Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1875-04-09
A new Plan of Government.

| A joint resolution has been intro
| duced into the Illinois Legislature by
one of the members Mr.. HerroD), in
| structlng the Senators and Represent
atlves of that State in Congress to
propose as an amendment to the Con-
stltution that "the executive power
| shall be vested in a cabinet, the chief
OF which shall be styled an executive,
aud shall be chosen by the House of
Representatives f, ON among the mem
bers thereof upon the nomination of
the Speaker or some other person des-
lgnated Dy law. He shall retire from
office and give place to bis successor
on vote of non confidence BY both
Houses OF Congress-, provided that
upon such vote of non-confideuce he
shall have power, in his discretion, to
declare a dissolution of the House.
Therefore a new election for Repre-
sentatives will take place, but the Ex-
ecutlve shall not dissolve the House
upon a declaration of non-concurrence
affirmed by the country III the return
of new House. The House shall
consist Of mem bers chosen by the peo-
pie of the several States, to serve for
the term of three years unless the
term be- ended before the expiration
of three years by dissolution of the
House by the Executive This reso-
luton was, after debate, referred to
the committee of the hole by a large
majority.
A late writer in the North American
Review suggested something Of the
character of the proposed amendments,
and it was followed by Series of ar
tlcies IN a Chicago paper. The idea is
the substitution of a system analogous
to that which obtains in England,
minus the hereditary monarch The
President or 1.-The Executive" as he
Is called here, is a member of the
House of Representatives., chosen 10y
the maJorlty, and as soon as he ceases
to represent the majority he has the
privilege of appealing to the country
by dlssolviug the House, aud, it the
p-"pie do not sustain him by eiectiDg
It new House III accordance with his
views, IA" is TO give way, and a success
s0r IN harmony with the new body is
to be chosen.
1t IA ueed;ess to point out how un-
suited Is such theory to our cluntry,
AID perhaps II ouly des, rves notice rs
the recoii to All opposite ex-
tctme which the third term project |
mas arouss d i'll sume n.iLds. There !
are those. no doubt, who .re begin |
;lIng IL fear that Mr. Jtfferson's ap- |
i>IeiIPn sions IN regard to the re-eiigi- |
hility III the Presidency nlsy prove |
trne. Rc-eligibillty." he said, makes |
tue President an officer for life, and |
the disasters inseperabie from an cleo |
tive monarchy render il preferable If |
we cannot tread back that step that We
should go forward and take Ies,lge IN
All hereditary one. OF the correction
Of this article, howe yer. [ entertain no
present hope, becdus. [ find it has |
scarcely excited an objection in Amer
ca. And if it does not take place ere
it assqrsdGjlY les IL th,BsEs SaE Ft r tor rG liberty
o yield and government to gain
ground"
The light which experience has late
y thrown on this truth, testified to by
III history, is no doubt having the ef-
ect Of suggesting to mems minds ex-
oeriments in an opposite direction,
'nch as invoked in an appeal as above
described to the country. Such an ap-
peal as now, Id view of the defeat of
he Republican party last fall by 500,-
100 votes. and the majority of at least
jiXty which the Democrats will have
n the next House of RepI IesentatiVes,
will put different face on public af-
airs from that which excites so much
at present. A one term
amendment TO toe Constitution would,
however, remedy most of the evils
which seem to be inseperabie fro N
e-eligibili ty.-Battimore Sun.