Ridgely’s Notebook IV, 109
Supreme Court of Delaware.
1823
John Collins, Esq., who was elected Governor at the general election in October, 1820, and was sworn into office the third Tuesday of January, 1821,[1] died in April, 1822, and Caleb Rodney of Sussex County, Esq., the Speaker of the Senate, qualified himself for the exercise of the office of Governor by taking the affirmations required by the Constitution of this state, and by the Act of Congress, and immediately entered on the discharge of the supreme executive powers of the State. See his message to the General Assembly dated January 7, 1823.[2]
This day, January 21, 1823, the third Tuesday, THE CHANCELLOR administered to Joseph Haslet, Esq., of Sussex County, who was elected Governor last October, the oath of office, the oath to support the Constitution of this State, and the oath to support the Constitution of the United States. This ceremony, contrary to all former practice, was performed in the State-house, in the court-room below stairs, the Governor and Chancellor
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standing at the judges’ desks, the Senate occupying the petit
Jury box to the right, and the House of Representatives the Grand Jury box to the left. The clerks sat in the bar. The room was pretty full, but it accommodated the bystanders with great convenience, and might have contained thirty or forty more. On all other occasions, the governors were sworn in the Senate Chamber. This arrangement was made by the Senate, on motion of Mr. du Pont, a Senator from New Castle County, ut audivi.