800 JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS [Mar. 13,

the evidence disclosed, your Committee would not deem it
proper to disturb the result of the returns. But the evidence
shows more than this. It shows that the secrecy of the bal-
lot-box was violated under a pretended claim of authority.
It shows that Democratic tickets were taken from voters
when they were on the line of march to deposit them, and
torn up, and Republican tickets given in their place, or foisted
upon them by cunning device, and it shows that during the
earlier portion of the day of election a condition of things ex-
isted about the polls in Marlboro' which must have had the
effect of intimidating a class of voters and preventing a free

and fair expression of their preferences between the candi-

dates.

In vindication of the purity, freedom and secrecy of the
ballot-box, and the protection that should be extended to the
voter in the expression of his choice between the respective
candidates at the polls, the majority of your Committee are
satisfied that a new election should be ordered, and they
recommend the adoption of the following Resolutions :

1. Resolved by the House of Delegates of Maryland, That
at an election held on the 4th of November, 1873, for Clerk
of the Circuit Court for Prince George's county, in said
county, Robert S. Widdicombe was not duly and legally
elected Clerk of the Circuit Court for Prince George's
county.

2. Resolved, That an election for Clerk of the Circuit
"Court of Prince George's county be, and the same is ordered
to be held on the day of 1874, in pursuance of
section 12, of Article 4, of the Constitution.

R. JOHNSON COLTON,

Chairman.

GEO. W. NUTWELL,
THOS. H. HAMILTON,
O. H. P. CLARK,
C. STEWART,
J. WEST THOMPSON, JR.,
Committee.

Which was read, and made the order of the day for Tues-
day nest, the 17th inst.

On motion of Mr. Seth,
At 11 1/4 o'clock, P. M., the House adjourned.