James Ponder

James Ponder ( born October 31, 1819 in Milton, Delaware, † November 5, 1897 ) was an American politician and 1871-1875 Governor of the State of Delaware.

Early years and political rise

James Ponder attended private schools in Georgetown and Lewes. He took over his father's business and expanded it to shipbuilding, agriculture and banking. He became president of the railway company 's Queen Anne Railroad and the Georgetown Farmer's Bank. James Ponder was a member of the Democratic Party. Between 1857 and 1859 he was a delegate in the House of Representatives from Delaware for a legislative period. In the years 1864-1869 he was a member of the State Senate and in 1870 he was elected as a candidate of his party for governor of his state.

Governor of Delaware

James Ponder began his four-year term on 17 January, 1871. During his tenure, married women were given additional legal rights. The sale of alcohol is permitted exclusively to the hotel. Another law forbade all people who are citizens of Delaware were not to fish in that State or fishing. But the main problem in Ponders reign was the tension between the federal government and the racial policies. Delaware refused to ratify the 13th Amendment. This happened only in 1901. Next, we made ​​the blacks their right to vote in dispute. In the elections of 1870 had the electoral rolls manipulated so skillfully that most African Americans were not allowed to choose. The result was that all the seats fell to the Democrats in the House of Representatives from Delaware. In 1872, President Ulysses S. Grant sent troops to create these grievances remedy. Thus, some members of the Republican Party could then be selected. This led to further tensions in Delaware. As a result, so-called " poll tax" laws were passed which coupled the right to vote on the payment of taxes and their sense of it was to eliminate the black population of the elections.

Further CV

After the end of his term of office on 19 January 1875, Ponder withdrew from politics. He went back to his private affairs, and died in November 1897. Together with his wife Sallie Waples he had four children.

James Ponder was the brother of Willard Saulsbury, who had been from 1859 to 1871 Senator in the U.S. Congress. Saulsbury retired in 1871 due to drinking problems from the Senate from. Subsequently, he was appointed by his brother, who was still governor, the " Chancellor of Delaware ." This appointment was at that time highly controversial also because of the alcohol problem of Saulsbury. Saulsbury but managed to overcome his problem.