Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1860-12-19
Gov. Johnson's Proposed Amend
ments TO the Federal Constitution.

The resolutions submitted by ex-Gov. An
/ DREW JOHNSON, in the q. S. Senate on the
18th inst, proposing amendments to the Con-
stitution, provide:
L That in the election of President and
Vice President, each State shall be laid off
into number of districts equal TO the whole
number of Senators and Representatives
such State may have in Congress. The PEG
pie of each district shall vote directly for
resident and Vice President, and whoever
s5tains majority in the district shall be
deemed to have received one vote, which
shall be certified by the Governor of the
State. The election shall take place the first
Thursday in August, and Congress shall
be in session and receive and count the vote
on the first Monday in October. If no one
receive majority of all the votes for Presi-
dent, then the election shall be referred back
to the people, who shall on the first Thurs
day of December following, choose between
the two persons receiving the highest num-
Der of votes for President.
The same is the case with the Vice Presi-
dent unless there shall be choice for Presi-
dent and not of the Vice President at the
first election, in which case the Senate shall
choose the Vice President from the two high
est candidates. The President in 1864 shall
be chosen from one of the slaveholdi1g
States, and the Vice President from one Of
the nou-slaveholding States-and in 1865;
the President shall be chosen from the nom
slaYeh0lding, and the Vice President from
the slaveholding States, and so alternating
every four years during the continuance o
the Government
2. That the Senator's In Congress shall be
elected directly by the people
3. That the Federal Judges hold their Off
ees for the term of twelve years, instead Of
during good behavior, aud to be classified 50
as to have the term Of one third Of them to
expire every four years. also that vacancies
occurring in heSupreme Court shall be filed
by persons one half of whom shall be chosen
from the slaTeholding and the other half
from the non-sIaveholding States, 50 that the
Court shall be equally divided in that re-
spect.
Gov. JOHNSON also submitted, at the same
time. another resolution, as follows
ssRssoyred, That the select committee Of
thirteen be instructed to inquire into the ex-
pedieucy Of establishing. by constitutional
provision: l. a line running through the
Territory of the United States, not inci1ded
within the States making an equitable and
inst division Of said territory, south Of which
line slavery shall be recognized and protect
ed as property, by ample and full cOnstitu-
tiouai guarantees, and north Of which line II
shall be prohibited. 3 The repeal Of all
acts of Congress in regard TO the restoration
of fugitives from labor, and an explicit dec
laration in the Constitution, that 1t is the du-
ty Of each State for itself to return fugitive
slaves when demanded by the proper authO-
rity. or pay double their cash value out OF
the treasury of the State 8 An amendment
of the Constitution, declaring that slavery
shall exist in navy-yards, arsenals. &c, OF
not, as it may be admitted or prohibited by |
the States in which such navy-yards. arSenals, |
&c, may be situated 4. Congress shall neT-
er Interfere with slavery in the District OfCO- |
luubia, so long as it shall exist in the State |
of Maryland. nor even then, without the con- |
sent of the inhabitants and compensation TO |
the owners 5. Congress shall not touch the |
representation of three-ffths Of the slaves. |
nor the Interstate trade, cOasiwise OF in |
land 6. These provisions TO be unamenda- |
bic, like that which relates to the equality OF
the States in the Senate"