The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1860-12-26
Amendment OF the Constitution.

ed into Congress the following Joint Reso-
luton proposing amendments to the Consti.
tuition. 1t proposes radical changes ia the
manner of eleeting the President and the
appointment of Supreme Judges. The
Electoral College System it proposes to
abolish and plans the election OF President
more directly in the hands OF the people,
Two elections for President are provided for
and the persons elected are to be alternately
slaveholders and non slavehOlders. The
term OF the Supreme Judges is to be limited
and not for lie as now. As this proposition
is one of great interest to the people OF the
country we give 1t entire and bespeak for it
a careful examination:
Whereas, The 5th article OF the Consti.
tuition of the United States provides for
amendments thereto therefore, be it
Resolved. By the Senate and House OF
Representatives Of the United States Of
America in Congress assembled (two thirds
of both houses eoncurring.) That the fol-
lowing amendments to the Constitution OF
the United States be proposed to the Legis-
! latures of the several States, which when
ratified by the Legislatures Of three.fourths
of the States, shall be valid, to all inients
and purposes, ss part Of the Constitution
l. That hereafter the Presideut and Vice
: President of the United States shall be cho-
sen by the people OF the respective States
Il in the manner following:
ic Each State shall be divided by the Legs-
lature thereof into districts, equal in number
, to the whole number of Senators and Rep
r. resentatives TO which each State msy be
}. entitled in the Congress of the United States
e the said districts TO be composed on con-
re- lguous territory, and contain as nearly as
may be- an equal number of persons entitled
It. to be represented under the Constitution
i'd snd to be laid off for the first time, immedi.
r. ately ensuing the apportonment OF Rep
- resentatves by tbs Congress Of the United
States.
That on the first Thursday Of August, If
., the wear 1864, a,d on the same day every
nc fourth year thereafter, the citizans OF eact
in State who possess the qualifications requi
site for electors OF the most numerou
a. branch Of the State Legislature, shall NEE
in their respective districts, aud vote for
g. President and Vice President of the Unitet
a. States; and the person receiving the great
oIo est number OF votes for President, and tn
one receiving the greatest number of vote
m. for Vice President, in each district, shall b
-, holden to have received one vote, which fac
,ho shall Immediately be certified by the Gov
M, ernor o. the State to each Of the Senator
i'm in Coo.ress irom such State, Ond TO tn
,Ily President Of the Senate and Speaker of tn
for House of representatives..
~ FT,,,.a Il t.
ii. be in session on The secoad Monday Of DC
tho ,cber in the year 1864, aud oa the same do
bar On erery fourth yegr thereafter; and III
nto President Of the Seosts, in tho presence {
= the Senate and House Of Representative
in shall open oil the certificates, and the vot
tho shall be counted. The person having tn
,hn greatest number of Votes for President she
ont be President, if such number be equal to
In. majority OF the whole number of vote
given.
ha, But if no person shall have auch major
Tho ily, then second election shall be held o.
N. the frat Thursday of the month of Decem
N. Der then next ensuing, between the person
having the two highest number for the Off
Tho OF President; which second elac,on shn
m. be conducted, the result certified and III
,rs votes counted, in the same manner sS tn
md first; and the person having the creates
Tho number OF votes shall be Pferident. But
.ke there should h4ppen to be an fqu9Iity @
re- votes bstwecu the persons so voted Tor Il
inn the second election, then the person hsvu
the greatest number OF vJtee in the create,
all number Of States, sha!! be the President
tod The person havirg the greatest number 0
be votes for Vice President ut the FIST eec.
inc ton, shall be Vice Pres idsnt, if su h mum
led ber be eqnul TO mfjority OF the vote
led given; snd If no such pars0H have such
,e majority, then second election sha II tx
all place between the persona hsving the tw
g.. highest numbers, on the same day that tn
nj second election ia held for President, an
he the person having the highest number G
"a. votes for Vice President shall be Vice Pre-
es sdent. But ii there should happen to be a
lv. equality of votes between the persons 8
,ai voted Tor at the second election, then til
person having the grestast number of vote
n in the grentett number OF St.tes shall b
he Vice President.
But when second election shall be ne
cessary in the case OF Vice President, an
not necessary in the case of President, the
" the Senate shall choose Vice Presiden
~. from the persons having the two highes
-, NUMBERS on the SecOnu 6ltCllonj Us ID nov
10. prescribed in the Constitution.
"S ~" Provided, Thst the President to bo elect
'So 'ao ed 10 the year 1864 shall be chosen from
'N' one Of the slaveholdiDg States, and the Vic
Il. President from one OF the non laVeholdln!
~. St6tes ard in the year 1868 the Preslden
49, shall be chosen from one OF the non.s!ave
"'' holding S,utes, and the Vice President iron
-. one OF the slaveholdiog States, und 80 alter
nstey the President aud Vice President eV
cry four years between slovehoiding an
non slavehoIding St ties during the continu
, ance of the Government.
Ia Sec. %. And be H. further Resolved, Tha
ce, Article /, Section 8, OF the Constitution, b.
oil amended by striking out the word "Legisla
nj ture," and inserting in lieu thereof the fol
lowing words, viz :"persons qualified to vot
~ for me m bers of the most numerous branC
an OF the Legis ,ture," SO as to make the 8
me section OF the said article (when ratified b.
lis three fourth OF the States,) read 10 follow:
tbo 10 wit:
."' "The Senate of the United States shs
'"t be composed OF two Senators from eac
ana State, chosen by persons qualified to vot
an, lcr members OF the most numerous branc
en, OF the Legislature thereof, for six years, an
euch Senstor shall have one vote"
And be itf&rther Rsso!Ued, That article ;
u section l, be amended by striking cut tn
ritz, words "good behavior" and inserting th
will following words, viz "the term of twelv
10 years :" and, further, that said article on
:" section be amended by adding the followiu