The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-04-21

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HANOVER COURTHOUSE.
It Was Butt
Patrick Henry Delivered Ills Celebrated speech in the
Parsons Cause December 1853
indefinite Whenever the Governor thought proper dis
solve Assembly and writ for election, he
could do so, and the sheriff announced the time in his
County which he would for election For this reason
the writs had be read the crcnes II probable that
the elections held in Virginia intervals of from three
years if cap judge from the list OF Bugeses
given in Hcnngs Statutes and i'll the Virginia Magazine
CT History. In IT'S, however the Virginia Convention de-
cared that elections should be held annually the court
houses OF the respective counties In the first Virginia Con-
sution this principle incorporated Since the
days OF each county taken election days the
system very different from that vogue the present
when the elections held the day throughout
the State. In other words the Virginia custom that
which prevailed England where each shire holds its own
election which fixed upon by the sheriff the most
suitable.
The time at which the polls to be open was twelve
o'clock in the day. after the ireeodcrs had assembled and
discussed among themselves the general political and
policies that should be carried the Assembly As
all the reeolders had voted the sheriff would
the fact the door OF the courthouse that the polls
would be closed after which he would wait for short while
and if other presented himself, the list then
made and the report off This proved unsatisfactory
and changed the polls had to be kept until
sntown and if appeared than could be listed
by sunset then the election to continue the following
day. In OF bad weather the polls to be kept open
for three DAYS, SO that different parts of the
county might be able appear and have opportunity to
cast The modern critics OF present method OF
holding elections think that political methods
more corrupt to-day than they colonial days but
the old records be relied upon made every effort
to be elected by short cuts otherwise that time just
they do to-day
The first OF anything bordering corruption is
the statement that gentleman offered himself candidate
for seat House OF Burgesses the agreement that
he elected he would not ask from the county the usual
stipend OF tobacco that given by the county
sentative 1t appeal to the people to vote for man
would represent them for the smallest In 1899 the
Assembly enacted law that No person persons hereafter
to be Burgess urgesses shall directly ndi
rcctv by any ways or his their proper charge
son or persons having voice such elections any
money meat drink, provisions or make any present. gilt
reward entertainment, any PROMISE or obl-
CATION give allow meat money drink provisions,
present reward entertainments order to procure the
vote Of such person persons for his their cleo
ton Burgess Burgesse And every person
sons giving presenting, allowing, making proising
engaging any money, drink provisions, order to
procure election being elected shall be incapable to SIT
and Burgess that Assembly, but that such election
shall be void to all nten and as the said returns
or election had never been made
Evidently there was fraud and bribery being done in
the elections Governor sposwood about fifteen after
ward complained very bitterly Of the fact that there were
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