Voices of the People

Nova Scotia House of Assembly Petitions and Correspondence

14 January 1808

Report of the committee on privileges regarding the Secretary’s letter concerning the Sydney County election, defending the rights of the Assembly. They enclose the opinions of the Attorney-General and Solicitor-General, James Stewart, supporting the position of the House. They recommend two resolutions, "That all attempts to draw the examination, discussion, or determination of the Qualifications of Electors, or Persons elected, or the proceedings of Sheriffs on the returns of writs for the Elections of Members, are unconstitutional attacks upon the most undoubted Rights of the People of Nova Scotia." and that a writ for Sydney County be demanded of the Governor by address. References to similar election cases in N.S. Letter from Foster Hutchinson, chairman of the committee of privileges, to Attorney-General Uniacke, asking him whether it was usual to give the reasons for the House declaring a seat vacant when applying to the Governor for a new writ. Uniacke’s reply that he "never considered it as any part of my Duty to state to the Governor the reasons which Induced the house to declare any Election void." (See Assembly Journal. p. 58-62).

Reference: Nova Scotia House of Assembly Nova Scotia Archives RG 5 Series A volume 15 number 162