The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1813-06-18
SQf;.-o,cu. .1i.ne1o

:, Saturday. Jit<ne 70.
NsT. 3feotsT laid before The fIcus., y let.
ter iron. G. +. Sa.tpnstal!, of North Carol
ma stating that he is the ,autho, If seyera,
useful inventions. &c. and pray ms that Ct,n.
gre s. may take the subject mater thefe;s
INTO Consideration. There being SO definite
object stated IN the petition, it was ordered
to lie on the table
Mr.. Nelson from TIE committee en- Naval
Affairs, reported a bill torewa-d the officers
ana crew oithe slocp of war Hornet which
wastwice read an5 CONT n, tied.
CONTESTED ELECTION.
Iin motion of lffr, Fis& cf Eernl CIT. the
ttopse resavei ITSELF mt, cc, rii,tle, =
the whole, AIr DQtvso7 in the chair, on he
report OF the committee Of Elections On the
contested election of John p. TInnserford,
wiiicn report is in the follow ING Iyor,,s.
The committee Of elections, - 5-hon t.,os
referred the Petition efr Jo6n 2aEcfs,yo
comftainfng Of fhe andne egscl:o,. of
1ohn =. htnSe'tord. returned as enc If
me rerreSenfaHUeS from Tfrsinia IL RI.
freseM CcnSress; ha,'e had he sarsc "a
der. confederation, zuJ
REPORT
mar at ne last congressional election j.,
mat state for representatives, the said bn
:. huneertord was returned as elected
OF
ot Wes'moreland, Richrund, Lancaster
Northumber'ana, King George and stat.
t9rd. The petitcner was also candidate.
me laws o. Virginia prescribing the man-
nc r CT conducting such elections direct that
the Clerks II the polls Shall enter in dis
tInct columns, under the name Of the nsr.
son voted for, tie name Of each clecior vo
lrg fer Such person"
LEY further direct that "the CLERKS os
me polls having Hrst signed the 81 me. aud
ma oath to the truth thereof, a certiicats
OIL wh'cn oath under the hand of nagis-
trste, ct the County, shall be subioined to
eSch poll. shall deliver the same TO the
sh"riT &c. See
Upon inspecting the polls of the several
Counties, re following facts alDear-
Ia Westmoreland. the names oFthe ycferx
are all entered In one general column o,
the LETT hand margin o. the book &c fies,es
IN numerical order, instead Of the names of
the votes, are inserted in the columns I'M
Ger inc names OF the candidates, as evil
dence fer when eac vote is given.
In Richmond, tlie votes ase registered in
enc Column, and straight marx, instead
OF the name OF the votes, is inserted under
the name Of the candidate.
la Stafford. the Christian name of the yo-
ter IS not written on the poll the initial
letter only is given. The same occurs
'pastiaiiy ~ fsaGCasfer.
On the polls Of Westmoieland. RicI-
Hiohu' Lancaster and Stafford. no certifi-
cate is found os any cath having bnen al.
The petitioner contends. nat the ;rrep,,.
iarIties and deviations from the EXPIRE &c
provisions OF the law, are of such q nat,,ra
as TO render void the election, and REQUIRE a.
new one to be held. On the other hand If
'surged by the sitting member, thar mos
OF the proceedings objected to, are justified
by general practice: and tina. the manner
Oh keeping the poll by entering the names of
al tne voters III one general column, ia
saheticned by long rsage-and that in STAT
ioId, the initial only IS the Christian narno
Of the electors had been entered on the nolS
Tor several past elections.
The committee are Sensible tb~t ,riv;ai
errors, committed BY the officers CONDUCTING
elecuohs' resulting perhaps from a iaiscon~
sIruction OF doubtful passage Of the law
ought not to deprive any class Of citizens Of
the right ct representation.
& otll 1t must be manifest, that C preserve
me elective franchi-e pure and uuimpsirel.
ne positive commands and requirements os
me law, IN respect to the tin c, place and
manner OF holding elections, ought to be OBJ
,erved.
10 enter the names ofths voters prom,..
cunusiy in one margin Of the poll book.
When me law positively directs them TO he
entered IN disfinet columns" and nndey,
the name OF the candidates voted for" is as
manifest departure from the law, as the
electi n OF aso;her time or another tLaee
than that mentioned in the law. Nor can
the committee conceive, that the preGxing
the m'flat only ofthe Christian name TO that
vt the family or surname CT the voter. is
tar compliance with the spirit and intent
oil the law, which declares g that the names
Of the voters shall be duly entered in dis
tinct columns" &c. 1t is presumed, thae
the OBJECT OF the lew in having the name
" dufy entered" is 20 exhibit TO the country.
on a scrutiny, who are the persons voting,
and to test their title to a vote, by compaT-
ing the poll with the land roll
Ana when for example the initial letter is
!, 1t must be obvicds that il may be taken
70 stand for John, or Joseph, or Jana than. or
Joshua, or Jeduthun, or Israel, Isaac, or Ia
COB, or Isaiah. or Jeremiah. &c It would re-
qulre no small share Of perseverance, and
industry to nteGr an election when such
endless uncertainty stands in the way of
examination.
The Committee have not been satisfied.
that such irregularities have ever been sauc1
toned on scTutisy, either by the Lcpisla-
ture OF Virginia or Of tie United Ssates.---
When opposing candidates have not ob-
Jected to them, they NAV have passed sub
lNlentlo. We feel no heei'aGcn in sayipc,
that ciis'oTn ought not 20 justify depart ure
! from the sDii5t and letter e pCsui,-s / 10