Document: Veto of nomination of burgomasters and schepens as it was not made in the presence of the sheriff

Having received, opened, and read the above letter at the meeting, after deliberation it is resolved as follows: Although the director general and councilors of New Netherland do not reject the aforesaid nominated persons, but are pleased with them, they, however, cannot approve of the nomination, nor can they allow it because the nomination did not take place in the presence of the schout, who, according to the directors’ instruction, is the head of the bench, the person who calls the meeting, and the collector of the votes, who also, in case the vote ends in a tie, has a double vote. Also, according to the order and resolution of the director general and councilors of 18 January 1656, in which the nomination was entrusted to the bench, provided that the nomination shall take place in the presence of [several lines lost] according to [ ]; also, the letter on the [ ] of nomination is not signed properly in the name of schout, burgomasters, and schepenen, as the current instruction implies. Therefore, the director general and councilors cannot approve of the proposed nomination, and much less can they proceed with the election before the order and procedure required for the nomination is satisfied and observed. Thus done at the meeting of the honorable lords director general and councilors of N: Netherland held in Fort Amsterdam. Dated the last of January 1658.