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Col. Hooper, from the Committee of the whole House, delivers to
Mr. Speaker the following Report :
By a Committee of the whole House, June 10, 1749.
That at a Committee of the whole House, the said Committee had
taken into Consideration the Petition of sundry the Inhabitants of
St. Mary's County, complaining of an undue Election and Return
for the said County; and Resolved, That the late Election had for
St. Mary's County was not a fair and free Election for the said
County, and therefore is wholly null and void; and that Messieurs
Zachariah Bond, Philip Key, Abraham Barnes, and James Mills,'
are not duly elected Delegates for the said County.
Resolved, That Robert Chesley, Sheriff of St. Mary's County, did
not, before the late Election of Delegates for the said County to
serve in this present General Assembly, give to the Freeholders and
other Voters of the said County, Notice of the Time of such Elec-
tion, according to the Directions of the Act of Assembly of this
Province entituled, An Act directing the Manner of Electing and
Summoning Delegates and Representatives, to serve in succeeding
Assemblies; and for ascertaining the Expences of the Counsellors,
Delegates of Assembly, and the Commissioners of the Provincial
and County Courts of this Province; and did behave with great Par-
tiality, by endeavouring to deter and hinder, by Threats and Men-
aces, some of the Freeholders and other Voters of the said County
from their Freedom of Voting; and thereby, and also by offering
a Reward to another Person, did induce him, and terrify them, into
giving their Votes for the four Candidates by him the said Sheriff
afterwards returned for the said County, as Delegates to this present
General Assembly. And directed the Chairman to report the same
to the House.
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L. H. J.
Liber No. 46
June 10
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Ordered, That Mr. Speaker do acquaint Mr. Bond, Mr. Key, Mr.
Barnes, and Mr. Mills, that they are dismissed from any further
Attendance on this House.
Ordered, That Mr. Speaker do issue his Warrant to the Secretary
of this Province, to make out forthwith a Writ of Election directed
to the Sheriff of St. Mary's County, to elect four Members to serve
in this present General Assembly, in the Room of Messieurs Zach-
ariah Bond, Philip Key, Abraham Barnes, and James Mills.
Resolved, That it is an high Infringement of, and a dangerous
Attack upon, the Liberties and Privileges of the Freemen of this
Province, and tends to subvert the Freedom of Elections of Dele-
gates to serve in Assembly, for any Person who, in the Time of a
General Assembly of this Province, doth, or hereafter shall, sit as
a Member of an Upper House of Assembly, any way to interest,
intermeddle, or concern himself in the Election of Delegates to serve
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p. 853
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