1874.] OF THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES. 839

See page 124, and Dep. No. 9, and also the vote of Thomas
Jackson, who himself swears he wanted to vote the Republi-
can ticket, hut was forced to vote the Democratic ticket,
(Page 153, Dep. 32—1, 2, 3 and 4 Questions.)

And you have Widdiccmhe's vote, 2,347. Deduct Thos.
Jackson from Brooke, and he has 2.342, what he started
with.

This Report, while in no wise pretending to countenance
as right the irregularities which, from the evidence, seems
to have been participated in by both sides, yet cannot by
silence seem to countenance the deduction of votes from one
side, and the giving them to the other, upon proof which
would not be heard, much less considered in any Court of
Law.

There is a duty, and a solemn one, to decide this case upon
the legal evidence submitted under law to the Committee,
and there is no right, as we consider, to fill the roads and
the gaps in this testimony, when legal and proper evidence
fails, by drawing upon our impressions, our belief, and our
suppositions.

The forbearance of the Democrats, as stated in the Ma-
jority Report, by which bloodshed was avoided, was an act
of virtue, for which, if true, they deserve all credit, but this
furnishes no legal argument in favor of a new election.

The minority of your Committee are satisfied a new
election ought not to be recommended.

Yery respectfully,

JOHN WIER.

Which was read and made the order of the day for Tues-
day next, the 24th instant.

Mr. Stewart, of Howard, Chairman of a Select Committee,
reported favorably,

A bill entitled an Act to encourage fox-hunting in Howard
and Montgomery counties.

Which was read a first time.

Mr. Brown, Chairman of a Select Committee, reported
unfavorably on,

A bill entitled an Act to authorize and empower the
County Commissioners of Carroll county to levy annually
the sum of five hundred dollars, in addition to the usual
levy for road purposes in said county, and to pay the same to
the Mayor and Common Council of the city of Westminster,
for the purpose of laying out, opening and keeping in proper
condition the streets, lanes and avenues of said city.

The unfavorable report was adopted.