Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1830-12-21
John n. TValaee. John Gibson, Jr.
Whole County

Whole County sos 325
Ttere ins in she " hole ID strict. piled for Wal.
lace TOS votes and Tor Gibson 6Si votes IL apuears
that IN Sher n Of Fa quier County, on the 25th of
'aid month, continued the proceeding on the po from,
that day until 'he 9Th Of said month, when the same
was closed A. the end OF the poll taken a, Warren on
on the said rs OF October, appears 10 he appended
''a'emeni Of he Sheriff which s copied with the poll
book, in the words and figures following:
"Wmrsn'on, 25'h Oetoher 1880 The Sheriff nj
Fa"quieT County being about open the polls Tor The
OF m"mh- rs 10 tho General Assembly Of vr.
ginia, when two OF the candidates Tor said Assembly
TO vi Col. John Wallace ior the Senate and Tho
ma Marshall, Tor the Home of Delegates requested
OF the Sheriff. 'ha pFocama lou he made tha, tie
polls would be continu- open for the Iva suec,edro
days alleging tia, hs rain 10 Tho mornins and Thick
n~ss IT The atmosphere attended with thunder W S
suhSi N, to prevent tie atterdancs of many voters a,
The polls. Col I'm Gibson, candidate Tor the nate
o' seh Assembly, at The same time made his OF sc ions
agaiDt The pTorIamaoD, slise ne that legal causes did
not exist 10 justly said proclamation The Sheriff wit.
messed iefabe fall OF rain at III, residence nc
miles itom Warrenter between the hours Of two and
uF o'tleck OF The morning, and a small spfinke Of
rain at eight O'Clock hearing distant thuu,ier very
smoky atmosphere, hiding the appearance OF clouds A.
or 10 milr' distance: o'clock the Sheriff consiJ.
cred he legal causes To prevent electors the
pn's removed hut made he Proclamation quested
i'is day having continued moderately iair The leo a!
camses o, existing after od ok. In the evening
Gel William Smith. candidate for the House OF
D~egte made HE poes against continuing the polls
open Tor another d'y. JAMES S. PICKETT
sheriff tor Fauqui-r County"
This s'aemeni rot eng necessary Fart Of G pro
per authorization Of The ppl-book, to which il il sp.
penied 10 u" part Of hs official duty Of ihe She.
fH; and ~ there re suipiusAge His statement tIus
made IN affirmation OF the osistuce OF t. causes which
authorised him TO adjourn the poa ,could not be can.
cfISiue Of the tact; but the might be
ny The testimony OF competent impartial witnesses
so IN The case OF aimiii' tho votes OF u uualfie
PERSONS but this Satclnea; conrovers the existence of
the causes upon which the Sheriff adjourned the polls
lie inpugns his own motives, and attempts to itnpeacb
aud violate his official and judgment in so adj
lournlng them Having pronounced his solemn udg-
and oF
actually proclaimed that the polls would be adjourned
and having actually adjourned them accordingly the
said statement whether made by the Sheriff 10 de-
fraud the candidates electors violate the poll sub.
sequen,ly 10 be taken, TO impugn his motives and
render his official act worthy Of credit TO impeacb
and braid his judgment for fraud or error or 10 re-
verse and annu the same, IL IS equally clear tina, il is
nadmssibe for either Of tho purposes The poll books
properly authenticated as in this case) are evidence
that ha was well done which appears thereon have
been officially done by the officers taking and conduct
ing the elections at the places and within the times au-
tho ised by law; and the only be controvert-
cd by he testimony OF competent impartial witnesses.
IL would be extremely dangerous 10 permit an officer
acting under so high and delicate trust, as that Of
taxing and conducting polls in the election OF members
oil the General Assembly, TO violate his official
by any Po'erior appendix conroverting the facts upon
which 1t was made. The faith and credit Of the Off
cial acts OF this officer be preserved until they
are ipeached and reversed according the usages Of
the law.
II however appears by the poll books that on the 26h
aud 9th days OF said month"; 12S votes were given at
aIepoh ahu Xix rlYer and by the affidavit OF Charles
B Smthhe deputy Sheriff, who conducted the election
at Salem, (Which may be evidence il lee except
ed to that on said days there given at that place
1921 votes, making 2J2 votes which sppear 10 have been
given on the "a and Sd days of the election in Fauque
IL also appears tina, 1859 votes given the frs
day OF said election; that 1921 votes given il
The three days and consequently, that nigh enc fourth
Of the whole number given on the I'd and 3,
days. Thus il appears Inst many voters prevent
ed from giving their votes the first day OF the cleo
tion AMI whether they were prevented by the incle
meucy Of the weather by the proclamation Of the
SherHHis equally clear that the admission Of The
aloressid violate the polls taken on thos,
Ssys, would operate fraud upon the elections an,
the sitting mesnbet
, ReoIrtd, isrsieFe loa, he pon pooss iahsh Il