Evening journal., 1905-03-11
LETTERS FROM
THE PEOPLE

To the Editor of The Evening Journals;
Having had my attention called to
a proposed settlement OF the long ex-
listing dispute between our State and
New Jersey as to the boundary line
as provided in a bill prepared and
endorsed by ex-Attorney-G General Ward
and Attorney General Robert II. Rich
ards. and which is now pending before
the Legislature. having already passed
the Senate. / have just had an Oppor-
tunity to read the provisions in the
proposed compact. / could not con-
ceive it possible that the present
Attorney General and the ex-Attorney
General, who have been working on
the boundary dispute for the last
years. who appeared before the Legis-
lature at its last session, and urged
the passage OF bills appropriating
$4,000 Tor the express purpose Of arriv-
ing at a final conclusion OF this dispute,
that they would now. having drawn
or dragged our State so far into this
controversy, favor most abject and
humiliating surrender of our position
and nights in this matter During the
many years that this boundary dispute
has been in the courts the one adm and
purpose our State has had. as is shown
by the numerous resolutions passed by
our General Assembly. one or two of
which at least were. in all probability.
drawn by ex-Attorney-G General Ward,
has been to have the Supreme Court
OF the United States pass upon and
finally decide the question as to the
rights OF Delaware within the territory
OF the twelve miles circle.
We either have or have not am alb
solute jurisdlctlonal right over that
territory, and having gone thus far. it
now being more than twenty-eight
years since our right to this territory
was disputed by New Jersey. and the
matter having been before our Legis-
lature and the courts nearly all that
time, and having cost our State many
upon the threshold OF a final decision
from a court OF last resort, we are ad-
vised by ex-Attorney-General Ward ia
content ourselves with entering into an
agreement with New Jersey in respect
to the rights OF the fishermen in the
Delaware River, and to abandon our
purpose to secure "a decision as to our
berritcrlal rights within the twelve
miles circle The agreement between
the States as to the rights Of fishermen
dn the Delaware River is ono that
might have been entered into years
ago, and without any considerable
cost TO either state, but I submit that
that is not what our State has been
hoping to secure out of this long pend
ing litigation.
I have Il on the best authority that
Mr.. Ward in urging the passage of the
appropriation bills by the last Legis-
lature said It would be a shame and
an undying reproach upon our State
for us 10 abandon this very vital ques-
tion at this stage Of the controversy,
and that If the Legislature would only
show sufficient State pride to back him
up In his effOnts to properly maintain
our contention in this case, that a
would not be very long before our
state might rejoice over a final and sat
isfactory settlement Of the dispute. This
appeal and assurance from him drew
$1,000 ont OF the State Treasury. Now
he Is pleading with us to throw up our
hands and drop the case in the Supreme
Court OF the United States, and allow
New Jersey to have and keep US an
the same uncertain position that we
were up until twenty-eight years ago
when the first effort was made to settle
THE dispute as TO the boundary lines be.
tween the two States.
As one of the citizens of Delaware
feel that out State Is being outraged
It's interests have been carelessl,
guarded, and its resources have beer
frtttered away II we should now accept
the advice OF Mr.. Ward and his fellow
commissioners in the passage OF tn,
bill now pending before the Legislature
We We're promised better things and Z
very different result by Mr.. Ward bul
II for any reason he has failed to keet
his promise to the State we can at leas
save ourselves from the miserable TAT,
and consequences OF such a surrende,
and blunder by defeating the com
pact bill now pending in the House o
Representatives at Dover.
Native Delawarean.
The Value Of a Town MEETING Is no
in what Il does in the wav Of nosi