Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-02-25
GRAINS SUCCESS.
His .0ppOsisiai te mo Proposed CoDsli
tutIonAl Amendment Extending
Che Prssld, INITIAL Term.
His Reasons for not EAvOring the Resolu'
ton Havs NorhinE to do with Bis
Own Congressional BIZ,

the House today:
Resolved by the Senate and House OF
r representatives. OF the United States Of
America ia Congress assembled (tWc-
thirds OF each house concurring thereby,
that the following article be proposed TO
the Legislatures of the several states as
nu amendment to The constitution Of the
United States, IS part of the constitution
namely:
"The term of Office Of the President
and of the Fif5ietl Congress shall con-
tnue until the s0th day Of April, in the
year 1889, st noon. The Senators whose
existing term would other wise
expire on the 4th day of
MLrch in the year 1889, or
thereafter, shall continue IN Office until
noon II she 80 n day in April succeeding
sUsl eSp cnlop; and the 30th Day Of
Ay5I!. 81 noon, snail thereafter b3 suoS;i
tired for t2e Ala day OF March Sc the com
mgucsT sud termination of the official
t.rm q the Pr sident, Vice-Pfesident,
sc ztors, add r preseutagiVes in Con-
grrss "
TIE twelfth Nrticla Of the amendments
o .pa CONSTITUTION Of the United S.otes
snail lie giasl ded by striking out the
words "4!h day Of March" and su6ssitu-
ting izstesd thereof the words "30th cay
in Aprl!, Ut noon"
The principal opponent of the resolu-
ton was Mr.. Grain. WAC made vigorous
speech against II, occupying nearly
an hour. In ih3 course of
mis- remarks MIR. Grain said:
Mr.. Speaker, the OBJECTS sought TO BE
accomplished Ey the Senate resolution
Is, &c | understand from the gentleman
from Massachusetts (Mr. CJillns), are
fcsJ 10 csHry out q sentimenJsl ides,
which is that the successor CT the present
lCcUmOels If me executive chair should
be au.ureted on the same DAY Of the
wear as that on which George Washing
ton WAS Installed in office; and the second
object is TO lengthen the short session Of
eAca term of Congress. Those are the
only two objects which, in the Judgment
Of the gentleman from Massachusetts,
will be accomplished If this amendment
should Gu ratified by the states.
Mr., Collils-L did not say that.
Mr. Crsil-Well, l should like to have
the gentleman state his proposition again.
so understood him. l do not desire to
misrep-esent the gentleman, and hope
he will repeat his proposition.
MI Collins-I simply said that those
were two reasons; end that L would re-
serve the remainder IT my time until l
found cut WHIT t1er there was any ground
ofubjacIion TO tais measure.
Mr.. CT6in-Well, submit to the House
that it must be weak proposition if the
gentleman IN charge Of the resolution is
afraid tc give his reasons for lis adoption
l submit, Mr.. Speaker, that Sentimental
reason is very poor one for sn organic
change of the Law Of the land; there ought
TO be som5L thing better.
Il IS true, as hesr gentleman sug
gLs5, JUst have "scheme" Of my OWE
with reference TO this question: bat that
"sChsle" does not necessarily sntsgonizs
the entire proposition submitted by the
gentleman from Massachusetts. 1 hsVE
no objection at all to the change Of tbs
DAY Of inauguration; but l do oppose this
resolution SO fer as it affects term o.
members Of the House Of Representatives
l Gm perfectly willing to smalgsmstt
these two prop0si ions In such way tina
the pryGIlent ideS embraced in Senate
resolution l3 slau be submitted to the
stat for ratification or rejection; but
do say 10 not believe that sentimental
reason is s suffi;ieat one to justify tbs
submission OF constitutional amendment
10 the states.
Il addition, however, to the question o
sentiment, there is, submit TO the con-
slderSticn of the House, another reason
fJY t;.is proposed change, q reason whic:
hss not bsen presented by the gentleman
from Massachusetts. II is this: Tina
owing to the irclemency of the westhel
usu.i On the 4sh Of March it would b.
much peter TO change Inauguration day
because there is extreme danger that tht
gentleman elected by the people Of tn
United S.Stes to fill the Presidential chal
may subject himself to an attack o
pneumonia, or some other disease, D,
being ilaugursted on the day now fixed
There hss yeen but one President. De
leve, VINO succumbed to the effects
the weather by reason OF his oeln
insugurhted on the 4th day Of March, az
have ] hear Of the first gentleman o.
either the Democratic or the Republics
side IF the political combinations OF TIL
country who has rsiected nominatio
rendered him, because, forsooth, b
w5u,d run the chance Of losing his lii
on inauguration day on account OF the II
clemercY Of the vi sther.
buE GIL HllAlus w HaoD OhSA S'AA sNS-
obie:tiouj aud submit to the gentlema
VINO presents this resolution on the pa
Of tie judiciary committee that the ter
Of the beginning and close of the officli
term Of the President is not fxad by Il
constitution, but by law. There Is notE
ing in the constitution OF the Uoite
STATES which says, even By implicatio
unless l. be in the twelfth amendment
the constitution of the United States tn
the term of office of President shall beg
and end on the 4th Of March.
The first President of the United Sat,
was jnaugurated on the SO!h Of Apr
Why? Because there had to be Coz
gress in session to count the votes; Il
electoral college had to meet; iSnet u
der q resolution submitted By the Coz
gress of the Confederation in pursuan,
of authority vested in it by Il
constitutional convention. After Il
electoral college met and electt
George Washington President and Jol
Adsms Vice-President, what further hi
to be done2 The Congress had to NEE
and John Adsms WAS installed as Vic
President on the 2lst day Of April, Il
very dsy on which the Republic Of Tex
achieved lis independence; and Georl
uU.sb{puton xss inEupurktpd as Preside