I inclose two returns of the elections of Justices of the Peace in the second and third districts of this county. In my certificates I have mentioned the towns originally laid out by the Connecticut Settlers, which fall within the respective districts, altho’ the constables and their assistants have omitted to certify the same to me: but the omission I presume is not material; because the county has not yet been regularly divided into townships, agreeably to the laws of this state; altho’ the Court of Sessions have agreed on a temporary but imperfect division for the purpose of getting the roads repaired: but even this division has not been published in the county.
You will notice in the return of the election for the second district, that the whole number of votes amounts to but eighty seven, altho’ the list of electors shows there were fifty seven voters, which, consequently should have produced 114 votes: there might therefore have been 27 single votes; and this agrees with the information given me by the Inspector, Mr. Allin, a day or two after the election, “that he counted 27 single votes for Lawrance Myers”. These 27 votes, I told him, were illegal, and ought to have been thrown out by the Inspector and Judges: then the return would have stood—for Mr. Murray 25 votes, for Mr. Myers 6. For if single votes are admissible, it would be in the power of the electors by agreeing to vote only for one candidate to deprive Council of their right of election of one out of two candidates who ought to be returned. The Inspector appearing to be convinced by this reasoning, I expected the return would have been made conformable to it; or that they would have agreed to throw up the election and call a new one: but as neither has been done, I thought it proper to offer Council the above information. I have the honor to be &c.