The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-07-20
Second Dispatch.
Presidents Message yetOins h C
Electoral College Bill.

WASHINGTON, July lS.-The President
to-day sent in message to Congress We
toing the electoral college bill. Quoting
General Jackson in support of his views,
and arguing that by the present system the
will of the majority of the people is liable
10 be defeated in the choice of n President,
he argues in favor of the election of sena-
tors by the people instead OF by the Legis-
latures, and limited instead Of lite-tenure
of the supreme judges. Pointing out the
interest the Chief Justice and Fice-Pre-
sident have in cases of Presidential i'm
parchment, the President closes his argu
lnent as follows:
Time, observation, and experience have
confirmed these convictions, and as mat
ter of public duty and with deep sense OF
my constitutional obligations to recommend
to the consideration Of Congress such mea-
sures as | deem necessary and expedlent, |
submit the accompanying propositions, and
urge their adoption and submission to the
judgment Of the people.
He proposes the following amendments to
the Constitution The Presidential term
to be six years States to be divided into
equal districts, corresponding with the
number Of their representatives and sena-
tors in Congress, and each district shall
count as one vote for President and Vice
President respectively the person in each
district receiving the highest number of
votes from voters qualified to vote for the
popular branch Of the State Legislature
within said district shall be certified to the
Governor of the State, to the senators IN
Congress from said State, to the President OF
the Senate. and Speaker of the House; the
Federal Congress shall be in session on the
second Monday in October, IS, and
every sixth year thereafter; both Houses
being present, shall open and count
the votes, and the persons receiv-
ing the highest numbers shall be
President and Vice-President respectively
if they have o majority Of the votes
cast; if otherwise, second election oc-
ours between the two highest for each office.
If at the second election both receive like
number of votes of the districts, the can
didate receiving the highest number of
votes in the largest number of States shall
be declared elected President. In the case
OF Vice-President the same rule applies,
except that in case of second election for
that office, but lot for Office of President,
then the Senate shall elect the Vice resi-
dent from the two candidates receiving the
highest number Of votes from the districts ;
no President or President shall be ELI
gible for second term. In case of the
Presidents removal from any cause, the
Office devolyes on the Vice-President and
in case of his removal, the successors in
turn are Secretaries of State, Treasury,
War, Navy, Interior, Postmaster-General,
and Attorney General, who shall exercise
the functions Of the Office until new cleo
tion is held the Senate to be composed OF
two senators from each State, chosen by the
people of the States, each senator having
one vote, and to hold Office for six years
judges Of supreme and inferior courts to
hold Office for twelve years. The President
after the adoption of this amendment, shall
divide the judges into three classes, their
terms expiring the fourth, sixth, and
twelfth years, 30 that one third may be
chosen every fourth year.