Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1848-12-14
REFORMS.

puDncan, WfltiDg over tne signature OF la |
fayeite," gives the following trough out
lines ofreforms, to which he invites the at
tention Of the incoming administration and
The public generally.
Firstly. The constitution should be so amen>
ded that the people may vote directly for Presi>
dent and Vice President, and the intermediate
agency Of Electors done away. This is an old
proposition, and has been often argued. will
only add single one in its favor. 1t is this A
man may be chosen President under the present
mode, and yet be in minority Of several hun
dred thousand votes. For instance, candidate A
may obtain majority Of one vote in New York.
two in Pennsylvania, three in Ohio, four in Vir>
ginia, five in Kentucky, six in Tennessee, seven
in North Carolina, and eight in Massachusetts,
whereby he would obtain one hundred and fifty
two electoral votes-a sufficient number TO elect
him. Candidate B might obtain majority OF
ten thousand or more votes in each of the other
twenty-five States, yet he could not be President
This is ell wrong, and contrary TO the very first
principle OF our Government Ours ought
10 be Government Of the peoples ioiU, where
every possible agency should be dispensed with
consistently with the convenience OF the people.
To that point every thing is tending, and when il
shall be reached. then, end not ill then, will our
practice sgree with our theory. The lesson taught
TO office holding dictates, in the election Of Gen.
Taylor, is proof that the people consider them.
selves capable OF doing their own business. The
ennas OF political warfare never showed any
thing so vindictive, so sanderous, so outrageous,
as the conduct OF Government officers towards
Gen. Taylor. There was no sort Of excuse or
apology for it, for the character of the old man
is close representative Of The snow which is now
falling Nov. 20th) upon the earth.
Secondly, the term Of President should be
fixed at six instead Of four years; and be incligi.
bic after The first term. This change is proper,
in order that more attention should be bestowed
upon State matters by the different Legislatures.
A greater length Of quietude should be given than
is afforded under the four years term.
Thirdly, members Of Congress, both Of the
Senate and House, should be rendered ineligible
10 any appointment by the President during the
term for which they were chosen, and for ttGo
gears thereafter. 1t has been argued, against this
proposition, that there are places 10 fill, particu
arly on the bench Of the supreme Court. and
amongst our foreign missions, where it might be
necessary 10 go into Congress 10 find suitable
man. regard this ss perfectly absurd. There
nsver has been, and there never will be, better
and more capable men in Congress than there is
out Of it. am much deceived il Congress is not
more Of bed Of hornS than Of fotoers; more OF
place Of corruption than Of purity, Of dssipa.
ton than OF temperance. Hence the door should
be closed against their obtaining any greater favor
Than that which they solicited from the people.
Fo1rthly, Registers and Receivers Of public
money should be elected by the direct vote OF the
people Of their respective land districts; Custom
House officers by the people OF the towns, or citi.
| in u,bnh euob off ae,,b1:eboJ.
trct Attorneys Of the United States Supreme
CCcnrt, by the people OF the Several States and
Distric:.s where there is more than one in State
as is the case III several States; Poslmasters by
the cities and counties. IL the case Of Poslmas-
tiers, the several counties should ei6ct fos!mas
ter for tho seat OF justice, and each election dis.
trict, precinct, township, or place OF voting, (be'
sides The seat OF ustice,) should elect their own
Postmaster, where an Office is required. 1t is an
undeniable isc that if all the federal officers are
of one political faith, there is more danger of cor.
ruption and malfeasance in Office, than il they
were divided in senliments-no matter whether
they be Wings, Democrats, or Free Sellers. No
appointments should be left 10 the President ex.
cept those OF Cabinet officers, Judges Of the Su.
preme Court, and Foreign Ministers and Charges.
The great danger to our system lies in the con-
centrating and absorbing power of the Presiden>
tia office. The people-they who pay the taxes
and eight the battles" Gin the language OF a
friend Of mine)-shoud retain all the poUer not
necessary 10 be entrusted 10 the President This
is the sentiment OF the separative States, the New
States especially, and a man had as we'll attempt
10 fight the COMMANDERS with broom straws, as 10
stay its progress. Our people are enlightened
they are free people, and it is SANDER upon
them 10 say that they ale not capable OF choosing
any and all their public servants. In Pennsyl.
vania il has been seen that the "coal beavers, -
The 'iron.diggers, the "stone breakers" the dig>
gers OF the canals, and all classes OF the laboring
millions were capable OF detecting and exposing
the double dealing Of Lewis Cass, and the negro
principles OF Martin Van Buren,. They have
seen in the though" stone OF Gen. Taylor's per,
son that which can be formed into the finest and
most beautiful piece OF. workmanship. They
have made the stone which the Democratic bull.
ders disalowed the head of the corner All this
has been done by the "sober, second thought
without excitement, and against those who assn
med (being Federal officers) 10 be their masters
F1hly The session congress should be limit.
ed to four or five months for the long session
giving the power to the President to cal it togeth.
er in case Of emergencies; the pay OF members
should be reduced 10 81 day, and tker milage
10 10 cents, by the most direct route and, whal
is OF The most momentous importance, they should
not enjoy the "Gankng privilege" except in re-
ceiuing. free Of postage. letters from their con-
stuenls.
I APPOINTMENT BY THE PREsIDENT--O. C.
Pratt, of Illinois, to be Assistant Justice OF