Monday the 28th of April 1760. The House met according to
adjournment
Resolved That it appears to this Committee that the said Sheriff at the time and place Appointed for the said Election Appointed and swore one
Reuben Searcy of the said County of Granville one of his Clerks for taking a Poll of the Voters Suffrages
4th. Resolved—That it Appears to this Committee that the said Reuben Searcy shewed great Partiality therein and Acted in several Instances in a
manner subversive of the rights and Freedom of Elections—
THOs BARKER Chn
To which Resolves the House Agreed.
On Motion Resolved That His Excellency be Addressed to direct the Clerk of the Crown to Issue a writ for Electing Two members for Granville
County to sit and vote in this present Assembly as the Sheriff of the said County was obstructed in the Execution of the Writ last Issued for
Electing Members for the said County whereby the same became Void
On Motion Resolved that Reuben Searcy who was appointed by the Sheriff of Granville County one of his Clerks for taking the Poll of the voters
Suffrages at the said Election having shewn great Partiality in the Execution of that trust be sent for by the Serjeant at Arms attending the
House in Custody to answer such Behaviour and that Mr. Speaker issue his Warrant accordingly.
Philoman Hawkins Serjeant at Arms to whom Mr. Speakers Warrant was Directed and delivered to take the body of Reuben Searcy, Returned the said
Warrant in these Words Vizt
In Virtue of the within Warrant to me directed I have taken the within Reuben Searcy whose body I have ready as I am within Commanded. And have
also summoned the Persons as Witnesses whose names are hereunto annexed as I also am within Directed
So say
PHIL HAWKINS.
Resolved that the Ill behaviour of the Members for Granville County in the said Warrant Mentioned be referred for Inquiry to the Committee of
Privileges and Elections.
Ordered that the above Reuben Searcy and the said Witnesses Attend the said Committee.
Mr. Barker from the Committee of Privileges and Elections Reported that the said Committee have had under their further Consideration the
Warrant for taking Reuben Searcy for Partiality and misbehaviour at an Election in Granville County at which Election he had been sworn as a
Clerk to keep the Poll, And thereupon came to the following resolution—Resolved it is the Opinion of this Committee that the Sheriff by reason
of vast crowd and concourse of People In the said Court House at the said Election was obliged to discontinue the taking the Polls of the
Suffrages at the said Elections and directed his Clerks to desist from any further proceedings thereon untill the same could be proceeded in
with more regularity—That accordingly the Sheriff and William Pearson and Reuben Searcy who were appointed and sworn as Clerks for taking the
said Polls withdrew from the said Court House and the Polls were Adjourned that the said Reuben Searcy without any Direction of the said Sheriff
did at the Instance of Sundry persons return into the said Court House without the direction of the said Sheriff and in his absence did Proceed
in the continuation of taking the same And that after he had taken down the names of all such as offered themselves as suffrages did sum up the
same and Publickly Proclaimed without any direction from the said Sheriff Samuel Benton and Robert Harris as duly Elected and carried away the
Polls so by him taken but afterwards returned and upon several applications by the Sheriff for the delivery of the same did make a surrender
thereof to him, tho' at first he denied doing it alledging he had a right to detain the same as being a sworn Clerk, That before the
Proclamation aforesaid the Sheriff was Informed and Public Declaration made that there was now room in the Court House for the Sheriff to
proceed in his said Election but that the Sheriff paid no regard thereto.
Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee that the said Reuben Searcy by Proceeding in the Manner above recited Acted inconsistent with
his Duty.
To which resolves the House agreed.
On motion the House took under Consideration the Report of the Committee of Privileges and Elections regarding the misbehaviour of Reuben Searcy
at an Election of Members for Granville County, And Resolved that the said Reuben Searcy be reprimanded by Mr. Speaker
The said Reuben Searcy Appeared at the Barr of the House and was Reprimanded by Mr. Speaker
Resolved the said Reuben Searcy be discharged paying Cost to be settled by the Committee of Privileges and Elections |
