Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1865-11-09
Tho Beauties Of the system.


definite article being used 20 disting lish them,
as they sboald be from ailother boards-net
at SEepberdstovn on Tuesday last, to receive
and count the vote cast ut the late election as
returned by the Supervisors and Inspectors oil
the same
Their proceedings form such a u''qse chap
Ter in the history Of the "new order Of things,
and are so positively refreshing, even on a cool
DAWN November, that weean't refrain, although
much pressed for time, from hasty recital Of
them for the benefit of our readers in this issue
ofthe Free Press.
We have collected the Clcts from sources en-
titled to the highest credit, and we present them
as webelieve in Neutrality-suspicious. mem-
belished truth But should we by any mis-
chance incorrectly represent any of the parties
whose names NC feel it 70 be our duty to men
ton in this article, in any act attributed to
them in this narrative, our colums viii be open,
as they will be at all times. fUr the correction
Of any errors that may be committed.
In order that the fragrant ana unpardonabie
enormities Of the Board on the FLA inst, may
be fully c0mprehended, we propose briefly to
sketch their duties as defined BY the law.
They are defined by the Act Of November
18th, 1865, Chap. 100 BY the Slst See. Of
that act, it is required 'that the board of SUI
pervisors ofeaeh county shall be the J'ilges Of
the election, qualifications ard returns ftleir
olcR members and Of al county and to'ol'shP
officers They shall convene on the twelfth day
after every election held in their county or any
township thereof and their clerk shall lay be-
fore them the ballots, poll-booBs, inspectors
certificates and the envelopes which contained
the ballots of absent voters delivered to him.
They may, if deemed necessary, require de at
tendance Of Of tis iRspeetors or other officers
or persons present at the election, 70 al'sca
questions under oalt respecting the same and
may demand theproductionoftbe pollbooks and
certificates concerning the said election, fled in
the Office Of the Recorder; and take such other
order as shall seem proper to procure correct
returns, and ascertain the result Of the said e
lection in the county"
In the SD Sec. of the same act, wherever a
prosecuting attorney, surveyor of lands, recor-
der, assessor, clerk Of the circuit court, county
treasurer, sheriff, supervisor, clerk Of the town
ship, surveyor of the roads, overseer Of the poor
township treasurer, inspectors ofeIection, JUS
tice or constable is to be elected, the board
"shall declare by resolution or resolutions en-
tered on their journal who are elected and to
what Office" They are authorized by the SD
Section, in the case of the above officers, who,
it will be observed are county officers only, to
furnish the parties elected with the proper ere
dentials of election. In the instances Of
such officers they are, it is acknowledged, the
Judges both of their qualifications and election
but in reference to any other they have no more
judicial power to determine any question ex-
cept the mere returns Of the inspectors the
number and kind of votes cast both accepted
and 'rejected7-than they have to pronounce
Judgment upon the result of the election of a
member of the House of Commons from Birm-
ingham or Manchester
For, by the S5th Sec, Of the act of 1868, in
the case of Delegate, Senator, Governor, Sec
rotary of the State, Treasurer, Auditor, Attor-
ney General, Judge of the Supreme Court of
Appeals, Judge for a circuit, Representative
in Congress Of the United States, &c, "the
board Of Supervisors of sush county, under
the regulation prescribed in the 3lst Soc. Of
this act, shall carefully and impartially ascer-
tain the result of the said election in THEN
county. and cause to be signed by their presi-
ding officer and clerk as many certificates there
Of as may be necessary, sc. These certificates
are in the case Of Delegates to be transmitted
one to the Clerk Of heHouse Of Delegates. and
the other,if demanded, to the delegate appear
Ing to be elected, in the case Of S.nator, to the
Clerk Of the Senate and to eSenatorappearing
to be elected; and in the case " Judgs for a
circuit, to the Governor, who snail ascertain
who are elected and make proclamation there
Of q
Can any one believe that by the term result,
in the foEegoing section, there was intended to
be declared by the law any other power than
to make a mere declaration Of the return Of the
inspectors Of the election? Are the Supervisor.
Of the county to be the judges Of the quaEfca-
tons and elections of the members of the Gene
raj Assembly Of the State? Ii 50, what be-
comes Of the authority specially delegated by
the Constitution 10 each house % Judge of those
questions for themselves? Are they To be
judges Of the qualification and election of a
judge Of the circuit court? II so. what become
of the powers Of the governor and those given
under the act Of Nov. 9th, 1868, chap. lI2.
sec. 10, which organizes a special court in the
case Of contest tor the judgeship. to decile
according to the law, the returns aud evidence"
who is elected2
It is clear, then, that the law has, in all other