252 



DELAWARE. 



DENMARK. 



cussion is concerned, or, I may say, by silent acquies- 

 cence, your attention is directed to it without further 

 comment, except to recommend it as a wise measure, 

 and one that will prove beneficial to the industrial in- 

 terests of the State. The second proposed amend- 

 ment is a proposition for increased representation. 

 This amendment received general discussion in the 

 county of New Castle, whose interests are more closely 

 connected and affected than either of the other coun- 

 ties. I think it fair to accept the popular verdict, as 

 rendered at the last election throughout the State, but 

 especially in the county of New Castle, where the 

 great manufacturing interests centered in the city of 

 Wilmington, and the large and influential body of 

 voters representing and voicing the agricultural in- 

 terests of the county, united in proclaiming the assent 

 of the people to the change. I gave my approval, be- 

 lieving the proposed change a fair, equal, and just 

 recognition of all the interests affecting both county 

 and State, considering that whatever concerns the 

 legislation and representation of a county or section 

 must be subordinate to the general welfare of the en- 

 tire State. I believe the proposed amendment is de- 

 manded by the exigencies of the times. I believe the 

 recognition of the interests of the important and grow- 

 ing city of Wilmington, in the proposed increased 

 representation for that city, is in keeping with a sound 

 State policy, and will meet the long-expressed wish of 

 the pcpple'in the city and rural portions of the county, 

 and will constitute, if ratified, a wholesome check on 



proposed 



amendment, the reform of the judiciary system of 

 the State, I would advise that you take into considera- 

 tion the fact that it has been approved by almost the 

 united bar of the State. Certain it is that there must 

 be a change in our present system in its adaptation at 

 least to the wants of the people of New Castle county. 

 This seems to be generally conceded, and many 

 changes have, from time to' time, been suggested to 

 meet the emergencies of the case, but none of them 

 met with general favor. I believe under the present 

 system it is admitted that, by reason of the additional 

 labor and expense attending the sessions of the courts, 

 increased by number and length of term in New Castle 

 county, an increase of the salaries is imperatively de- 

 manded and must be acceded to, or this important 

 branch of the public service must suffer and become 

 weakened. Heartily believing that the adoption of 

 this last amendment will prove a public benefit, I 

 commend its ratification by your honorable bodies. 



Political. The Republican State Convention 

 met in Dover on April 17, and chose delegates 

 to the National Convention of the party. The 

 Democratic State Convention met in Dover 

 on the 17th of Jane, chose delegates to the 

 Democratic National Convention, and pro- 

 nounced in favor of Senator Bayard as presi- 

 dential candidate. Another Republican State 

 Convention, held in Dover on the 30th of Sep- 

 tember, nominated candidates for presidential 

 electors, and, for Congress, Anthony Higgins. 

 AYith respect to the proposed constitutional 

 amendments, this convention passed the follow- 

 ing resolutions : 



^ Resolved, That this convention advises the ratifica- 

 tion of the amendments proposed to Article VI of the 

 Constitution relative to the judiciary, as necessary to 

 the (-tal)lishment of a proper judicial system. The 

 obvious defects of the present Constitution demand 

 the application of some adequate remedy, especially 

 in the construction of the Court of Errors and Appeals ; 

 and the accumulation of business consequent upon 

 the increase of population and the development of 

 new and varied branches of industry require that the 



energies of each of the judges should be devoted to the 

 consideration and dispatch of the legal matters aris- 

 ing out of the exigencies of a growing community. The 

 provisions of the existing system are cumbrous and 

 antiquated, and should be molded into the form which 

 the experience of other States has shown to be safe 

 and judicious. 



Resolved, That we disapprove the amendment pro- 

 posed by the General Assembly of this State to Article 

 ll, as being unjust^ illusory, and mischievous : it is 

 unjust, because it discriminates between citizens, and 

 denies to the people residing in different sections the 

 equality of representation to whicb they are entitled ; 

 it is illusory, oecause it falsely pretends to be an equi- 

 table remedy for existing wrongs ; and it is mischiev- 

 ous, because, if ratified, it will postpone for a genera- 

 tion the adoption of just and adequate measures of 

 reform. Instead of this scheme 2 which is but a parti- 

 san device to secure the possession of political power, 

 the .Republican party proposes the division of the 

 State into separate senatorial and representative dis- 

 tricts, allotting to each its just and equal proportion 

 of each, and providing that the Senators and Kepre- 

 sentatives shall be chosen by the people thereof, thus 

 insuring equality of representation as among the citi- 

 zens residing in different localities, securing such rep- 

 resentation to the various sections according to their 

 political views, and destroying the baneful influence 

 of county prejudices and the undue preponderance of 

 disproportionate county population. 



At a Democratic State Conventon, held in 

 Dover on the 1st of October, Charles B. Lore 

 was renominated for Congress, and candidates 

 for presidential electors were named. The 

 platform indorses the constitutional amend- 

 ments. On the 9th of November, Mr. Lore 

 was re-elected by a vote of 17,054 against 12,- 

 978 for Higgins. The following was the vote 

 for presidential electors: Republican, 12,951; 

 Democratic, 16,964; scattering, 61. The Legis- 

 lature is wholly Democratic. 



DENMARK, a kingdom in northern Europe. 

 The Constitution is embodied in the charter 

 of June 5, 1849, which was modified in 1855 

 and 1863, but restored in an altered form in 

 1866. The executive power is exercised by 

 the King, through a responsible ministry, and 

 the legislative power by the Rigsdag or Diet. 

 The upper house is called the Landsthing, and 

 consists of 66 members, of whom 12 are nomi- 

 nated for life by the Crown, from actual or 

 former representatives in the legislature, and 

 the remainder are elected indirectly by the 

 people for the term of eight years. The popu- 

 lar chamber, called the Folkething, consists 

 of 102 members, elected by direct universal 

 male suffrage for three years. The only classes 

 debarred from the franchise are those who 

 have been recipients of public charity and per- 

 sons in service who have no households of 

 their own. The former class can regain the 

 right by repaying the sums received. The lim- 

 itation of age is thirty years. The Folkething 

 decides in the first instance on all money bills 

 presented by the Government. The Rigsdag 

 meets annually on the first Monday in October. 

 The Landsthing appoints every four years four 

 of its members to form with the judges of 

 the Supreme Conrt the Rigsret, which is the 

 highest tribunal and has cognizance of legisla- 

 tive impeachments. 



