The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-01-17
THE ELECTORAL VOTE.
The Text of Senator Wright's Bill In the
United States lSenntc.


The bill introduced by Senator Wright,
of Iowa, in the United States Senate, to
establish q court for the trial of contested
Presidential elections, provides that the
election OF any one elected to the Office
of President OF Vice-President of the
United States may be contested by any
eligible person who received votes for
the Office contested. Notice of intention
to contest must be filed with the secre-
tary of State at Washington within ten
days after the declaration of the
election, accompanied by a sworn state
ment of the causes of contest, where
upon the papers shall be delivered to
the chief Justice of the United States
supreme court, whose duty it shall
then be to appoint a day, not moro than
ten days thereafter, for the person de-
clared elected to appear and answer the
claim Of the contestant.
The court for the trial of such II
tested elections shall consist of the said
chief justice and of six United States
circuit OF district judges, to be selected
by him from the different politi-
cal parties, and who shall not be inter-
csted in the particular contest, nor in any
manner related to the persons involved.
This court is to hold it's meetings in
Washington, a majority of it's members
constituting q quorum. If the Office of
chief Justice is vacant, or from any cause
he is iucapacitated to act, the senior
justice OF the supreme court shall per-
form the duties above specified. Before
entering on the trial of the contest the
said chief justice and Judges are to take
a special oath that they will faithfully
and impartially discharge the duties thus
specially devolved upon them and that
they will decide and determine any and
all questions submitted to them accord
ing to law and the very right of the mat
ter and without regard to technical errors,
defects, omissions or Irregularities.
The court is to have the same or like
powers in the exercise of it's jurisdiction
and the enforcement of it's orders and
judgments rs are now vested in the Sill
preme court in regard to the latter's jur-
isdiction, etc.
The bill provides that the proposed
court in their authorizations and deter
limitations shall at all times be governed
by the very right of the matter according
to the law and the testimony, and they
shall disregard all technical errors, omis-
sons or other matters on the part Of
those engaged in certifying the elections
in the several States and of the electors,
and in casting their votes, or in any man.
ner connected with such elections, hay
ing at all times, however, due regard to
the forms of law and the ascertainment
of the will and true. vote of the people
at such elections. The person whom
the majority of the court shall Illus find
to be President or Vicc-President, as the
case may be, shall be entitled to such
Office, and said court shall have full
power and authority to carry into effect
and enforce it's judgment by any and all
needful process.
In case it shall not appear that any
person has been lawfully elected said
court shall 50 declare and adjudge, and
in all cases they shall certify the iudg-
ment to the two houses of Congress.
The bill next provides that any party
to such contest feeling aggrieved by the
Judgment may within six days after its
rendition appeal therefrom to the su-
preme court ; but such appeal shall not,
however, operate to stay the execution of
the Judgment appealed from without
special order therefor made by the court
rendering such Judgment. The record and
case shall be Immediately filed i'll the Sill
preme court and take precedence of all
other business. The supreme court
must then at one proceed to determine
the same upon the record and case SO
presented, and shall have full power to
carry it's judgment into effect without q
remand.