The New York herald., 1876-12-31
ABOLITION Or THE PRESIDENCY.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20, 1876
In response to the following address u curious meet
ing was held last night IN place called Clark's Hail.
situated over billiard saloon, al No. 4.9 Pennsylvania
avcnuc:-
WASHINGTON, Dec. 81, 1873
mass meeting is announced IN this city 10 discuss
the question ano petlion Congress 10 adopt amend
menis 10 The constitution abollsh hing Presidency;
an executive council 10 be substituted therefor be
composed OF the seven secretaries, or present men,
bers of the Cabinet four be elected by the House
and three by The Senate IRON members OF their re-
specve houses Tor Two years one or all TO be removed
al any timc by the House eiccting Them and each to
have the rights OF a member IN both houses. That is
strike out the President aud authorize the secretaries
charged with the execution OF the laws in their
several departments to administer the govern
mcnt Tho Cabinet to be the, head oil the
government. This is about the form Of
the Swiss Republic, the oldest frecst government
on EARTH II also corresponds 10 the British Cabinet
government. IN effect selected by Parliament and at
all times responsible thereto. 1t Is claimed the
call Tor the meeting that TINS Is tho only wse SIMPLE
satisfactory honorable peaceful and patriotic way
OF the present crisis OF contested Presidential eec
ton, which may lead to civil war with all OF its diro
iul consequences The change would also be vast
Improvement IN the government as q permanent re-
form IN the executive department. l! is suggested
that meetings ior the same purpose be held in ali cit
ics and towns throughout the country to agtae the
question and arouse and form public opinion
Some thirty persons, including DR.. Mary Walker,
assembled. Rev. Or. Taylor, pastor of the FREQ
church. presided in his overcoat Mr.. A. Watson, a
gentleman of considerable ierocity Of tone uni,dy
shirt 'front.' read the call, which responded
to by Mr.. Bingham. This latter person read q great
many interesting facts about tho of Switx-
erand which, seemed, desired to substitute for
'.the government OF Grant" The Swiss gov
crnmcnt tests in u federal assembly CON-
prising two divisions viz: National Coun-
Gil, corresponding to House Of Representatives,
and States Council corresponding to our Senate Tho
executive authority is vested in body OF seven mem.
bers, entitled tho Federal Council, tho members OF
which elecied by the Federal Assembly. When
questions ofJurisdction the assemble
In joint convention and the JOINT majority decides
From among the members Of the Federal Council tho
houses together and yearly elect federal pres.
dent and Wee President, who not eligible for
election the next year. The Federal Assembly can re-
move for cause any member OF tho Federal Council,
including, oil course, the President who receives u
salary oil only 81 700 In the Federal Council resides
all authority tor appointment and removal OF suUor-
dInates IN the executive branch oil the govern
mcnt Antcceuents oi Candidates In point OF capacity
Tor The positions applied ior, together IN some
with oral and written examinations, are mainly relied
upon IN making political appointments Removals ex-
ccpt tor incfiicency unknown. Changes OF admin
isration affect the Of office oil employees
OF the government The Swiss people ms whole CON-
bat cent trazation In every form IN which il may DO
presented except where Is deemed essential
preservation oi the nation as republic; hence in
recent amendment oil their constitution they have
serted the right oil referendum and vested veto
power by popular ballot, in tho citizens al largo.
Encouraged by Mr. Blnghan's presentation Of
floor, sailed into discourse upon the history OF the
United States constitution, winch went 10 show that
and maze u big mistake. ''Thc idea that the
stitution was the birth OF WISDOM" insisted Mr..
Watson, "is absdrd It was nm accidentl The
Convention which formed II sat over three months.
The men Of the Convention were undoubtedly in,ei-
gent, but undoubtedly wrong. .APrcsoent,' said
Edmund Randolph. is tho rtus Of a monarch Per-
haps would bc more say nowa-days. that
President is an ltineranI king. The final
decided on a President for this country was seven 10
n q N zero
scnted. Can any one donbt," asked Mr. Watson,
tha, this vote was cast because General Washington
sat there prcsidingY IL It hadn't been Tor him we
nevcr.would have had such thing as President"
Mr.. Watson proceeded with vehemcnce to state his
opinion that We did not need and could not stand,
much longer, any President at all The south didn't
secede OF the slavery agiiation but
country, North ana souih 500, ooo lives looO 900
crippcs, and $4,000, COO 0OO wagcd Tor nothing
bui conles, over The Presidency.
These statements Tell upon unwilling cars Dr. Mary
wal4er-whose slender frame had been paIpitat,ng
with emotion, and who had been taking yoIuminous
notcs-stro0e iorh IN the strange garments which
render her my sery to mankind, and said
mir. President"
Quak,ng, the reverend chairman recognized tho
II say sirn said Miss Mary, in high contralto 'hat
cannot agrcc with what has been said with regard 10
the ABOLITION OF The Presidency IL you put the Prcsi.
dent out and put seven or ten more men in wondn't
there pc just the same ambton Tor their places
there is now for Grants place. Grantl'' continued
the fair orator, Grant! Think Of himi Why, think
that some peopic--I am sanSuine believe
a efficiently as he tApplause.) am just as good
Grant Had not the government under HIM sunk
low would not be IN the position we are And
now proceeded the Doctor, 'wbat are they at up
yondcr Cabincty Perhaps they are after something
deep nnd black. There's telegraph between the
White House aud the Arsenal. DO you know what that
means ~
Al This har.lfting query several hats and 6onnc,s
fell their owners laps and thence rolled 10 the
floor.
III means tyrannyi II means monarchy, 7,
exclaimed the Doctor, stamping her grace
ful ieA. have reliable infor IN aton
about H.. Az the chosen time the House ui Repre-.
scntatves Is TO be arrested The country is to roll In
rivcr-r-r-s ol blood ~
a member (sarcasticallyl-sDont you think You're
making verv good speech against the olce OF Presi.
dentyv
Another member (gravelyl--"Mr. President, is tho
person who addresses us Ia order ~
The President tcourtcou sly y)-sI think --''
Dr. Walker timperouslyl-s'l think IL to be my
right TO speak TO the question according my mental
abilities IL the gentleman understands my mental
abilities better than do let him come on -
The offending member tdeprecatng vioience)-'I
only meant -"
Tue Doctor Qrately and with hands on hipsr--
s'Wcil, siryn
Anothcr member tcouragcously. but with
rather chokcd)-" Nobody but Or. Walkers lady IN
our midst would dare --n
DR. Walker tbristlngl-'Wna-a-atfr
great Stiffness fell which presently
broken BY The voice OF Dr. Walker, urging Thdsa and