Year: 1872

PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION


OF THE UNITED STATES.


WASHINGTON, June 2.-The following amend
meut 10 the Constitution OF the United States has been
introduced in the Senate by Mr., Sumner:


Whereas According existing system, the President
Of the United States instead of being chosen directly by
the people is chosen by the intervention OF electoral
colleges In the several states; ana


Whereas, This system, beside excluding the people
from direct vote In the choice OF PRESIDENT operated
by the convention, an irresponsible body, un'
known To the law Constitution, where few persons,
by comDnaGn anu r1WaI Dy andote OF w6n b
forth with the exclusive representative or p0lt-
cal party so that the triumph OF the party assures hs


whereas The caucus or convention, after being the
engine for nomination OF President allowing the people


little than to record its WILL becomes the personal
instrument OF the President when elected, giving him
dctaOral power, which he may employ in reducing the
people to conformity with his purposes and promoting
lis reelection, all OF which Is hostile to good government


whereas Tie existing system Of choosing President,
beside being highly artificial and cumbersome IS Iadi-
secure each the opportunity OF declaring for
the candidate of his choice aud in It's operation aubst
tutes therefor the dlctatOn OF caucus or convention


Now, therefore, In order 70 supersede the caucus or
the nomination OF the President when he is elected,
the instrument Of his personal WILL and to abolish the
electoral college, so that the people shall vote directly


ResoISed Jy ne Senate and House Of Representatives.
Of tie United states Of America IN Congress assembled
UWOthrs Of each House cOncurTing theren) That the
following be proposed as an amendment 10 the CODstu
ton, which, When ratified by the Legislatures Of three



and purposes, as part thereof, TO wit:


The executive power shall be vested IN President
of the United States Of America he shall hold his Office
during Of four years and be elected as follows


The qualified voters shall meet at the usual places Of
holding elections In their respective states and Terri
the first Monday In April In the year 1876 and
the first Monday in April every four years thereafter
under such rules and regulations the Congress
may by law prescribe, and vote by ballot for
dent and tbe result OF such election i'm each State and
Territory shall be certified sealed and forwarded To the
seat Of Government In such manner as the Congress may


That Congress shall be in session the third Monday
in May after rs such election ana on the tuesday next ~
each House shall be present and II not immediately ON
the presence Of such quorum the Senators and Rep
resentatives shall meet in the Representative Chamber
IN Joint convention and the President OF the Senate
thus assembled, shall open ali returns OF the
election and declare the result The person having the
President, If such number be majority II no person
have such majority & or Al, the person I having sues at
the vote then the President of the Senate shall pro-
claim whereupOn the Joint Convention shall order the
ary the lumber Of votes for each person as President


Another election shall there1po1 take place on
ceeding, at which election the duly qualified
elections in their Tespeetive states and Territores
and vote for of the three having the highest
the result of such election In each State and Territory
shall Ge certified sealed and forwarded TO the seat OF
Government as provided by law.


On third Tuesday in December after such second
election or as soon thereafter as quorum Of each House



again meet In Joint convention and the President OF the
Senate presence OF the Senators and Representatives
thus assembled shall open all the returns Of the election
and declare the person having the highest number
OF votes duly elected President for the ensuing term.


No person elected office Of President shall there
after be gibe for reelection.


In case OF the OF the President from Office by
Impeachment. OF his death, resignation, or inability 10
discharge the powers and duties OF the 0hce the
shall CeVOve temporarily on the head OF an Executive
Department senior in years If there be head of
Executive Department then the Senator senior in
years shall act as President until successor chosen
aud qualified.


If Congress be IN session at the time
Of the death, resignation, disability or
mOval Of the President, the Senators aud Repre-
sentatiyes shall meet IN Joint Convention under such
rules ana regulations the Congress may by law pre-
SCRIBE aud proceed To elect by viyayOcc vote Presi
dent TO I'LL such vacancy each Senator and Representa-
tive having one vote quorum for this purpose shall
consist majority ia each House OF the Senators and
Representatives duly elected and qualified and major
iy of all the votes gwen shall be necessary 30 the choice
OF President The person thus elected President shall
discharge all the and duties OF the Office until
the Inauguration OF the President elected at the next
regular election.


if Congress be not IN session at the time vacancy
occurs then the acting President eha forthwith ssue