Evening journal., 1915-02-18
HR 1872 PRESENT TABLET TO STATE AS MEMORIAL TO JAMES HEM BAYARD

lut Atd anu " prevent otdiCh anu
seizure of our vessels and impress
ment of our seamen, that we we're |
forced into the War of 1912.
Great Britain cCntended that her |
warships had the right of searching |
all neutral vessels for property and |
persons. This the United States re-
sisted, asserting that free bottoms !.
made free goods and her ships on the !
high seas should not be molested. |
Sea fights without any declaration of
war were not infrequent and CommO- |
dore Truxton distinguished himself !
by two victories which. with others of
less magnitude brought about a con-
dition which led to negotiations for
peace and amity between the United
States and Napoleon.
United States HumiIiated.
Nations in their international deal
ings are none too considerate, in time
of war, in the exercise of unresisted
power. The young American nation
had been subjected TO the most in
considerate and hostile acts Of both
France and Great Britain but we had
made peace with France before the
government of James Madison was
practically forced in self-respect to
declare war with Great Britain. We
could not yield to her pretentions
or necessities and she would not dis
continue her hostile acts.
James A. Bayard, whose memory
we honor this day, had represented
this State in. Congress and in the
Senate for fifteen years when war
broke out. l shall not attempt COM
plete recital Of his public services.
That, at the suggestion of my friend,
his great grandson, who has spoken
here today, has been left to him and
it is only with that part of his ca
reer, when in the war of 1912 his
services and patriotic acts are con-
nected with those of other great Del
awareans, who greatly served their
country in that war, / shall deal to-
day.
May | pause for a moment, how
ever to say that | was much gratifed
in reading Mr.. Bayard's speeches In
the annals of Congress to find that on
February Z. 1907, (Annals of Congress,
Ninth Congress. Second Session, page
| $3.50, he urged upon the attention
of the Senate the desirability of aid
/ ing in the construction of the Chesa-
peake and Delaware Canal.
Three Delawareans gained high
/ honors and achieved great fame in
| the war of 1912. Commodore Jacob
Jones, whose portrait adorns the
walls of this old State House, Commo-
dore Thomas Macdonough, who has
been here honored by a similar tab
let to that by which we today pre-
serve for posterity the memory of the
services of the third. our great states
man OF that time, James A. Bayard.
No names in American history are
more illustrious or entitled to greater
honor than those of that trinity of
Delawareans, Commodore Jones, Com
modore Macdonough and Senator
James A. Bayard.
1--WE Delawareans should all make
ourselves familiar with the parts these
three great Delawareans played in
the history of our country. while in
the government service, during that
critical period of our national exis-
tence. When we do we shall all be
better Delawareans and better Amer
leans.
War is Declared.
: ION June II. 1912. the Senate pass
ed tho bill declaring war between th'
United States and Great Britain. Or
, the previous day, Mr.. Bayard had
made one of his great speeches il
the Senate on his motion to postpon'
consideration of the bill declarinl
war. in which he referred to the out
RACES perpetrated on our people b.
the great Napoleon and declared tina
) by going to war with Great Britain
we would only be assisting one WHIT
[ despised us and our form of govern
ment and would reduce us to the char
acter of a province of his empire
we're it not for the control of the sea
J held by Great Britain and would,
= able, overthrow our government an
. destroy our independence.
THE Bayards are of French des
: cent. but a hundred years ago, thi
great Delawarean gave an example O
z American nationalism. of loyalty I
3 his country and devotion to her In
% terests. that some Americans of tOda
e might we'll emulate. War was dc
I clared and Mr.. Bayard, as tru
!, American. had no hesitation in SUI
Q porting his country. Though belong
= ing to the minority party in Congress
d when peace was sought, no questio
= was raised as to the propriety OF nan
= ing this distinguished man as one {
e our negotiators. He resigned as Ser
e ator March 8, 1913, to become one
t the commissioners to negotiate peaC
e with Great Britain and went TO 'Et
Il rome in May of that year in perform
+ ance of his duties. to become associa
L ed later at Client with Henry Cla.
Albert Gallatin, John Quincy Adam
g and Jonathan Russell, our other con
" missioners.
n "While Bayard was attending to h
O duties in the Senate, faithfully rel
d resenting the people of this state, al
l. other Delawarean, native OF IN
V county, achieved fame, was tendere
q the thanks of Congress, was honor6
d bv the predecessors of this Ieglsli
a ture of ours. and was recognized {
a an American naval hero who estal
d lished for all time, what had bee
o heretofore doubted, that American
r. upon the sea were as able, man Il
10 man and gun for gun, as any men
d hers of the human race. Jacob Jone
m a Young doctor born near Smyrn
II was of Welsh descent. When only FOL
e- wears of age. both his parents di'
m and he fortunately fell under the ca
If and pursued his medical studies u
IN der the direction of DR.. James Sykt
ID of Dover, whose fame as physici'
le and surgeon was widely spre'
d throughout the country His wife WI
10 a daughter of his preceptor and
Se practiced medicine in this then sm'
le town. where he became clerk of o.
h. C,,prorao COurt