Piney Woods planter. (Liberty, Mi. [i.e. Miss.]) 1838-1840, 1839-10-19
district officers to the secretary Of state

| N'NNio W tHC ScCISldIy vi sldl
also.
The returns Of the general election ar
required to be. made to the Legislature
within fifteen days after the election. -
the law is silent as to the manner in which
the returns are to be forwarded TIL,
usual. practice has been to send then
through the post office. The law is i'm
PHratlve in requiring the returns to BIZ
nude to the secretary of state Within IF
teen days; and the returning officer is Ii
able TO heavy penalty if they are not de.
posted with the secretary in that time
1t is not complying with the law to make
out the returns and deposite them in the
post office within fifteen days. ] suggest
to you the propriety, when the county is
remote from tri-weekly mail route to the
seat of government, of making out duplil
cate returns and depositing one in the
post office OF your county and sending the
other by private conveyance to some post
office on mail route where the mail pass
es three times week TO this place.
The stability Of our free government
mainly depends upon the strict enforce
ment of the law governing elections. 1t
is OF the utmost importance that the re.
turns Of the next election should reach
here within. fifteen days after the election
if they fail to arrive, the members cleo
ted to Congress cannot reach Washington
in time to vote for speaker. of the House,
and the voice of the state cannot be heard
on that important question. 1t is there
fore necessary that the return OF the cleo
ton in your county should be forwarded
Immediately after the election is over.
Direct your returns to Thomas b. Wood
ward, Esq, secretary of state, Jackson,
Mississippi.
The Auditor, Secretary of State, State
Treasurer, Judges of Probate, members
of the Board of Police, Clerks of the Cir
cult and other inferior courts, Sherffs,
Coroners, County Treasurers, Rangers
and surveyors, and Justices Of the Peace,
by the professions of the constitution, hold
their Offices for two years. The terms of
all those officers expire next November,
and it is your duty to give notice of the
election, and open poll therefor at the
next November election.
Many justices of the peace have been
elected during the last two years to fill
vacancies; their terms of office also ex
pire next November. The whole number
of justices of the peace, to which your
county is entitled, must be elected at the
next general election. If the board of
police have not laid of the Districts accor-
ding to law, you are requested to call their
immediate attention TO the subject.
Sheriffs "hold their Offices for two
years." Those sheriifs elected at the last
general election can therefore continue to
perform the duties of the office for two
years from the day they gave bond and
took the oath Of office.
Many bonds given by Shcriffs hereto
fore are imperfect and insufficient. have
sent correct form, drawn up by the At
torney General, to the clerk of the Pro-
bate Court Of your county. The Judge of
Probate is authorized to approve the
bonds and sureties Of sherifs, and the, and
they are required TO be recorded, filed and
in the office of the clerk of
the Probate Court
Should you be candidate for re-elec-
ton, you will hand this letter to the Off
Ger you have appointed to hold the cleo
ton. | am, sir, yours respectfully,
A. G. McNUTT.
To the sheriff of county.