DELAWARE. 



257 



the white-tailed deer especially being so 



Humorous about the head-waters of Elk Creek 



that Inn \\ ,-r,. killed by tho command in a 



single day. Klk, from indications, aro numor- 



altbough only a few were killed. Several' 



were .^eeured, ami not a few exciting in- 



iirred during their capture. No 



inoiintain -,-hci -|> \\ero obtained, although there 



many indications of their presence, and a 

 single to male was seen. Almost all the streams 

 which wi-r- pa-.- t >\ were dammed in many 

 places by beaver, and fresh tracks and signs 

 u ero very plenty. 



Game-birds are well represented by several 

 pi.-ies of geese and ducks, which aro to bo 

 found along the various water-courses in and 

 about the Hills, and by at least two species of 

 grouse, tho sharp-tailed and the ruffed. The 

 former aro numerous along the open valleys 

 and in tho sparsely-wooded hill-sides, and the 

 latter among tho dense pines of the higher 

 land. Altogether, the Black Hills offer to the 

 sportsman an abundance and variety of game, 

 and, if opened to tho white man, will be as 

 much esteemed as a hunting-ground by him as 

 they now are by the Indian. 



The visit of the expedition caused great ex- 

 citement among the Sioux Indians. The ac- 

 counts of rich mines and agricultural lands 

 created an eagerness among many persons to 

 proceed to the favored land in search of gain, 

 and exploring, and mining expeditions were 

 formed for this purpose ; but measures were 

 taken by the War Department to prevent any 

 intrusion into the Territory. Notwithstanding 

 this prohibition, private expeditions were fitted 

 out at Yankton, Bismarck, and other points, 

 with the purpose of proceeding to the Black 

 Hills. Some of them were driven back by the 

 Indians with loss of life and property. 



DELAWARE. The Republican State Con- 

 vention met in Georgetown, July 28th, and after 

 nominating Dr. Isaac Jump, of Dover, for Gov- 

 ernor, and renominating Hon. James R. Lof- 

 land for Representative in Congress, adopted 

 the following platform : 



The Republican party of Delaware, in State Con- 

 vention assembled, congratulating the people of this 

 State upon the assuring prospect whicn the coming 

 canvass presents of relief from the mismanagement, 

 abuses, and extravagance, which the Democratic 

 partv, for years past, have entailed upon us, and of 

 obtaining such practical and important reforms, and 

 such wise and judicious economy, as the spirit of tho 

 times and the present necessities of our people de- 

 mand in the governmental policy of our State, do 

 resolve : 



1. Thut we reiterate and reaffirm our adherence to 

 the principles of the Republican party of this State, 

 us lu-retofore officially announced, and our confidence 

 in it as the only party that will give us retrenchment 

 and reform. 



2. That we regard representation according to 

 population, coupled with a district system, as a car- 

 dinal principle of republican government, and that 

 wo are in fuvor of adopting such measures as will 

 speedily and substantially effect the practical appli- 

 cation of this principle to the legislative department 

 of our State government, to remedy the unjust and 

 "lequal provisions of our present system. 



VOL. xiv. 17 A 



8. That as a meant of securing tho reform* that 

 are so much needed in the organic law of the State, 

 and of keeping pace with the enlightened proma* 

 of the age, and with our nUter State*, a Constitutional 

 Convention is imperatively demanded, and w ) 

 declare our intention, it' (kvwUd with the p<. 

 provide for the early organization of such a conven- 

 tion. 



4. That the laws of this State allowing the wage* 

 of labor to be attached for debt are oppressive upon 

 those whose daily sustenance is dependent uj<on 

 tin ir daily toil, and wo are in favor of their repeul, 

 and that, in harmony with the liberal policy of other 

 States, we are further in favor of exempting from 

 execution a reasonable portion of the property of a 

 debtor, not only as affording relief to Ins family, but 

 as better securing the creditor, and tending to ele- 

 vate all classes ofa common citizenship. 



5. That we are in favor of repealing the laws 

 passed by a Democratic Legislature which lay heavy 

 burdens of taxation upon our people in compelling 

 them to pay taxes upon the wages of productive 

 labor, mortgages, and upon savings ai.d houses, 

 acquired through the commendable medium of build- 

 ing and loan associations. 



6. That we regard the law, passed by the last 

 Democratic Legislature in reference to the dutiea of 

 assessors and collectors, as a base attempt to disfran- 

 chise that class of our voters and citizens who are not 

 owners of real estate, in order to accomplish party 

 purposes, and as a measure which, unless prevented 

 by the vigilance of good citizens, will cheat the 

 counties out of their taxes, and the people out of 

 their votes ; and further as an unjust discrimination 

 against the poorer classes, by giving improper influ- 

 ence to property alone. 



7. That the Delaware volunteers, having been 

 among the first in the field and among the hist to 

 leave, during the late war, and with few exceptions 

 having received no bounties, we hereby instruct our 

 Representative in Congress to use his influence in 

 favor of the law now pending in Congress, 'provid- 

 ing for the equalization of bounties. 



8. That wlu'lo we do not advocate mixed schools 

 for the education of the children of this Stste, we do 

 contend that the party in power here has demon- 

 strated its opposition to public education by its con- 

 stant refusal to adopt and legalize measures looking 

 to the improvement of our school system ; that it 

 has committed itself thoroughly against popular 

 education ; and a reform in this direction which shall 

 place the blessings of good schools within the reach 

 of all can only come through the success of the Re- 

 publican party. 



' 9. Recognizing the rightful claim of labor to equal 

 chances with capital, we assert the right of the 

 laborer to such remuneration for his labor as shall 

 guarantee the comfort of himself and family and the 

 education of his children, and we declare our oppo- 

 sition to the present property tests for holding office 

 in Delaware, as repugnant to the spirit of the age, 

 and insulting to the working-men of the State. 



10. That the proper measure of taxation is the 

 sum necessary to an economical administration of 

 the government ; that this principle has been grossly 

 violated by the Democratic party of this State ; 

 that under its administration the public burdens 

 have become odious and oppressive, that reform is 

 imperatively demanded, and experience has shown 

 tlmt it can only be accomplished by displacing those 

 who have abused the trusts confided to them, and 

 substituting in their stead others who will have a 

 proper regard for the rights of the people. 



11. Tliat we recopnize in our able representative 

 in Congress, Hon. John R. Lofland, a faithful public 

 servant, whose attention to the wants and interests 

 of our people, and whose constant and unassuming 

 performance of his duties, deserve our unqualified 

 commendation. 



The Democracy assembled in State Conven- 



