than the opposite ones. It is the mere demagogue, who distrusts the intelligence and honesty of the people, and who resorts to what he deems, cunning stratagems to secure their support. Should you present a fair and just plan, which carried on its face evidence, that it was calculated to perfect our administrative system, the people will cordially join you in giving it effect. In fact, under this mode, the election of a President would be removed from the people no further, than that of the Senator now is, for the people elect the members of the Legislature, and those members themselves choose the Senators. In like manner the people would elect the electors, who would choose the President, and with this difference, too, that, while the Senator holds for six years, the President would be chosen only for a single year. At least, while considering these suggestions, you may possibly be aided in finding something better, as a remedy. If the presidential term were extended to two years, under this plan, to correspond with each Congress, it might be an improvement on the present system, provided that the terms of the inferior officers were so extended, as to prevent the President's having patronage enough to render the choice a question of sufficient magnitude, to agitate the country. But if President's are annually chosen, there can can be no doubt but that, with our large and increasing population, the country will furnish a sufficient number of prominent gentlemen to satisfy the demands of the Government.

Under a system through which, the several departments might, without interference with each other's duties, work harmoniously together, and so act as not to disturb the popular mind by violent agitations, there would seem to be no reason why, wise administration and public virtue, should not be maintained, for an indefinite period, in the future ages yet to be passed, in the development of a prosperous, and enlightened humanity. Very respectfully, &c.,

T. L. CLINGMAN.

A JOINT RESOLUTION PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PLAN ABOVE RECOMMENDED.

Resolved, By the Senate and House of Representatives, of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, (two-thirds of both Houses concurring,) that the following article be proposed to the Legislatures of the several States, as an amendment to the Constitution of the United States, which, when ratified by three-fourths of said Legislatures shall be valid, as a part of the Constitution, namely:

SECTION 1.

ARTICLE XVI.

Each of the States shall by the Legislature thereof, be divided into a number of electoral districts, composed of contiguous territory, equal to the whole number of presidential electors to which such State is entitled under the existing apportionment.

SEC. 2. On the Tuesday after the first Monday in November, which shall next occur after the ratification of this amendment, provided such day shall not be less than six months after said ratification, but if the said day shall occur within six months after the said ratification, then on the next succeeding Tuesday after the first Monday in November, there shall be held throughout the United States, an election in each one of the said districts, on which day the qualified voters in each one of the said districts, shall elect one elector, to be chosen in the same manner in which members of the House of Representatives are chosen.

SEC. 3. Each one of the electors thus chosen shall, in addition to the qualification necessary to constitute a Senator of the United States, be of not less than fifty years of age, and shall at the time of his election be a resident of the said district.

SEC. 4. The acceptance of the office of elector shall immediately thereon, disqualify the said elector, and render him incapable of holding any other office, or place of trust, or profit, under the State, or under the United States, or any department thereof, while holding said position of elector, and within two years after he may have resigned said position as elector.

SEC. 5. The said elector shall be entitled to hold his office of elector during his natural life, but it may be terminated by his resignation, his ceasing to be a citizen of the State, for which he has been chosen, or by his having been convicted of a high crime, or misdemeanor, on an impeachment by the Legislature of his State, or by his having been convicted of receiving a bribe, in a court of the United States, of competent jurisdiction, to be provided by law, on which conviction as aforesaid, in addition to removal from office, he may be condemned to suffer such other punishment, as the Congress may deem best calculated to deter others from the commission of the like crime.

SEC. 6. Should a vacancy occur in any electoral district in any mode, then it shall be the duty of the Governor of that State, forthwith to order an election by proclamation, for the qualified voters in the said district to choose in the manner provided by law, an elector who shall when thus chosen, succeed to all the rights, and be subject to the disabilities of his predecessor.

SEC. 7. After each decennial apportionment, should a State be found to posses a greater number of electors than such State is entitled to under the new enumeration, then one or more of the surplus electors shall be removed by lot, or in such manner as Congress may provide. SEC. 8. The electors thus chosen shall, on the first Wednesday in December in each and every year, assemble in the City of Washington at twelve o'clock, or as soon thereafter as may be practicable, and as soon as a quorum, to consist of a majority of all elected, shall be found present, they may proceed to choose a presiding officer and Secretary, and such other officers, as they may deem necessary for the convenient dispatch of business, and decide on the qualification of their members, whose right to seats shall, prima facie, be determined by certificates of election from the Governors of the several States.

SEC. 9. They shall then, in open session, by a viva voce vote of each elector present, proceed to elect, by a majority vote, a President, and Vice-President of the United States. If within six days from the time of their organization, Sunday excepted, they shall have failed to choose a President by the vote of a majority, then the person who in the votings, first obtained a plurality over his competitors, shall be the President elect. The Vice-President shall be chosen in like manner.

SEC. 10. At the termination of the six days' session or sooner, if the election shall have been consummated, the college of electors shall be dissolved, until the period arrives for it to assemble in the succeeding year. As a compensation the members shall receive such mileage pay as may be provided by law, with a per diem allowance equal to the pay of a member of Congress for the like period, calculated pro rata, on his annual salary.

SEC. 11. The said electoral college shall, before it dissolves its session, prepare three certificates of its action, to be signed by its President and Secretary, and sealed and endorsed in presence of the college, by the signature of the President and Secretary, one of which certificates shall be sent to the President of the Senate, one to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and a third to the Secretary of State.

SEC. 12. On the second Wednesday in January next ensuing, the two Houses of Congress shall assemble in joint session, both certificates shall be opened by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House, and with the concurrence of a majority of each House, the result of the vote shall be proclaimed by the President of the Senate. SEC. 13. Should the two Houses differ as to the result, then it shall be the duty of the President of the Senate, and Speaker of the House to certify the point or points of difference to the Supreme Court, which Court shall, in open session, on or before the first Wednesday in February, by the concurrence of a majority of its members, proclaim their decision.

SEC. 14. The person who may be proclaimed President thus, by the decision of the two Houses, or by the Supreme Court, shall, on the fourth day of March next ensuing, be inaugarated as President, unless said day should prove to be Sunday, in which event the inauguration shall take place on Monday, the fifth day of March, and the term of the preceding President shall be extended for a single day only, so that no inturegnum may occur, but the President, holding prior to said fifth day of March, shall, in no event, continue in office after that day.

SEC. 15. The President, thus chosen and inaugurated, shall hold the office of President for one year only, and no person who has once held the office, or exercised the duties thereof, shall ever again, during his natural life, be eligible to the position, or capable of exercising the office a second time.

SEC. 16. The President shall be authorized to appoint, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, the members of his Cabinet as heretofore exercised, but he shall possess the right as to all other officers, only to appoint in like manner, persons to fill such offices as may become vacant during his term of office. He shall be authorized,

however, to remove any officer, he may deem dishonest, or incompetent, or negligent, and should the public exigency in his opinion require it, may temporily authorize some other person to perform the duties of the office. He shall thereupon, report the case to the Senate with a statement of his reasons for the removal, and unless the Senate shall express its dissent at the session to which the said communication is made, the removal of said officer shall be absolute, and the person substituted may remain in office, unless the Senate shall, by its action, object thereto, in which event, it shall be the duty of the President to send into the Senate, a second nomination to fill the place.

SEC. 17. The heads of departments shall, in like manner, possess the right to remove for cause, such officers as are, or may, by law, be appointed to subordinate positions by them, but the officers thus removed for cause, may have the right to appeal to such reviewing board, as Congress may constitute, and in the event of a decision in favor of such officer, he shall be reinstated in the office, and any person temporarily filling the same, shall be discharged.

SEC. 18. It shall be the duty of Congress to designate the length of the terms for which, all officers may be appointed, except the members of the President's cabinet, and such officers as have their terms already fixed by the Constitution.

SEC. 19. It shall be the duty of Congress, while fixing the terms of the different classes of officers, to so arrange them, that a certain proportion of them shall go out in each year, so that each President shall possess the right only, to reappoint, or substitute others therefor, of a number not greater, than the proportion or ratio which, one year shall bear, to the number of years constituting the term of that class of officers.

SEC. 20. No Senator shall recommend to the President, or to any head of department, the appointment of any person for office, or take any other action therein, except to confirm, or reject such persons, as may be recommended to the Senate by the President, for appointment.

SEC. 21. Should a vacancy occur in the office of President at any time, or exist, from any cause whatever, then such vacancy, in addition to the modes of filling the same, already provided, may be filled in such manner as may be provided by law.

SEC. 22. Congress shall have power to enforce the provisions of this article by appropriate legislation, so as, in all respects, to give the utmost precision, accuracy and efficiency, to all parts of the same.