Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1882-11-24
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FRIDAY MORNING, NOV. "a, 1882.
THE CONTESTED SEATS FROM
VIRGINIA,

THE CONTESTED SEATS FROM
VIRGINIA.
We publish elsewhere the card of Hon.
John E. Massey. 1t had been previously
announced that Col. Chas. T. O'Ferrall
would contest the election of Hon. John
Paul. A contest for seat from Virginia
is not new thing, as some of our readers
publican 47th Congress for its contemptu-
GUS disregard of even decent appearance
of fairness, that even the gentleman de-
teated by Hon. Jno. S. Barbour. in the 9Th
district by several thousand majority, felt
encouraged to and did con test the seat of
that member. But a contest from the
Seventh district is new enough for us to
refresh the memories of our readers with
a description of the mode in which it is
done. 1t is not matter to be campaign
ed about; neither threats, nor bulldozing,
nor heated expressions of opinion on eth
er side will be Of the slightest service to
either the incumbent or the contestant
now. The matter has passed beyond all
that into the region of purely judicial in
vestigation of fact. The rules prescribed
by Congress itself are all to the end that
excitement shall be avoided, full time and
opportunity to both parties be given, and
full time and opportunity to Congress it.
self, for that body permits the contestants
to appear on its floor and address it In
their own behalf. The routine of a con-
test on the part Of Col. O'Ferrall will, IN
der the rules laid down by that body, bea
follows
>, /. Capt. Paul receives his certificate of
election from the State Board Of Canvass
ers at Richmond, say Nov. 30th.
2. Col. O'Ferrall has thirty days within
which he must serve notice of contest
upon Capt. Paul, which brings it to jan
uary LIST. In this notice he must set forth
with reasonable fullness for Capt. P's in
formation his ground of contest.
8. Capt. Paul has thirty days within
which to prepare his answer. This brings
it to February LIST.
4. Col. O'FerralI has forty days to take
evidence in support of his contest.
5. Capt. Paul has forty days in which to
take evidence replying to it.
6. Col. O'Ferrall has ten days to take
disclosing evidence. By this time, May
LIST will have arrived.
so On the first Monday in December fol-
lowing, 1883, the Congress to which both
gentlemen claim to have been elected.
meets. Capt. Paul takes his seat as tie
member from the Seventh district, and
the evidence taken by both himself and
Col. O'Ferrall goes to the Committee on
Elections. Each gentleman caa be repre-
sented by counsel if he desire. After du-
ly weighing the evidence the committee
make their report. Sometimes this is done
speedily but oftener good length Of time
elapses. When the report is taken up by
the House, the contestant as we'll as the
incumbent, should he desire it, is permit
ted to address the house. Should the re-
port favor the unseating of the member
and be adopted, he leaves the House of Rep
resentatives at once.
So the reader will perceive that con-
tested election is something that Congress
designed to be a matter of elaboration.
UlucI, anu IdlIu6SS w dill pdrGl6S, dlU SoIuo-
thing not to be decided by loudness of
voice, fervent profanity, or boisterous
threats. Let every Democrat steer clear
Of all this as worse than idle, and let him
take to heart this fact, that one illegal cote
proved to have been cast for Wise or Paul
is worth more to Massey and O'Ferrall,
than all the loud -mouthed den unciation be
can free his mind of in month. Let him
also remember that both of the Democrat
ic contestants are poor men who have with
difficulty borne the expense of their pres
ent campaign without assistance, and that
gathering evidence for the contest is an
expensive operation. And let each Dem
ocrat, approaching this, who knows of
any illegal voting, make it his business to
see that his County Chairman is inform
ed of it, and also with the information,
see that he has the evidence to verify it,
Those Democrats in this county who may
have information bearing on the vote in
Augusta, or elsewhere, can communicate
it to Edward Echos or II. st. George
Tucker, of this city, and it will be put on
It's way to the Congressional Election
Committee.