Hannibal journal. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1852-1853, 1852-02-26
United states senate.
Monday, Feb. 2, 1852.
AMENDMENTS TO THE ooSsrtrurIoN.

AhbNpmENTS To THE CONSTITUTION.
Mr.. Johnson of Tennessee. ask the unan-
imous consent Of the House for the introduction
Of the following joint resolution, proposing
amendments to the Constitution Of the United
States, viz:
RksCtSsG, ac., That the following amendments
to The Constitution of the United States be pro-
posed to the Legislat Tres of the several States,
which when ratified by the Legislatures of
three foirthS Of the States, shall be valid to all
lntent' and purposes, as part Of the Constitu-
ton:
That hereafter the President and Vice Pres-
dent Of the United States shall be chosen by the
people Of the respective States, in the manner
following: Each State shall be divided by the
Legislature thereof, into districts, equal in num-
Der TO the whole number Of Senators and Rep
resentatives TO which such State may be enti-
tied in the Congress of the United States; the
said districts TO be compos ed of contiguous ter
ritory, and to contain, as nearly as may be, an
equal number of persons entitled to be rep
resented under the Constitution, and to be laid
off for the first time, Immediately after the rat
ifcation Of this amendment, and afterwards at
the session Of the Legislature next ensuing the
apportionment of representatives by the Con-
gress Of the United States; that, on the first
Thursday in August, in the year eighteen hun
fourth year thereafter, the citizens of each State
who possess the qualifications requisite for cleo
tors Of the most numerous branch of the State
Legislatures, shall meet within their respective
districts, and vote for President and Vice Pre-
sldent of the United States, one of whom at least
shall not be an inhabitant of the same State with
themselves; and the person receiving the great
est number of votes for President and the one
receiving the greatest number of votes for Vice
President in each district, shall be holden TO
have received one vote; which fact shall be inn
mediately certified by the Governor Of the State
to each Of the Senators in Congress from such
State, and &c the President Of The Senate and
the Speaker Of the House Of Representatives.
The Congress of the United States shall be in
Session on the second Monday in October in the
year eighteen hundred and fifty-six, ana on the
same day CT every fourth year thereafter; and
the President Of the Senate, in the presence of
The Senate and the House of Representatives,
shall open all the certificates and the votes shall
then be counted. The person having the great
est number of votes for President, shall be
President, if such number be equal to majority
of the whole number Of votes given; but if no
person have such majority, then a second cleo
ton shall be held in the month of December
then next ensuing, between the persons having
the two highest numbers for the office of Presi-
dent; which second election shall be conducted,
the result certified; and the votes counted, in the
same manner as in the first; and the pers on hav-
ing the greatest number of votes for President,
shall be President. But il two or more shall
have received the greatest, and an equal number
of votes, at the second election, then the person
who shall have received the greatest number of
votes in the greatest number of States, shall be
President The person having the greatest
number of votes, for Vice President, at the first
election, shall be Vice President, if such num-
Der be equal 10 maj ority Of the whole number
of votes given; and if no person have such ma
Iority, then second election shall take place be
tween the persons having the two highest num-
bers, on the same day that the second election is
held for President; and the person having the
highest number Of the votes for Vice President
shall be Vice President. But if there should
happen to be an equality of votes between the
versions so voted for at the second election, then
The person having the greatest number OF votes
In thie greatest number Of States shall be Vice
President But when a second election shall
he necessary in the case of Vice President, and
not necessary in the case of President, then the
Senate shall choose Vice President from the
persons having the two highest numbers in the
first election, as is now prescribed In the Con-
stitution.
SEo.2, find be ii further RsSolUed, That arti-
Gle one, section three, be amended by striking
out the word Legislature" and inserting in lieu
thereof the following words, viz: "persons quail
flied TO vote for the most numerous bsanch oil
The legislature" so as to make the third sectloI
of said article, when ratified by three-fourlhs o.
the States, read as follows to wit:
The Senate Of the United States shall b
comnosed of two senators from each State, cho
. 4 b, 10 fnr Nhn mo &
numerous branch of the Legislature thereof, TO
six wears, and each Senator shall have one vote
SIC. A. And be Il further RESOLVED, thGt .articl
three. section one, be amended by striking gu
the words "good behavior, and inserting Tn
following words, viz: "the term Of lively
years And further, that said article an
Ssc;i.S SS amsIsdsd b. adding .sf i2AsSi y
thereto. viz: "and it shall be the duty oil IN
President Of the United States, within IweiV
months after the ratification OF this amenalnei
nv three fourths OF all the States, as proViae
nv the Constitution oflthe United States, TO al
vide the whsle number OF judges, as near ~,
NAV be practicable, into three classes II
seats Of the first class of judges shall be Vaca''
NJ the expiration of the fourth year from SUI
cia,Si6catiop: Of the second class at the explr
tion Of the eighth gear; and OF the third class
ths exniration of the twelfth year, so that o
third NAV be chosen every fourth yeseteere'
ter. an - :. eoIlo,s
The article as amended, wili READ Us io'''"
ARTICLE iIh 1922 20
SECTION i. The judicial pdwes OF t'e o ,l'
states shall be vested in one supreme O Se
and in such inferior courts as oonstg'' ~ y