Court Opinion

ID: 6508718
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-19 18:20:27.671754+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:54:48.587766
License: Public Domain

PETERS, C. J.
The petition lore mandamus to the sheriff of Mobile county, to compel him to issue the proper certificate of election to the petitioner as mayor of the city of Mobile, and the proceedings thereon had before the honorable judge of the sixth judicial circuit, having jurisdiction of said county of Mo*442bile; and also the bill of complaint for an injunction, with the proceedings thereon, to enjoin and restrain action under the order granted in said suit for mandamus, are made “ exhibits ” to the petition in this case, and, as such, parts of the petition itself. Said bill of complaint was filed in the chancery court at Mobile, and the injunction was granted, by the learned chancellor of the southern chancery division, who had jurisdiction in said county of Mobile. From the whole case, as thus presented, it does not appear that said Reid, the petitioner in this court, received a majority, or even a plurality, of the lawful votes polled at said election, by which he claims to have become entitled to the office of mayor of said city of Mobile. His claim to said office rests solely on the fact, that he holds the certificate of the sheriff of said county, as the returning officer of the election, unwillingly issued under a questionable right, — one that needed a writ of mandamus to enforce it. The facts of the whole case, as presented on both sides by the parties interested, are more fully set forth in the petition of said Reid, and the documentary exhibits thereunto appended, the statements in which are verified by the oaths of the parties complaining, and which are referred to for a more complete statement of the whole case.
The election in this case, out of which the present controversy has arisen, was held for the choice of the officers of the city government of the city of Mobile, on the second day of December, 1873. The election so held was required to be conducted according to the laws governing elections in this State, at that time. Acts of Ala. 1869-1870, p. 451, No. 97, § 13. The act of February 26, 1872, was then in force, which repealed the act approved October 8, 1868, and all laws and parts of laws in contravention of said last named act. Acts of Ala. 1871-1872, p. 15, No. 10, § 102. Under this latter act, the choice of the person elected is determined by the plurality of legal votes. Ib. § 72. The plurality of votes, then, at said election for the officers of said city government of Mobile, indicates and declares the popular will; and the person having the highest number of legal votes is elected. 9 Ala. 338, Thompson's case. And the right to exercise the office, thus conferred by a vote of the people, is derived from the election, and not from the certificate of the returning officer, or even from the commission of the governor. Wammack v. Holloway, 2 Ala. 31; Screws v. Ragland, at January term, 1873. The instrumentalities prescribed by law for the conduct of such elections, and for the ascertainment of the results of the vote of the electors, are not to be permitted to defeat the popular will, as declared by the votes of the people, who are the legal electors, and who have participated in the manner required by *443law in such election. It is not to be presumed'that these instrumentalities have been devised for such a purpose, but the rather to secure obedience to the popular will, which is the sovereign power in the state. For in the people is vested the supreme power of the state, Cohen v. Virginia, 6 Wheat. 389, 264, Marshall, C. J. And the purpose of all law is to enforce their will. When there is a proper and legitimate expression of this will it is to be enforced by the judgments of the courts.
Here, there is a contest growing out of an election. It has already been shown that this contest can only be determined by the number of legal votes given to the successful candidate, or person voted for. It is this that makes the election, not the certificate of the returning officer; else the certificate of the returning officer would make the election, and not the votes of the people. The application in this case does not show that the person claiming the office received the highest number of votes, and was therefore elected. This is the criterion that determines the election and the right to the office. Therefore, an application for a writ of prohibition, to restrain the chancellor from enjoining the -use of a certificate of election, which is based on a fraudulent or false return of certain of the returning officers, and which defeats the popular will as expressed by the number of legal votes in the ballot-box, should show that the applicant, if he claims the office, not only has the certificate of election properly granted, but, also, that this certificate is supported by a plurality of votes given in favor of the person claiming to have been elected; otherwise, the application should be denied. This is necessary to preserve the purity of elections, and the proper vindication of the popular will. This also comports with the spirit of the fundamental law, which directs that “ The right of suffrage shall be protected by laws regulating elections, and prohibiting, under adequate penalties, all undue influences from power, bribery, tumult, or other improper conduct.” Const. Ala. Art. I. sec. 36.
Besides, the writ of prohibition is an extraordinary proceeding, and it is allowed of grace, and not of right. One who seeks its assistance, should show that he holds his right to the office by the vote of the people, which can only be determined by the number of legal votes polled, which would put the right beyond all question. Moreover, the writ of prohibition is a discretionary writ, and it will not be granted, unless the applicant, who claims the office, has no other remedy to which he can resort for his protection. Smith’s case, 23 Ala. 94; 25 Ala. 81; Greene & Graham’s case, 29 Ala. 52; 8 Bac. Abr. 209, 210.
From the judgment of the chancery court, here sought to be prohibited and restrained, an appeal lies to this court. Then, *444the petitioner has a sufficient remedy by appeal, without invoking the aid of this extraordinary proceeding. Rev. Code, §§ 8488, 3439, 3485. The bill in chancery to enjoin the use of a certificate of election, which has been improperly or fraudulently granted to a person who does not show that he has been duly elected by a plurality of legal votes, necessary to give a right to the office, for election to which the certificate has been issued, will not be restrained by writ of prohibition, if there is an appeal to this court from the judgment of the chancery court, in which such suit in chancery is pending. It would otherwise perform the office of a writ of error or an appeal.
This court has no power to summon a jury to try the facts of the petition, if they should be disputed, as could have been done at common law. 8 Bac. Abr. 221, 222, 223, letter F. It is, therefore, not enough for the petitioner, in such a case, if he claims the office, to aver, that “your petitioner was, as he is informed and believes, and thereon states, elected to the office ” he claims ; but he must show the number of legal votes given for him, and the number of legal votes given for his adversary, who claims the same office; or that the petitioner was elected by a plurality of legal votes necessary for a legal choice. Such an allegation as that set out above, merely puts in issue the information which the petitioner has received, as to his election. This is not enough to show that he is of right entitled to the office; and this is what must appear, to show that he has any right to protect — that he is the officer he believes himself to be.
The objection that Moulton, the mayor of the city, holds over under a former election for the year 1873, and that he was not, and is not now eligible to said office on the day of the last election in December last, is no ground for prohibition, even were it admitted to be true. If he was and is so ineligible, the proper proceeding to remove him is by quo warranto, which is a sufficient remedy. Gardner's case, 43 Ala. 243.
We refrain purposely from expressing any opinion as to the jurisdiction of the court in the chancery suit sought to be prohibited, until that case is brought into this court by appeal.
The motion for prohibition is denied, with costs.
BRICKELL, J., delivered a dissenting opinion, in which he held that the writ of prohibition should be granted, because the chancery court had no jurisdiction of the case made by the bill. This opinion has been lost, and the reporter has not been able to procure a copy of it £or publication.