The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1875-01-27

OI leSas, Wnlcn were lhkeh from lHcTe
during the war and sold III Europe to
Peabody & Co, for which the State had
received no consideration. The party
holding them refuses to present them,
and the object of the bill is to pay the
amount to the State of Texas, which Is
to guarantee the United States. The bill
was sent to the Committee of the Whole.
Another Amendment to the COnsti-
tuition.
Mr.. Potter, from the Judiciary Com
mittee reported joint resolution pro-
posing the following amendment to the
constitution:
ART, XVI. From and after the next
election for President Of the United
States, the President shall hold his office
during term of six years, and together
with the Vice President chosen for the
same term; shall be elected in the man
ner now provided or that may hereafter
be provided, but neither President nor
Vice President when the office of Presi-
dent has dcvolvcd upon HIM shall be
eligible for reelection aS President.
He remarked that the amendment
would not effect the next Presidential
term and moved the previous question.
The previous question was seconded
and the main question ordered.
+. r. Hoar expressed surprise that
such proposition should be passed
without discussion.
Mr.. Potter replied that if any question
had been discussed until everybody in
side and outside of the House was famil-
lar with it, it was this.
Mr., Garfield inquired how it would be
with the Vice. President succeeding to
the Presidential office within II wee!, of
the close Of the term.
Mr.. Potter replied that he would have
TO take the office with it, restrictions and
disabilities.
+. X. Hoar remarked that while he
was not Of the opinion that there was
likely to be any occasion when he should
favor, or believed the American people
would favor, the continuance of any
person in the Presidential Office beyond
two years; he did not believe that argu-
mcnt as to the corruption Of the people
by Executive power, was one Of strength,
or what the people should confess that
they needed such protection against
such influence rs that they would
deliberately deprive themselves of the
power Of selecting their chief magistrate.
He remembered Il conversation which he
had with an eminent gentleman, stand
ing high in office, in regard to the re-
election of President Lincoln, and who
was very much opposed to his reelection,
and he Mr.. Hoar) had then said that he
believed the American people intended
to re-elect President Lincoln, if neces-
sary, during the rest Of his life until he
was recognized by every part OF the
country rs President of the United
States. lie (Hoar) did not propose to
aid in depriving the American people of
theright under any emergency orexigency
o. determining whom they should keep in
the presidential chair. He did not believe
that they ever would keep man beyond
the time which WashingtOns example
had sanctioned, and which was one of
the traditions of tho Republic, but it was
very grave and serious question to de-
prive the people Of the power to choose.
Mr.. kasson suggested that 1t was Sc
rious question with all popular govern
ments, whether ineligiblity should apply
to any but the next term Of office, and
he proposed to amend the bill in that
respect, allowing eligibility after SIX
wears. The amendment was allowed to
be offered.
On motion of +. r. Hoar, the Vote or
dering the main question was reconsld-
cred, and the question was opened to dis
cussIon.
Mr.. Butler (of Mass defended the
Judiciary Committee from the implied
ccnsure of his colleague Hoar) in regard
to passing the constitutional amendment
under the previous question. The propo-
sition was simply offered to the American
people t. decide after full conSldern-
tion, and without any previous question.
II the House said that it would not offer
them such an amendment, there was no
way in which the people could discuss
and pass upon it. The House could stand
in the way of Unconstitutional amendments,
but it could not bind the people IN any
other way; therefore he should be pretty
liberal in voting for the proposition for
the constitutional amendments to be sent
to the people If the people wanted
them they ought to have them, and II
they did not want them they would take
good care in several States, not to pass
them.
Mr.. Hazelton, of Wisconsin-Have
there been petitions from several States
for this amendment?
Mr.. Butler-For long series OF years
there has been agitation and petitions for
this amendment. 1t has been urged all
over the country, and it comes up now
without any possible personal relations to
it. Nobody, So far as | know, has 'in-
gle idea of possible personal relations
to the present executive. | agree that
the people ought to have the right to
elect a man President just as many times
rs they choose, and nobody ought to m
terfere with that right, but the people
ought also TO have the correlative right,
which is to say, that they will not eject
one man more than once if they WANT
say so. and if We will not give them
that privilege, they can never have the