The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1806-12-27
CVoLumE 8.


it was frequently necefary, in the cafe Of a
number OF bal votes being given. either to
con!ine lbs rs,arrs, wilete t.src was erea. ape
pearance OF fraud, or To let aide the election
altogether, and tn order 4 rev one. This
was great grievance that loudly called
for recrets, If any means could be devifed
FOR aRcrdihGit. 1t was added that nmilar
prosihon had. been adopted i'll the late
of Peunfylvania, and had been carried in.
to efea without Inconvenience and that
evenif it fhoud be acknowledged that it would
be attended with fome Inconvenience, ii did
not follow that it was not frecr from objection
than any other provifon which could be de-
vifed.
On the other hand it was contendcd, that
the fighi OF ballot was iufly confidered fac red.
and that whatever tended 20 impair it, oueht
to be rsfed; that in this inRancc, although,
nomin1Uy the power given to the magiftrste
only sFPIied TO perfons not legally qualified TO
rete. 1t usually gave him he right ofdeter-
miniDg vito were. or were not 70 qualified.
On this point the maeinrate was liable 10 mil.
judgement, and might confeGuently compel a
qualified voter to declare for whom he voted.
and thus dearoy the. facredncfs Of the ballot.
Nor was it uncharitab'e to fuppoie, that in adj
d't'on to the INTAKES of the inagifrate, party
tP'rlt might in fome inftances carry him be.
yond the bounds of propriety. 1t was beGdcs
ftrong objection to the propofed provilion,
that 1t made the iffne of an election depend OIL
the oaths of perfons who had previouly com.
mitted fraud by giving illegal votes.
- After this dfcuiiion the committee, without
coming to any deciiion, rofe ard aiked leave TO
ht again, which; was refnfed. and the bill re-
committed TO Meffrs. Bidwell, Half.y, Smith
of Pen. Smith Of Virg. Pitkn, R. Mellon and
M'Fairland.
Mr.. Crowninfiic!d, from the Committee of
Commerce and Manufactures, made report
on the petitions of tundry inhabitants of PhiIa-
deiphia and Baltimore, praying fora drawback
of duties on refined fugar exported.
The report fates that the fubic6t was fully
examined by the committee in the lat Conprefs.
to which report they refer for their reafons j.
ganit granting the prayer oft the petitioners, con-
Guiding with refolution, debating it in-expedi.
emf to grant the prayer of the petitioners.
Referred to committee of the whole on
Tncfday.
Mr.. Crowninihield then moved the following
refoIution-
Rfj6iUed, That it is expedient to reduce the
duties on foreign refined fugar, and fugar can
dy from and after the day of
next, and that all reftriefions at prefent impo-
led on the importation and expectation of ref.
ned iugar be removed.
MIR. CrowninfhieId remarked that the duties
at pretent paid on the importation of thefe al
ticles were exceedingly high, and operated az
monopoly to domeRic fugar rchners. He was
|oppofed to any fuch monopoly, and TO fuch ex
orhitant duties. His Object was to call the at
teniion of the Houfe to the fubjett--for which
purpofe ne moved the reference of his refolutf-
on to the fame committee with that to which
the report had been referred, in which motion
the Houfe concurred.
Mr.. Chandler prefsnted petition from fever
al collectors of cultoms in Maine, praying for
an iDcreafe of their emoiumcnts which u,ao 70
ferred to the committee of Ways and Means.
mr. DAYTON preiented petition from
GreihaD, which was referred to the Committee
of Claims.
MIR. r. Mellon prefented petition from fun
dry inhabitants of Maryland and Pennsylvania,
praying for a new pott road, which was referred
TO the poft Office committee.
The Houfe refolved tfelf into committee Of
the whole--Mr. MASTERS in the chair-----
on the bill to change the name of the difra Of
Ninjemoy TO that of St. Mary's.
After fhort confederation of the bill, til.
committee rofc, reported progrsfs, and obtained
leave to fit again.