Chief Justice and Assistant Judges

v5:616

His Honour the Vice-President elect, in a speech, stating his reasons for so doing, desired leave to decline the appointment to the office of Vice-President, and requested that the Members of the General Assembly and Legislative Council would proceed to a new choice of a Vice-President of the Colony.

His Honour then withdrew.

And the Members having taken the subject under their consideration, directed Mr˙ Chairman to point out to his Honour the Vice-President the mistake he was under, touching his not being equal to act in the Chancery, and upon which he had founded his desire to decline the Vice-Presidentship; to acquaint him that his services in that station were desired; and to report his determination thereupon.

And the Vice-President being sent to, to desire his presence in the General Assembly, and his Honour signifying that he was much indisposed, and begged to be excused attending for the present,

The Members of the General Assembly and of the Legislative Council, proceeded to ballot for a Chief Justice; and, upon casting up the ballots, Mr˙ Chairman reported that the Honourable William Henry Drayton, Esq˙, was duly elected Chief Justice.

The Members of the General Assembly and Legislative Council then proceeded, in like manner, to the choice of four Assistant Judges; and the ballots being cast up, Mr˙ Chairman reported that the Honourable Thomas Bee, John Matthews, Esq˙, and the Honourable George Gabriel Powell, were duly elected Assistant Judges, by the votes of a majority of the Members present; but that Mr˙ Henry Pendleton, who had the next number of votes, had not such a majority.

A motion was thereupon made, to determine, by a question, whether Mr˙ Pendleton was duly elected an Assistant Judge; and the question being put, it passed in the negative.

Colonel Powell then requested leave to decline accepting the appointment to the office of an Assistant Judge of this Colony; and giving such reasons as were satisfactory to the House, his request was granted.

The Members of the General Assembly and Legislative Council thereupon proceeded to ballot for two Assistant Judges; and the ballots being cast up, Mr˙ Chairman reported that Joshua Ward and Henry Pendleton, Esquires, were duly elected Assistant Judges.

The Members of the General Assembly and Legislative Council then proceeded to ballot for an Attorney-General; and the ballots being cast up, Mr˙ Chairman reported that Alexander Moultrie, Esq˙, was duly elected Attorney-General.