The daily gazette., 1876-12-29
PRESIDENTIAL DISPUTES.
Il Serenity STIR Year Old Plan far ADJUST
ing Then, bv Lar.
WASUINGTON. Dec. %.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 2S.
Senator Bayard has unearthed new
contribution to the election literature
which may play an important part in the
settlement of the present contest. 1t is a
bill which the Senate OF the United States
passed toward the close OF the first session
Of the Sixth Congress, in March, 1900,
when the long contest which ended in
the election of Jefferson was agitating the
country. AS will be seen, it shows that
the Senators of that day, some of whom
helped to frame the Constitution, held
that the President of the Senate had no
authority to count the vote, and that Con
gress had the right to go behind the re-
turns. 1t also proposed way out Of
such contest as is now pending. The
bill never went to the House. Yesterday
the Senate committee of seven decided to
reprint it, and it may be offered again as
a measure ofprocedTe in Presidential
| elections.
The first section Of the bill provides
| that on the day before the second We'd
nesday of February following the day
| when the electors shall have voted for
President and Vice President, it shall be
the duty of the two houses to select by
ballot six members of each, who. with the
| Chief Justice or Judge ofthe Supreme
Court, shall be grand committee to de-
eide disputes with regard to the Presden-
cy. No person who is among the five
highest candidates for the Presidency is
permitted to serve upon the committee,
and the Supreme Court is required to be
in session while the committee is delib-
Grating. 1t is further provided that each
house shall choose members thereof to
serve as tellers.
| The President of the Senate is required
to deliver to the chairman of the grand
committee, after its organization, all the
| certificates presented by the electors, and
| all the documents transmitted by them,
and all the exceptions or memorials
against the votes of the electors. The
mode of filling vacancies in the grand
committee by the two houses or the SUI
preme Court is fixed and ample power
given to compelthe attendance of witness
ses, the production of documents and to
punish for contempt or perjury. The
grand committee is given power to EEK
anime, decide and report upon the con
lstitutional qualifications of the persons
voted for as President and Vice President
of the United States, upon the constitu
tional qualifications of the elector appoin
ted by the different States and whether
their appointment was authorized by the
! State Legislature or not or made accord
ling to the mode prescribed by the Legis
Iature, npon all petitions and exceptions
against corrupt, illegal conduct of the
electors, or force meaaces or improper
means used to influence their votes, ol
, against the truth of their returns; or the
time, place ard manner Of giving theil
! votes" The grand committee, it is fur
ther provided, shall make its final repor
: to the two Houses on or before the frs
: day Of March, stating the legal number o
votes for each person and which hav'
= been rejected, the report to be final ant
conclusive of the question. The day at
ter the report of the committee, the two
Houses are to meet in joint convention
} and declare who is elected, and if ther'
! be no election, to elect a President as thu
Constitution directs.