New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1866-01-29
ELECTING PBEsI DENT BY DIRECT
POPULAR VOTE.

Mr.. ASHLEY of Ohio has submitted to the
House proposition so to amend the Federal
Constitution as to let the legal voters of each
State vote directly Cnstead of through Electors)
for President and Vice-Presdent of the United
States-one which, if we should ever have Gas
we ought soon to have) Federal Convention,
we should in substance approve and commend
for adoption. 1t is as follows:
JOINT RESOLUTION proposing amendment to the cOnstta
Rtsolrd by the nate and Howe Of ReprsssN,afiro %
the United States Of America in Conere" assembkd two
thirds OF both Houses concurring) That in lieu Of
clauses two three four five. and seven, Of article
two section one, the following be proposed as an
amendment 10 said Constitutions which, when ratified
by the Legislatures Of threeOurths Of the several States
shall be valid TO all nents aud purposes as part OF said
| Constitution to wit:
CLAUSE g. The qualified electors shall meet at the
usual places Of holding elections In their respective
States the second Tuesday of October Ammo DonDl
eighteen hundred and sixty eight and the second
Tuesday Of October every four years thereafter under
such rules aud regulations in regard to the time place
and manner Of holding elections and the qualification OF
electors the Congress may prescribe, aud vote by
ballot for President and Vice.Presidept Of whom
shall not be nhabant Of the State with them
selves they shall designate in their ballot the person
voted for VicePesden and the result Of such cleo
ton in each State shall be certified and sealed the
Congress may by law provide; which certificates shsll
Il
States directed 10 the President Of the Senate and on
the second Monday Of January after such election the
Senators and members OF the House Of Representatives
shall In Joint convention and the President OF the
Senate in the presence Of the Senators and
tves thus assembled shall open all the returns Of said
election and declare the result the person having the
greatest number OF for President and the greatest
number Of votes for Vice President IL such number be
o majority of the whole number OF votes cast; II no
person have such majority, then from tho per
sons having the highest number, not exceeding
three on the list voted for President and three
on the list voted for Vico President the Senators
and Representatives In joint convention shall forthwith
proceed TO select By ballot the President aud Vice
President each Senator and Representative having one
vote; quorum for this purpose shall consist Of ma
joriy Of the Senators and majority of the Represents
tiyes duly elected and qualified and majority OF oil the
yotes cast shah be necessary 20 choice Of President
| aud VicePresident. And II the Senators and Repre-
sentatves in Joint convention shall fail as herein pro-
vided to choose President or Vice President when
the right choice shall devolve upon them before
the lth of Msrth next following the election then the
ChieJusce OF the United States II there be one. and
Court shall Get as the President until President OF
Vice President shall be duly elected and qualified and
the Cor shall provide BY Law for special election
TO fill Q, vacancy.
CLAUSE No person except natural born citizen OF
the United States shall be eligible % the Office Of Presi-
dent or Vice President neither shall any person be ell
gble to the office Of President ePresident who
shall not have attained the age Of thirty years and
no person elected TO the office Of President shall there
after be eligible 10 be reelected.