Year: 1868

seemeu 10 DC perlecJ III AL ltS depart
ments, because it always worked well
Governmental oppression and indivi d
ual wrongs were unheard Of and not
until the political buzzards who
have for seven years past, controlled
its affairs was it ever dreamed that
both the Constitution and the laws
made in accordance Herewith failed
TO accomplish their legitimate purpo-
ses. When, unfortunately, the Presi-
dent and the infamous Congress as
sumed belligerent positions and warrod
upon each other, it was discovered
that there was no law upon the stat
ute books to control them and keep
them within legitimate bounds, hence
Judge Woodward has introduced the
following bill, which will in the future
settle such miserable conduct as we
have beheld at Washington for the
past two years. Had such law been
in existence, the whole of the present
difficulties at Washington would have
been obviated, and the conflict which
is distracting the entire nation, stag
mating business, destroying confidence,
undermining the whole structure of
our Government, and threatening its
overthrow, would have been avoided.
1t is to be hoped that Judge Wood
wards bill will receive at the hands
of Congress the attention it deserves,
and that, instead Of depriving the Su-
preme Court of its constitutional func-
tions, Congress will enlarge its juris-
diction, and thus strengthen this great
bulwark of our national liberties


SIC. /. Belt edacted by heSenate and
House of Representatives of the Uni
ted States of America in Congress as
sembled, That whenever any act of
Congress shall hereafter be vetoed by
the President Of the United States on
the ground Of the unconstitutionality
of any Of its provisions, and shall af.
forwards be enacted into law by q
vote of twothirds Of both houses, not
withstanding the executive veto, it
shall be lawful for the President to
order the Attorney General to draw
up and file on record in the Supreme
Court of the United State feigned
issue, with such pleadings as shall be
necessary and proper 10 raise the con-
stitutional questions suggested in the
veto message Of the President, and TO
test the constitutionality of such parts
of said enactments as were specially
objected TO by him on constitutional
grounds, but which issue and plead
ings shall be so drawn as TO put in is
sue no other questions whatsoever.


SEC. 2. And be il further enacted,
That Immediately on filing said issue
and pleadings of record in the Su-
preme Court, a certified copy thereof
shall be served by the Attorney Gen.
eral or by some person appointed by
him, upon the Speaker of the House
OF Representatives for the time being
whose duty thereupon it shall be to
appear on record by himself or
counsel, to defend the constitutional
ty of said enactment, and thereupon
the Court shall, on application of
counsel, make all necessary orders for
advancing said issue to argument and
for hearing argument thereon at the
earliest practicable period of their
session in banc, and upon entering
Judgment in said issue the Court shall
file their written opinion upon every
constitutional question therein raised
and each and every enactment of said
act of Congress which shall be ad-
Judged unconstitutional shall thence.
forth be held and taken 10 be null and
void but until such judgment is pro-
nounced, the same shall be deemed
constitutional and valid.


SEC. 3. And bo it further enacted ;
That it shall be la wful for the Attor-
ney General in preparing said issue,
to use the names Of real parties, if
any such have an interest in the ques-
tions to be tried and decided, or ficti-
tious names at his discretion and oil
costs, fees and charges attending said
proceeding, including those of the
Speaker Of the House Of Representa-.
tives or his counsel, after being duly
audited at the Treasury Department,
shall be paid upon warrants of proper
officers out Of any moneys in the
Treasury of the United States not
otherwise appropriated by law.