Evening journal., 1909-02-05

since our country is formed by an union
oftsovereign states. making US all citizcns
Of one great nation, the act Of the doncr
of these ancient muniments Of tile the
OF Delaware 10 her sovereign territory, is
an act OF the highest patriotism.
Delaware Is proud in the possession Of
the ancient Bible that is guarded 50 care
fully, and OF the old bell for which Mrs.
William S. dilles has but recently, with
commendabe thoughtfulness, furnished
suitable and safe support, and OF other
objects of historic interest. but / do not
hesitate to say that this State can count
nothing. either among her possessions or in
her traditions. which approaches in hiz-
toric value and patriotic interest these
priceless documents. Nor would seem
TO lose sight OF the intrinsic value of this
gift BY discovery and conquest. the Ior-
ton Of North America which includes the
territory Of this State, under 'he law, be-
came in early times the property OF what
was then the kingdom Of England. Among
these parchments is the original grant
under the great seal OF England, by King
Charles II 20 the Duke of York OF the
land and the water which is now included
within. the confines Of this State; and 50
also the original deeds Of feocment from
the Duke Of York to William Penn. 20
whose title the tsate OF Delaware succeed
ed Thus it appears that the paper title
Of the soil of Delaware begins with and
rests upon these documents
1T is indeed fortunate that these doc
uments fell into the hands Of Mrs. Miller
and her ancestors. who have guarded and
preserved them so carefully for a CEN
tury Through their care guardianship.
and patriotism Delaware can now proud
~ display muniments Of her title such as
are possessed by but few of the thirteen
original colonies. which IN 1776 separated
themselves from the sovereignty of the
British Crown.
And through you Madam President. to
the Delaware Society OF the Colonial
Danes OF America, desire TO express
the thanks Of the tsate OF Delaware and
her people for the commendable and pa
triorc interest II has taken IN the presen-
tauon Of these ancient documents to the
State. The work Of your society in dis
covering and preserving valuable papers
and other objects OF historic interest can
not be too highly praised
In view OF the value and Importance
Of these documents now recommend that
the General Assembly OF this State. pro-
cure a suitable IRE and burglar proof safe
for their preservation, containing cases
so constructed as that the document can
be seen without being touched and that
such safe be directed 70 be kept in the
vault in the othce OF the Secretary %
state and IN his ofacial custody
''I do further hereby recommend to the
General Assembly that they do. by appro-
pirate joint resolution. again express 10
thu donor OF this gift through themselves.
as constituting the Legislative brancN OF
the government OF the State the thanks
OF the people OF this State. and that. they
order the proceedings OF this joint session
Of the General Assembly 10 be printed
and the copy thereof. suitably bound in
leather, 70 be presented 10 Mrs. Sarah
Wistar Miller. and another copy thereof
similarly bound TO be presented to the
Delaware Society OF the Colonial Danes
Of America"