The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-04-10
ORIGIN AL D n AFT
ORA
CONSTITUTION FOR TIE UNITED STATES,
OFFERED ny
ALEXANDER HAMILTON.

ALEXANDER HAMILTONs
Annexed is . copy Of the original draft of a con
situation, made by Alexander Hamilton, for the
United States, and offered by him to the convention
In lTr.-
The people Of the United States of America d.
ordain and establish this constitution, for the 60
vernment Of themselves and their posterty.
ARTICLE I.
Sec. l. The legislative power shall be vested II
two distinct bodies Of men-one TO be called the
Assembly, the other the Senate, subject to the ne
gative hereinafter mentioned.
Sec z. The executive power, with the quallnea-
tions hereinafter specified shall be vested in Pre-
sident Of the United states.
Sec. T. The supreme judicial authority, except
in the cases otherwise provided for in this constu-
tioa shall be vested in court to be called the gu
preme Court to consist of not less than SIX nor more
than twelve judges .,r,c,ru
Soc 4 The Assembly shall consist of persons to
be called Representatives. who shall be chosen, ex
cep, in the first instance, by the free male citizens
and bitants of the several States eomprehended
in the Union, all OF whom of the age of twentyons
wears and upwards shall be entitled equal
soc. 2. But the FIRST Assembly shall be chosen in
the prescribed in the last article, and shall
consist OF one hundred members, Of whom New
Hampshire shall have five; Massachusetts, thirteen;
Rhode Island, two; Connecticut, seven; New York,
nine; New Jersey, six; Pennsylvania, twelve; Della
ware. two; Maryland, eight; Virginia. sixteen;
NORTH Carolina, eight; South Carolina, eight;
Georgia, four.
sec. 3. The Legislature shall provide for the
future elections of Representatives, apportionng
thcn IN each STATE from time to time, as nearly
may be to the number Of persons described in the
4th section Of the 9TH article, that the whole
number Of Representatives shall never be less
than one hundred nor more than - hun
bred. There shall be 4 census taken for this
purpose, within three years after the first meet
ing OF tae Legislature, and within every successive
teriod of ten years. The term for which Represer-
tatves shall be elected shall be determined by the
Legislature, but shall not exceed three years.
here shall be general election at least once in
three years, and the time Of service of all the
bers in each Assembly shall begin Except in filing
vscanoies) on the same day, and shall always end
on the same day
tSec. 4. Forty members shall make house sufi-
Gent to proceed to business, but this number may
be increased by the Legislature, yet so never to
exceed majority Of the whole number Of Repre-
sentatives.
Sec. 5. The Assembly shall choose its President
and other officers, lshal judge of the qualifications
and elections Of its own members, shall punish them
for improper conduct in their capacity of Represen-
tatiyes net extending to life or limb, and shall ex-
clusiyey possess the power of impe chment except
but ne impeachment OF member Of the Senate
shah be by less than two-thirds Of the Representa-
tiyes present.
Sec. G. Representatives may act (vote) by proxy,
but no Representative present shall be proxy for
more than one who Is absent. (Iluere
Sec !. Bulls for raising revenue, and bills for APP
armie aad for paying the salaries of the officers of
government, shall originate in the Assembly but
may be altered and amended by the Senate.
SEC. .. The acceptance of an officer under the
United states, by representative, shall vacate his
sea, ia the Assembly.
ARTICLE III.
sec. L. The Senate shall consist Of persons to be
ehosea, except in the first instance, by electors
elected for that purpose by the citizens and inha-
bitantS Of the several States comprehended in the
Union. VINO shall have, in their own right, or in the
riga; Of their wives, estate in land, for not less
thaa Life, or a term of years, whereof at the time
OF gy,ag teir votes, there shall be at least fourteen
years ulcXpired.
Sc =. But the full Senate shall be chosen in the
prescribed in the last article, and shall con-
sst offory members, to be called Senator'S of whom
New Hampshire shall have =, Massachusetts, =,
Rhode Island =, Come sticut =, New Ork-, New
Jersey =, Pennsylvania =, Delaware =, Maryland
:, Virginia -, North Carolina =, South Caro-
sec. 3 The Legislature shall provide for the
future elections of Senators, for which purpose tn.
States respectively, which have more than one
Senator shall be divided into convenient districts,
to which the Senator'S shall be apportioned. IA
state having but one Senator shall be itself dis
trict.l Os the death, resisraton, or removal from
Office OF Senator his place shall be supplied by
election in the district from which he came.
Upoa each election there shall be not less than
six nor more than twelve electors chosen in dig
trict.
~ec. 4. The number Of senators shall never be
less than forty, nor shall any state, if the same
shall not hereafter b. divided, have less than
the number allotted 70 il in the second section Of
this srtics; but the Legislature may increase the
whole number of Senators, in the proportion
70 the whole number OF representatives, forty is
20 one hundred, and such increase, beyond the pre-
SEQ; number, shall DC apportioned to the respective
states N q ratio to th- respective numbers Of their
representatives
Soc.5 il States shall De divided, or If new
Arrangement Of the boundaries Of two Or more
State. shall take place, the Legislature sAal APP
60 Mt lf4aFf
Veedag such division or arrangement,) to
which the constituent parts were entitled according
70 the change Of situation. having regard to the
number e persons described u tie 18th section Of
the eth article
sec. g Ths Senators shall hold their place.
aurlaS good behavior. removable only by con-
VStp.a on impeachment Tor some crime or INSIDE
neaaor They shallcontinue to exercise their Offices
when inpeacbed until conviction shall take place
[S.reen Senator's attending In person, shall be suf
hcient - make n houes " transact but the Lee
gslatpe may increase this number, yet 50 a. never
10 exceeda majority q the whole number VI Sena-
tOrs, The Senators may vote by proxy; but no Sc
naioS who i present shall be proxy for more than
two WHO are absent
sec Z. The Senate shall choose it, President and
olheg officers; hall judge Of the qualifications and
elections ofits members. and shall punish them for
improper conduct in their capacity VI senators; but
such Punishment shall no, extend 70 life o. limb,
NOS to expulsion. H. the absence Of their President,
they may choose atemporary President. The Pre-
sidco, soal only have casting vote when the house
Il equally divided
sec. :. The senate shall exclusively possess the
power of declaring war. 10 treaty shall he made
without their advice and consent, which shah also
b. necessary to the appointment q All officers ex-
ceptsuch for which different provision i. made in
tins constitution
ARTICLE ~.
SO. !. The President q tho United states Of
America snail except ia the flt instance. be elected
in manner following The judges Of the supreme
Court shall within sxty days after vacancy shall
haYpoo, cause public notice TO be given, m each
stale, OF such vacancy. appointing therein three
several days for the several purposes following t.
nit y day Cor commencing the election q electors
for the purposes hereinafter specihed. % be called
forty nos more than sixty days after the day Of
the publication Of the notiee IN each State another
day ofthe meeting Of the electors not less than
forty nor more than ninety days from the day f.
commencing their election: another day for I'll !
meeting Of electors 70 be chosen BY the first cleo
tnr l7 the turno.e h. mater specified aud 60 he