Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1853-12-23
PROPOSED AMENpNENTs TO THE CONSTITUTION

PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION
OF THE UNITED STATES. -, 81
I Accompanying the Governor Message, was a
joint resolution proposing amendments to the Con-
stitutiOn of the United States, which we publish
below:
4 JOINT RESOLUTION, PROPOSING AMENDNENgS
TO THECoNsrITUTIoy oFTHE I. STATES
CONSTITUTION or THE UNITED SrArEs-ARr 5ru
OF AhENDMENTs-'Congress whenever two-thinls
OF both Houses shall deem it necessary shall nro-
pose amendments to this Constitution. or tLe onn5-
cation OF the legislatures Of two,tArds of the sew
erai States shall call a Convention for Dronosino
amendments, which, in either case. shall be valid TO
an lntents and purposes part of this Constitution
when ratified by the Legislatures of three-fourths
! OF the several States by conventions in three
t0urths thereof the OF the other mode of raj
! lhcatlon may be proposed by Congress- nroviaed
that no amendment which may be made prior to
the year one thousand eight hundred and eight
shall IN any manner Affect the frstand fourth claus
SEES IN the ninth section CT the that
no STATE without ITS consent, shall be deprived of
lis equal suffrage in theISenate:" .s,.g -
JOINT RESOLUTION PRoPoslNG AMENpMESrs TO THE
~ CONSTITUTION OF THE FmFRp sTATHzsa5
"Resolred By tie Senate and House Of Ise,uesesa-
tat'res Of The United States Of A1Derioa IN Coaiqres
/ N'"O"t'ct tfO fAIuo ~ OObt flONSeS fOHfgfyf3H0
! That the following amendments to the Constitution
OF the United States be proposed to the Legislatures
/ OF the several States which, when ratified by the
legislatures of three fonths of the States shall be
valid TO all mtents and purposes as part of the con
! stituton. In - S-'o=-5 .
That hereafter, the President and Vice President
OF the United States shall be cLesen the people
OF the respective States in the following
Each State shall be divided by the legislature there
Of into districts, equal in number to the whole
number Of Senators and Representatives to which,
such State may be entitled in the Congress of the
United States the said districts to be composed
of contiguous territory and to contain as nearly as
may be, an equal number of persons entitled to be
represented under the Constitution, and to be laid
off for the first time Immediately after the ratfca
ton OF this amendment, and afterwards at the ses-
sion of thelegislature next ensuing the apportion
ment OF representatives BY the Congress Of the
United States that on the first Thursday in Au-
gust IN the year eighteen hundred and fifty-six,
ana on the same day every fourth year thereafter
the citizens of each State who possess the quafca-
tons requisite fo,- electors of the most numerous
branch of the State legislatures shall meet within
their respective districts and vote for President
and Vice President of the United States one Of
whom at least shallnotbe an inhabitant of the same
State with themselves; and the person receiving
the greatest number Of votes for President and the
one receiving the greatest humber of votes for Vice
President in each district, shall be holden to have
received one votei when fact shall be Immediately
certlhed by the Governor Of State, TO each of the
Senators III Congress from such State and to 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, ia the year eighteen hundred
and iiity-six, and on the same day every fourth
year thereafter and the President of the Senate in
the presence Of the Senate and House of Represent
tlYes, shall open all the certificates, and the votes
shall then be counted. The person havngthe great
est number of votes for President shall be Presi
dent, If such number be equal to majority of the
whole number OF votes given; but if no person
have such majority, then second election shall be
held on the first Thursday in the month of Deem
Der then next ensuing, between the persons having
the two highest numbers for the Office of President
which second election shall be conducted The re- /
suit certified, and the votes counted in the same
manner as IN the FIRST and the person having the
greatest number of votes for President shall be 1
President. But, If two or more persons 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 number be equal to majority of I
the whole number of votes given; and if no person /
have such majority, then a second election shall !
take place between the persons having the two
highest numbers, on the same day that the second
elections held for President and the person hay- I
ing the highest number the votes for Vice Presi
dent shall be Vice President But if there should
happen to be an equality Of votes between the per
sons so voted for at the second election then the
person having the greatest number of votes in the
greatest number of States shall be Vice President
But when second election shall be necessary in
the case of Vice President, and not necessary in
the case of President, then the Senate shall choose
a Vice President from the persons having the two /
highest numbers in the first election as is now pre-
scribedi in the constitution.
SEC 2. Ind be Il further res07red. That article
one, section three, be amended by striking out the
word legislature and inserting in lieu thereof the
following words viz persons qualified to vote for
members of the most numerous branch of the Ie-
gisature, 50 as to make the third section Of said
article when ratified by threefourths of the States
read as follows, to-wit
The Senate of the United States shall be COM
posed of two Senators from each State chosen by
he persons qualified TO vote for the members of the
most numerous branch of the legislature thereof
or six years aud each Senator shall have one vote
SEC. 4. And be 1t further reSolved That article
hree, section one, be amended by striking out the
words good behavior, and inserting the following
words, viz: "the term of twelve years" And fur !
her, that said article and section be amended by
adding the following thereto viz; 'and it shall be
he duty OF the President of the United States |
within twelve months afterthe ratification of this
by three fourths Of all the States as
rovided by the Constitution Of the United States.
0 divide the whole number of judges as near as
lay be practicable, into three classes The seats of
he first class shall be vacated at the expiration of
be fourth year from such classification; of the Sc
ond class at the expiration of the eighth year
nd of the third class atthe expiration of the twelfth
ear, so that one-third may be chosenevery fourth y
ear thereafter
The article as amended, will read as follows: I I
ARTICLE III q
SECTION l. The Judicial power of the United it
tates shall be vested in one Supreme Court and D
lch inferior courts as the Congress from time to G.
me, may ordain and establish. The judges both of ia
lie supreme and inferior courts, shall hold their Of
,es during the term of twelve years, and shall at o.
ated times, receive for their services compensa- o.
IN, which shall not be diminished during their nj
ntinuance in Office And it shall be the duty of g
G President of the United States, within twelve g
onths after the ratification Of this amendment by Oh
reeiourths Of all the States as provided by the OF
of the United States TO divide the &c
mole number of judges, as near as may be pract-
bic, into three cases. The seats of the Judges u
the first class, shall be vacated at the ex- ~
alton Of he fot1rtb war from 10