New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-07-20
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
RECOMMENDING AMENDMENTS TO TIE CONS
TUITION.

{ RECOMMENDING
TUITION.
WASHINGTON, July 19.-The President, this
afternoon sent the following message 10 tine two honses
Of Congress:
To THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES EX-
perence has fully demonstrated the wisdom Of the franz
stances the result OF their abors an approx
imation 10 perfection as was compatible Wlth me iahb
stitutOn has been held by our countynen II Is not
surprising that any proposition for rs alteration or
amendment should be received with reluctance aud dis
trust While this sentiment deserves cOmmendation and
cement useful preventive Of unnecessary ut.
time has developed imperfectons and omissions IN the
Constitution, the reformation OF which has been de;
manded by the best interests OF the country Some Of
these have been Temedied liz the manner provided In the
Constitution itself There are others WnCn, aih9ngl
been presented as TO enable the popular iudg.
ment TO determine whether they should be corrected by
My object in this communication Is 10 sugg 81 certain
defects In the Constitution which TO 10 require
correction and to recommend that the judgment OF The
people be taken on tho amendments proposed The FIRST
OF the defects TO which desire TO call attention Is IN that
clause OF the Constitution which provides for the election
OF President and President through the intervention
Of electors and not by immediate vote of the people,
The Importance OF amending this clause to
the election of President and VicePresdent by their
direct votes was urged with great and ability
by President Jackson in his first annual message aud the
recommendation was repeated in 1--WE OF his subsequent
communications to Congress, extending through the
eight years Of his administration III his Message OF 1879
TO the people belongs right Of eistng Their Chief Magistrate
bv
contingencies to tbs House Of Representatives.
He then proceeded TO state The objections to an election
OF President by the House OF Representatives, the most
important Of which was that the choice OF Clear mQO-
ty OF the people might be easily defeated lie closed the
would therefore recommend sucb an smnden 10 The Consultation
may all intermediate agency IN The election Of President and
State It's present relative weighs the .con and failure in e ti
the two highest candidates connection with s9 an amendment
gle term Of either four I years however SHOULD oi DO adopted
worthy Of consideration whether provision d,quabg for Office
yOlrei would notb be proper
Although this Recommendation repeated with I'M
messages yet the proposed amendment was never
adopted and submitted the people by Congress. The
the House OF Representatives remains unprovded for in
the Constitution and would be greatly increased if the
rariy 70 reject the votes Of state which might not be
cast In conformity with the wishes OF the majority OF
that body But President Jackson failed 10 secure the
anne ndment to the Constitution which he urged per
sstenty, his arguments contributed largely TO The Orma
avoided the contingency of election by the House Of
Representatives These organizations, first BY resort
the system OF nominating candidates. and after
ward State and National Conventions, have been sue
cessfu in so limiting the number Of Candidate as to
Representatives IL is clear however that III thus limit
spirit OF the Constitution have been avoided and de-
feaed II Is essential feature In our republican sys
tenn Of that every eizen ~ pIssg ' " cor
date for the office OF President VicePoesident and
for any citizen whom he may regard worthy OF those
offices But under the party organizations which have
prevailed for these essential rights OF the people
have been efectualy cut OFF and destroyed as the
Constitution itself had inhibited their exercise Inc dah
ger defeat OF the popular choice IN an election by Tie
House OF Representatives sno greater than IN an election
made nominay by the people themselves wien Oy Tue
laws OF party organizations and by the constitutional pro
visions requiring the people 10 vote for electors instead
OF for the President Vice President II Is made nprae
tieabe for any citizen to be cauddae except through
the process Of party nomination, aud for any voter
TO cast his suffrage for any other person thah
thus brought forward through the manpulatons
Of nominating convention. ii is mus apparent that Dy
means OF party organizations that provision OF the
Constitution which requires the election OF President ana
Vice President 10 be made through the Electoral Cotges
has been made instrumental aud potential IN defeating
the great object Of comforting the choice OF these Oces
upon the people II may be conceded that party Orgal
cations nseparabe from republican government ana
that when formed and managed IN suboidnatoh 10 the
Constitution they may be valuable safeguards VI pOpuat