Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1830-12-11

ttSVVuos 0tcIeu yesterday, relative the n
ested election Of Patrick county He had then stated
st Mr.. Stuart did not intend claim his seat and was
not here But Mr.. s. had since taken his seat and be
Hnhsd to withdraw that resolution.
The Speaker remarked that tho resolution was now
IN the hands OF tho committee Of Privileges and Eec-
lions.
Mr.. Garland of NJ said ne was of opin;on ,b,, u W..
necessary that the resolution be rcscinedhe
made motion to that effect, which was agreed to-
hir. Stuar, then rose and said. that he would await
himself OF this opportunity, to offer the House an
explanation which, although might no, be s,ricty In
order, was called for by the peculiar aud
circumstances under which he held his seat in this
Heuse. am returned here (sad Mr.. 81 delegate
rom the county Of Patrick, when another Individual
obtained more for that Office than did To ac
count Tor this I. necessary to state, that there
fcur met elections n the county OF Parck besides
the Court III ,use;-At two Of those precincts and at
the Court House, obtained (said Mr.. 81 majority
Of the votes a.; the Other two precincts Mr. Ad, ob
hned mcjostty, which was large enough to give him
maj nifty OF the votes In the aggregate 1, was a,cer
tained soon after tho election that IN,
VINO suPerintended the elections at the two ecinc
whore Mt Adams obtained the majority, and
one Of those where oh Aine the majority, were not
sworn. The Sheriff. after taking time for consdera
uon, and after closely examining an the laws on the
subject came TO the conclusion that IL was his duty
under the law, discard all The taken at the
c'nct elections, where The Commissioners were not
sworn, and make his return by the Of the polls at
ehe Court House and the precinct where the Commits
souers were sworn. wish II 10 be distinctly under
stood by this House (-ad Mr.. 81 AMI by the world
thst had no agency either direct indirect, in pro.
curing this return; and that wished
the county Of Patrick under suck circumstances I
was absent from the county when the question was
er0 agttated and, although | came 10 court before
the Sheriff made his n al decision, Tar from claiming
my seal, or expressing wish 10 be returned express.
Ga wish directly to the contrary, and informed the
Sheriff that Ii he returned Mr. Adams should acoui.
esce with eheerfuiness, and not the election
The believe, from The purest moves)
considered his duty paramount my wishes and deter
mnedt TO return mo The member elect 10 consequence
OF that return and in obedience the laws of the land
sm here L, Is for this House TO decide whether the
Sheriff has construed the law correctly or not Add
ss TAR az my Individual wishes concerned, shouid
much prefer that ,hs decision Of this HOUSE should
either give Mr.. Adams his seat or send US both ba
10 the people, for a new election. I became a capd
date with great reluctance. add only in obedience to
(whst consc-ntiousy believed was) the wish of IN.
majority OF the people Of my county. The result OF
he election has undeceved me in that particular; and
although am happy TO believe that neither nor
political hostility towards in IivdnaI had auv
influence 10 producing that result; yet can never
wish 10 represent people, majority OF whom have
(howeycr nfermslly) expressed their preference far
another individual II retain my seat, therefore, MIR
Speaker must be by the stubborn and re-
quisitions oil the law, and not, trust, by reason OF
lapse OF tine or any nformality in the procee dngs If
the gentleman who contests my ole con 1t IL nv wish
that every lection arising from either of those causes
may be wsived, and the question fairly decided, wbe.
Their can legally held my under the
have stated have made this briet explain a,ion Mr.
Speaker 10 order that neither my feeling my cours
may De liable to misconceptions let this contest result
as IL may.
Mr.. Garland Ct N. said he wa, of opinion tba, II was
necessary tnat the resou ion he rescinded tn
fore, made me ion 10 that effect, which was agreed
to.-And the petition and evidence of James Adams
complaining OF the undue election of ehiba,d uart,
was on Mr.. Garland's motion referred to the C. OF
Privileges and Elections.
On motion of Mr.. Morris, the committee on Priyile-
ges and Elections were instructed TO proceed on to-
morrow, the 9Th inst, with the investigation of the con-
tested elections from Charlotte and Oranges and on Fri
day the 10Th, with the examination of the contested
election from the county of Culpeper.
MIR. Morris presented sundry documents of William
nj. w atkins, which referred q init Of
Privileges and Elections, be examined together with
his petition relative to the contested election of Char
lotto.
On motion of Mr.. Galaher, the Committee of Courts
OF Justice, were instructed TO report bill changing
the time OF holding quarterly term of the county
Court OF Jefferson, from the third Monday Of June to
the third Mondayo May in each year.
Me- Eopes sail that a pr,po 'iiion had been made
and agreed to- that this house jointly with the nate
proceed TO morrow to elect Public PRIMER IA this
was the hrst instance in which the two houses had
been called to act to ether un Ter the consti
SUTTON, he was not aware Of the method which would
be adopted in such cases. and az il would be necessary
to fix rule for the future the prescott seemed the
httest opportunity for ding II. thought ha, If Sc
parAte committees appoint led, and each house pro.
ceeded separately to the ell con, great inconven nee
would be experienced, "a well as delay. greatnum-
Der Of elections were 70 be had during The session. and
plan which should expedite that 20 ton of the bu.
siness would BE- highly desirable. 10 order attain
this end he submitted resolution that the Senate b.
invited TO meet the House of Deega'es to morrow
rud that seats be allotted to the Numbers of The
Senate when the Joint bodies sbou proceed 10 the cleo
tion Of Pub /. p,ner.
Mr.. Gholsol moved the reference Of the resolution
TO the committee the rules and orders of The House
Of Delegates. Hsth 'ughtit unnecessary now 10 dis
euss this subject. ss'b would be done by the COM
mittee The plan proposed in The resolution d. not
strike him as the best that could be devised, but he
thou yht IL propertt, lay il before the co nm' tee
Mr. Eppes said, he had intended to move that the
resolution lie on tn. table for further consideration ami
he hoped that would satisfy his friend from
Brunswck, and the question wonld be before the house
when the tme came for il morrow.
MIR. Leigh said he 10 reason why the course
proposed should be adopted The question presented
by the resolution was somewhat. difficult, while there
was no difficulty whatever in deciding what method
ought TO be pursued. The smplest unqnes iona
bly, the best. Lat each holss appoint its committee
and communicate to each other the psr5ons put in
nomination in the respective bohes-let the I'm th pro
eeed separately in their Chambers to he election
and rep ut 20 each other the result In case no per-
son is elected at the first ballot let he so reported
and each proceed to another baotiog. When an cleo
ton shall have been mad the Speakers OF the houses
will communicate the result This seemed 10 bin (Af
the hest the most simple and convene ut IN
thod. On such occasons the house had right TO call
upon 'he Senate to here had the Senate any
right 10 ask the house 10 go TO Them. II was true
that was xpedent that the election shoud be mad
jointly "a 10 the time and the method bu as to tbs
place, no new ne ed be- made aud IL was
certainly not necessary that the bodies should vote
In the same Chamber.
Mr. Gho,on said, that from the remark. of The mem.
Der from Hurico, ne the more convinced tn at the
subject ough, 10 be referee. The committee on the
rules me I this evening aud they would be able 10
consider tn question II doubtless necessary that
an understanding should be established with the other
house on The subject.
Mr.. Eppes observed, that he was willing 10 WED TO
any proposition which should establish eonvenien,
rule Tor the future guidance OF the house. He wa
not anxious TO press his motion; but merely wished