New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-07-19
MESSAGE.
The President Proposes Amendments to
the Constitution.


WASHINGTON, July ls.-The following is
synopsis of the Presidents message,
which was sent to Congress to-day:
Quoting General jackson in support of
his views, and arguing that by the present
system the will of majority of the people
is liable to be defeated in the choice Of
President; favors the election of State
Senators by the people instead of by the
State Legislatures; and limited instead of
life tenure of Supreme Court Judges; point
ing out the interest the Chief Justice and
Vice-P President have in cases of Presidential
impeachment.
The President closes his argument as fol
lows: "Time, observation, and experience
have confirmed these convictions, and as a
matter of public duty and with deep sense
of my constitutional obligation to recon-
mend to the consideration of Congress such
measures as l deem necessary and expe-
dent. | submit the accompanying propo-
sitions, and urge their adoption and sub
mission to the Judgment of the people,
The President proposes the following
amendments to the Constitution.
The Presidents term of office shall be for
six years. The States shall be divided into
equal districts, corresponding With the
number of Representatives and Senators 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. These facts shall be certified to
Governors of States, TO Senators in Con-
gress from such State, TO the Presi-
dent of the Senate and the Speaker
of the House. The Federal Congress
shall be in session on the second
Monday in October, IS. and every slxtn Kun
year thereafter, and the President OF the
Senate, both Houses present, shall open and
count the votes, and the persons receiving
the highest number shall be President and
Vice. President respectively If they have a
majority of the votes cast; otherwise sec
ond election occurs between the two high
est for each office. If at the second election
both receive a like number Of votes of dis
triets the candidate receiving the highest
number of votes in the largest number OF
States shall be President. The same rules
shall apply to Vice. President; but in case OF
a second election being necessary for Vice.
President but not for President, then the
Senate shall elect a Vice-President from the
two candidates receiving the highest num-
Der of votes of districts. No President or
Vice.P President shall be eligible for the Sec
ond term. In case of the Presidents re-
moval by any cause, the office devolves on
the Vice President; and i'll case OF the Vice
Presidents removal the Presidential Office
devolves on the Secretary Of State, follow
ing whom as successors come the Secreta
ries of the Treasury, War, Navy, Interior,
Postmaster General, and Attorney General,
who shall exercise the functions of office
until the disab1 tiles are removed, or a new
election held.
The Senate of the United States shall be
composed of two Senators from each State
chosen by election of the State Legislature,
to hold six years, each having one vote.
Judges of the Supreme and Inferior
:. - 4.
The President, after the adoption of the
proposed amendment, shall divide Judges
of the Supreme Court into three classes,
expiring the fourth, eighth, and twelfth
years, so that one may be chosen every
fourth year.