Lexington union. (Lexington, Miss.) 1838-18??, 1841-09-18

MN, wathln Mree ddys Gfter me ctoSang q
the Polls
suggest to the Returning officers OF
each county tie propriety, when the
county is remote from tri-weekIy mail
rout to the seat of Government, ofmaklng
out duplicate returns and despositing one
in the Post Office IN the county and send
ing the other by private conveyance to
some Post Office on mail rout where the
mail passes three times a week to this
place.
The stability of our free government
mainly depends upon the strict enforce
ment Of the law governing elections. 1t is
the utmost importance that the returns Of
the next election, should reach here ,rith-
in Is days after the election; if they fail
TO arrive, the members elected to Congress
cannot reach Washington City in due sea.
son.
Different opinions prevail as to the exact
period the term Of officers elected at gen.
eral biennial election expire. Many sup
pose that they expire when the polls
close on the second day of the election.
Such construction would leave into Office
at that time only the Governor, two Judges
of the High Court of Errors and Appeals
and the Coroners of the several counties.
There would be no officers TO make the
returns, to administer the oaths of office,
to approve the bonds of the county officers
and no Secretary OF State to courtersign
the commission OF various officers. 1t is
not to be presumed, that the trainers of the
Constitution have so discharged their du-
ty that the Government would be dissoIv-
ed every two years. Erery Government
presp oses ? petuity, and any construc-
lion pIcced u u our fundamental laao
which Uould lta 10 a dissolution Cf the
GocernmC.t mnst be =. ected. | am there
lore, decidedly OF the opinion, that officers
elected at general biennial elections con-
tnue in office for the period prescibed by
he Constitution Tor law as the case may
be,} counting from the day they respec-
lively lake the oatbs of Office, and entered
upon the discharge of their duties. Per-
sons elected 10 fill vacancies continue 10
office until the terms of office of their
predecessors expire.
The Boards of Police Of the several
counties are required to assemble on the
second Monday in October next, and
then to appoint inspectors ofelectlon (un-
less they may have previously discharged
that duty.) They will also lay of and
publish the boundaries of the Police Dis.
trict, in their respective Counties. In
laying off those districts respect should be
had to population not TO territory.
The Boards OF Police elected next Nov.
viii assemble on the second Wednesday in
November nCrt and continue in session
from day TO dayuntil the 18th day of Nov
!, and will Ethen order elections to fill va
cancies in all county Offices, where the
) persons elected have failed TO execute and
file their bonds duly conditioned and up
proved or have failed to take the oaths of
} Office
GAN County Officers whose duties are
confined to any portion or district of the
county, shall be authorized 10 exercise
the duties and functions o. the office 10
which they are elected, from the time they
shall receive certificate oftheir election
from the Commissioner, or the officer au-
rhorized to,certIty and make return of said
election, whether they shall have been
commissioned or not: Prorided, such Of
fcers as are required to give bond shall
have first duly executed their bonds, and
have the same proved according TO law,and
shall have taken the oath prescribed by
the Constitution"
The Returning Officers of the several
counties will give each county officer a
ce rtilicate of election, Immediately after
the votes of the county are counted and
summed up. Commissions are the mere
evt licences Of the election of officers.
Judges and District Attorneys elected at
the next biennial election are authorised
TO enter upon the discharge of their res
} pective duties so soon as the result of their
election is know and they shall have taken
the oath prescribed by the Constitution.
, A. G. M'NUTT,
To the Sherifs, Returning Off.
GERS, Judges and Clerks of he
Probate Court, and members
Of the Boards Of Police of the
several counties of the State