Journal of the State Council, 1784-1789. 327

strict enquiry into the pretensions of the Persons returned than has
been usual in State Assemblies.

2nd. Because the 4th. Section of the said Article after saying
that "the times, places, and manner of holding elections for Senators
and Representatives shall be prescribed in each State by the Legis-
lature thereof" further declares "the Congress may at any time by
Law make or alter such Regulations except as to the places of choos-
ing Senators."

The most obvious intention of this clause is that Congress
may establish an uniformity in elections; and as the several States
have on this first occasion made such various regulations, it is prob-
able that the Authority of Congress will be very early exercised in
this particular and I am further persuaded that when it shall be
known in what a diversity of forms the several Certificates of election
in a single State are conceived, the Congress will think it expedient
to prescribe the form of a [p 32] return to be universally
observed in future elections. If this is a reasonable conjecture it is
highly proper that they should be informed in what manner the
business is at present executed and the readiest way to convey that
information is to furnish them with the returns or copies thereof as
hath been proposed.

3rd. Because the preceding reasons for transmitting the Papers are
warranted and Strengthened by the various forms in which they have
been delivered to this Board. The Law under which the late election
was held directs that an Oath of Office shall be taken by the Judges
and Clerks previous to their entering upon the Duty, and that the
Judges shall transmit their Certificates under their Hands and Seals.
Most of the returns contain no assurance that the first direction
has been complied with and many of them are not in my opinion at-
tested agreeably to the second direction, which Omissions in my
Judgment render them incomplete and illegal.

John Kilty

The Council adjourned 'till tomorrow morning.

Saturday 7th. February 1789

The Council met.

Present as on Yesterday.

Ordered that the Western Shore Treasurer pay to Solomon Wright
Esqr. One hundred and fifty pounds for three quarters Salary as a
Judge of the Court of Appeals due the 1st. instant.

That the said Treasurer pay to Anthony O'Neale Twenty shillings
for carrying public Letters to Prince George's, Charles, and Saint
Mary's Counties as per Agreement.

That the said Treasurer pay to James Campbell One hundred and
forty eight pounds, six shillings and two pence Current Money due