Early Governors' Papers

His Excellency A. Roane Governor &c Knoxville

Knoxville Jany 13^th 1802

Sir

I received your Statement concerning the Election of a Sheriff in Grainger Clai= =borne County by Major Herd- Time will not permit me to examin the Questions propo= sed with that attention which they merit but I shall give my opinion from my present Impressions.

I do not think the Certificate from the Chairman of the Court a sufficient voucher to authorize the Governor to issue a Commis=sion- A transcript from the record regularly cer= tified by the Clerk ought to be produced.

By a Law of our Assembly at their last sessi=on, it is declared that when any person is e= =lected sheriff the Court may immediately call on him for Bond and Security, which if he fails to give, the election shall have no ef= =fect, and the Court may proceed to appoint another person- But in such case I beleive the Court should proceed and ballot for ano=