The Portland daily press., 1868-07-21
A Batch of Presidential Hobbies.

We do not mean to be disrespectful to Mr..
johnson in SO designating the amendments to
the constitution proposed by him in a message
to Congress, very brief synopsis of which
was given in our telegraphic columns yes
terday. They are not new or strange or orig
inal. Before he was President he made the
same propositions in both branches of Con-
gress, his associates marked him not" 9th
ers have proposed similar measures before
and since Mr.. johnson brought them for
ward. After somewhat extended PREDATORY
remarks, in which he drags in Gen. Jackson
as sponsor for his first proposition he submits
the following: srs -a. r.a .a z
Be it resolved by the Senate and House of
Representatives OF the United States of Ameri-
ca, IN Congress assembled, two thirds of both
Houses concurring, the following amendments
10 the Consultation of the United States he
proposed to the Legislature of the several
States, which when ratified by the legislatures
OF three-tourths of the States, shall be valid
TO all lntents and purposes as part of the Con-
stition:-
That hereafter the President and Vice.Pres-
ldent OF the United States shall be chosen
ior the term OF SIX years by the people of
the respective States IN the manner follow
lng:-Each State shall be divided by the Leg
Islature thereof into districts equal in num-
Der to the whole number of Senators aud
representatives to which such State
may be entitled in the Congress of the Uni.
ted States The said districts to be composed
af-nan tinii-aas tAnnit oouUsttfT &c
nearly as may De, an equal number of persons
entitled 10 be represented unC er the Consti
tntion, and to be laid off for the first time i'm
medlately afuer the ratification of this amend
ment. That on the first Thursday in Auoust
1S-, aud on the same day every sixth veor
thereafter, the citizens of each State who nos
sess the qualifications requisite for electors of
the most numerous branch of the State Legis-
lature, shall meet within their respective dis
tricts, and vote for a President and Vice Pres
ldent OF the United States; and the person res
ceiving the greatest number of votes for Pres
ldent, and the one receiving the greatest num-
Der OF votes Tor V ice President, in each district
shall be holden TO have received one vote,
which fact shall be Immediately certified by
the Coy ernor OF the State to each of the Sena-
tors IN Congress from such State, and to the
PRESIDENT of the Senate, and the Sneaker of
tne House of Representatives. The CONGRESS
vi .lle United States shall be in session on the
second Monday in October in the wear IS.
ana on the same day on every sixth wear tbera'
"llei' anu INC PRESIDENT of the Senate in the
presence OF the Senate and House of Repre-
sIsn'aCNes, shall open all the certificates and
the votes shall then be counted The narSon
having the greatest number of votes for Praoi-
dent shall be President, if such number ba
equal to majority of the whole number of
votes given; but if no person have such ma.
IOllty, IuGH IL StCOuu elcCIlOn snail be held
the first Thursday in the month of December
then next ensuing, between the persons hav-
ing the two highest numbers for the office of
President; which second election shall be con-
Quoted, and the result certified, and the votes
counted III the same manner as in the first:
ana the person having the greatest number
OF votes for President shall be President.
put II two or more persons shall have received
tne greatest and an equal number of votes at
tne second election, then the person who shall
nave received the greatest number of
votes in the greatest number of States
shall be President the person hav-
Ing the greatest number of votes fer !
numbers shall be equal to majority of the |
Whole number of votes given: and if no per- |
son have such majority, then second election
t sLiaii take place between the persons having
t the TWO highest numbers on the same day that |
tbe f Seoonu election is held for President, and
votes y, for the Vice President shall be Vice
ansI;, put If there should happen to be an
equah'y OF the votes between the persons so !