172 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1689. 



Upon the application of Thomas Llojd for a hearing, the sub- 

 ject was postponed till the next day, when he, in conjunction 

 with John Eckley, appeared on behalf of the Welsh, but not 

 being provided with anything but verbal testimony, that Penn 

 had intended the Welsh Tract as a Barony or County Palatine, 

 as was contended by Thomas Lloyd, the decision of the Gover- 

 nor and Council was a confirmation of the original line. 



It is a remarkable circumstance that Penn's warrant for lay- 

 ing out the Welsh Tract, already given, was not adduced in this 

 controversy, as it certainly recognizes the idea of a Barony. 



Notwithstanding the decision of the Governor and Council, 

 our Welshmen were not yet ready to yield the point. In an 

 election for a member of Council and six Assemblymen for 

 Philadelphia County, 50 or 60 persons of the townships of Haver- 

 ford and Radnor, gave their votes by ballot with the freemen of 

 the said county. The Governor and Council having decided that 

 these townships were in Chester County, they " resolved y' y^ 

 Election of Jo" Eckley (the member returned) was not a good 

 Election according to y^ Charter ;" whereupon a writ was issued 

 for another election. 



In this election the freemen refused to vote by ballot, but 

 viva voce, confirmed the election of John Eckley, unanimously. 

 Some of the discussion that ensued in Council upon the validity 

 of this procedure is given, as it explains the manner in which 

 elections were conducted by our ancestors in these primitive 

 times. After several members had expressed themselves satisfied 

 with the return, "the Governor say'^ : The former Election has 

 been already determined not to be a good Election, and there- 

 fore that cannot be insisted upon." 



" John Curtis say*^ : I think it was a very fayre Election. In 

 other places we are generally chosen by the Vote : and I think 

 where they are unanymous, there needs no controversy." 



" The balloting box is not used in any other place but this 

 county. We are elected by vote." 



" Griff. Jones answered, That was a mistake, for it is used at 

 upland & all the Lower Countyes, by black and white beanes, 

 put into a hatt, W*" is a balloting in his sense, & canot be denyed 

 by the Charter when it is demanded."^ 



What a contrast between this simple mode of exercising the 

 elective franchise by means of " black and white beanes," and the 

 scrutinizing and expensive method that the dishonesty of poli- 

 ticians and the scramble for oflBce have forced us to adopt in 

 these latter days. 



The Welsh troubles are now transferred from the Council 

 Chamber to the Court at Chester. The Court made an order 



1 Col. Ree. i. 282. 



