies and Gentlemen
Little did the early colonists think
when they willingly shed their life
blood on the hard fought battlefields
OF the Revolution, to cement the COM
pact OF their independence, that in the
confederation of the thirteen original
sovereign constituencies Ca natural Sc
quence,) they were laying the founda-
tlons OF the greatest Republic the
world has ever seen or ever will see.
The United States of America. =" The
early struggles for freedom were with
out parallel in the annals of modern
warfare. The achievements
that history has already recorded.
have challenged the admiration of the
whole civilized world, and succeeding
and grateful generations, hold them in
cherished and perpetuated memory.
The strongest bulwark of the Republic
thus founded is the loyalty and deyo-
ton of the people, the basis of its
citizenship is allegiance to Almighty
God
Ihe government established, a civic
Gibralter, is government of honor.
integrity and morality. Under its
Protecting aegis, christianity and civil
lzatlon go hand in hand, guided by
the Star of Bethlehem. Its army and
navy, supported by patriotic and en-
thuslastic people, will, should govern.
mental existencies require it, plant the
'Stars and Stripes" in every cline, SO
that the American may boast with his
English cousin across the water, that
the sun never sets on his Country's
flag.
In the m liking of our Nations hist
ory the little State of Delaware has
bourne an honorable and by no means
an inconspicuOus part. The first to
formally ratify, as a sovereign State,
the National Constitution-she will be
the last to deny the principles that
Constitution has enunciated.
Jealous of her reputation, the State
IN the past has always selected her
best citizens to act as her public SER
wants, both in the National councils,
positions under the Federal Govern
ment as well as in the administration
of her State affairs. Since the estab-
lishment of Delaware as a Sovereign
State-New Castle county has fur
nlshed thirteen Governors. The num-
Der is traditionally unlucky, but
think the people in historical retros-
pect may consider the number with
pride and satisfaction.
In the time allotted to me this even
ing, it will be impossible to give an
extended biographical account of each
one, but l must content myself with
your indulgence, with passing them
before you in brief review and chrono-
logic order:-
Governor John McKinly.
The first President, as he was then
called, or governor of Delaware, resi-
dent of New Castle county, was John
Mckinly,- "a name that will ever be
honored and revered in American His
tory. An Irishman by birth, patriot
OF the Revolution, physician by pro-
fession, a resident of Wilmington, by
choice he was elected to that exalted
State position on Feb. 81, 1777.
The discharge of his executive dut-
les was somewhat interfered with in
consequence of his capture by the
British i'll September, 1777. He was
detained by his British hosts, until
October 1873 when he was exchanged.
and doubtless sought without DELAY.
more congenial surroundings. He
served in the State militia one of
the founders of the Delaware Medical
Society, and was a good Presbyterian.
He died August 81, 1896, and is buried
in the Old FIRST Presbyterian Church
graveyard. in the City of Wilmington.
Governor Thomas Mexican.
Thomas Mexican, the second presi-
dent of Delaware, became such, as
Speaker of the General Assembly, at
the time Mr.. McKinly was taken
prisoner of war.
Every student of History, is so well
acquainted with the career of Mexican
that it seems unnecessary here, for
me to more than mention his name.
1t is historic household word. He
was a Pennsylvania by birth, a Della
warean by adoption, an Episcopalian
by faith, and a lawyer by profession.
He was true TO every trust reposed in
him; a man of eminence and ability,
and a credit to his adopted State.
After his retirement from the exec
,,t;,,o ,boir 1,a 1,acouoa Mao,I,ar &c