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standing in the place of the two Senators, and representing the whole State. The officer thus chosen would be President, not only of the People of the United States, but of the States themselves. Such an election is a solemn acquiescence in the result of the several States, and is equivalent to a pledge on the part of each State, to abide by the decision of the whole people, thus expressed.

It appears to be an eminently proper mode of choosing the chief executive, and it is difficult to see any improvement in the mode proposed by Senator Cockrell.

Upon the one term question, people are divided. There is much to be said upon both sides.

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In the House, Mr. Townshend, of Illinois, proposed an amendment, providing for the election of the President and Vice-President every four years by the people, and the canvassing of the votes by the Supreme Court of the State. If no person have a majority of all the votes cast, then a second election is provided for.

An amendment having a similar object was introduced by Mr. Browne, of Indiana, but the electoral representation is, by an ingenious process, preserved, without requiring electors. An amendment somewhat similar, was proposed, also, by Mr. Marsh, of Pennsylvania.

Mr. Stone, of Kentucky, proposed, as an amendment, that the President and Vice-President be chosen by the people, every fourth year, and that the votes be counted by the board authorized by the laws of the State to count the votes for State officers. An amendment offered by Mr. Springer, provides for the election of President and Vice-President by the people; the term to be six years, and the President to be ineligible to a re-election. The scheme of Mr. Springer also preserves the electoral representation in the choice of President and Vice-President.

ELECTION OF SENATORS BY THE PEOPLE.

This Amendment was introduced by Senator Mitchell, of Oregon, who proposes to strike out the word "legislature" in the first clause of section three of Article one, and substitute in

lieu thereof the word "people;" so that said clause shall read as follows:

"The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, chosen by the people thereof for six years; and each Senator shall have one vote."

This amendment, like many of those introduced into the last Congress, is aimed against State sovereignty or State authority. Its object is, to have it understood that the United States Senators are to be directly responsible to the people, without any responsibility to the State as such. As at present elected, they are responsible both to their State and to the people of their State; to the State, inasmuch as they are elected by the body holding the legislative power of the State, and to the people, inasmuch as the legislature is elected by the people. Amendments for the election of Senators by the people, were introduced in the House by Mr. Townshend, of Illinois, Mr. Weaver, of Iowa, Mr. Hermann, of Oregon, and Mr. Oates, of Alabama.

SIX YEARS TERM FOR THE PRESIDENCY. Senator Butler, of South Carolina, proposes an amendment, making the Presidential term six years instead of four.

Such an amendment, if adopted, should have incorporated in it the words, "and shall be ineligible to a second term."

In the House an amendment for six years with this very proviso was introduced by Mr. Neal, of Tennessee. Also by Mr. McComas, of Maryland. The amendment of Mr. Springer, already noticed, is the same, with the added provision of election by the people.

EIGHT YEARS TERM FOR THE PRESIDENCY
AND INELIGIBILITY TO RE-ELECTION.

BY MR. HUDD, OF WISCONSIN.

REPRESENTATION IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. Senator Blair introduced the following:

"ARTICLE XVI. Sec. 1. The District of Columbia shall be entitled to representation in the Congress of the United States by one Senator, and by one or more Representatives, according to the rule of apportionment established by Article XIV of the Constitution. Said District shall also be entitled to as many electors for President and Vice-President of the

United States as it has members of Congress: Provided, that such representation in Congress shall not participate in joint convention of the two Houses, nor in any proceeding touching the choice of President or VicePresident, nor in the organization of either House of Congress, nor speak or vote upon any question concerning the same.

"Sec. 2. Congress shall provide by law, the time and manner of choosing the Senator, the Representative or Representatives, and the electors authorized by this article."

THE FOURTH OF MARCH

TO BE CHANGED TO THE LAST TUESDAY IN APRIL.
PROPOSED BY SENATOR HOAR, OF MASSACHUSETTS.

Term of members of Congress to end at the same time. This Amendment was proposed in the House, by Mr. Lodge, of Massachusetts. Mr. Crain of Texas, proposed an amend- · ment, fixing Dec. 31, as the end of the Congressional term, and another to the same effect, with April 30 as the end of the Presidential term.

The other amendments introduced in the House, are as follows:

By Mr. Springer, of Illinois:

Congress, as far as practicable, to pass general laws.

By Mr. McComas, of Maryland:

The States to have full power of taxation over corporations, notwithstanding any provisions in their charters.

By Mr. Davis, of Massachusetts:

Congress to have power to limit the time of daily employment of persons in manufactories and other industries. By Mr. Dibble, of South Carolina:

Providing for a Second Vice-President.
By Mr. Phelan, of Tennessee:

Congress to have power to aid the public school systems of the several States, to the extent of ten millions annually. By Mr. Peters, of Kansas:

Congress not to have power to repeal any of the Rebellion War pension laws.

By Mr. Johnston, of North Carolina:

The House to consist of 250 members.

By Mr. Mason, of Illinois:

Widows and spinisters who are property-holders, to have

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By Mr. Wheeler, of Alabama:

One third of each House to constitute a quorum.
By Mr. McAdoo, of New Jersey:

Presidential electors to be chosen on the 3d Tuesday of October, and no other officers to be voted for on the same day, except Congressmen.

These are the amendments proposed to the 50th Congress. The immense number of them, no less than 44 in all, involving some thirty changes more or less in the Constitution, show how many defects there were in the instrument framed by the Convention over which George Washington presided, and of which so many eminent statesmen were members-defects, most of which have only been discovered after the lapse of a hundred years.

Most of these amendments have no merit whatever; and others, seemingly meritorious on their face, when closely examined, are found not to be of such utility and importance as to justify a change in the fundamental law. Probably the best thing Congress could do would be to reject the whole batch until the rage for amendments is over, and then if there is any one that is particularly desirable, take it up, discuss it with much deliberation, and if, in the language of the Constitution, it be "deemed necessary," submit it to the States for consideration.

No doubt it is the illusive idea that a member, by voting for an amendment, does not necessarily commit himself to its necessity, that has caused such a flood of them to be poured upon Congress.

Charles B. Waite.

THE TRIAL OF WILLIAM PENN FOR

PREACHING THE GOSPEL.

William Penn, the son of Admiral Penn, was born on Great Tower Hill, in London, on the 14th of October, 1644. His mother was a Dutch lady whom the Admiral had met in one of his voyages to the Low Countries, and owing to his constant employment on the sea, the mother and son were left alone very much of the time during the early years of young William.

England was just at that time all torn up by the civil war in which the Parliament was arrayed against the King, and royalist and country parties were marching up and down the land to the terror of all quiet citizens. No one could tell how the strife would end. The battle of Marston Moor had been fought in the previous summer, and King Charles I. had been virtually dethroned. London was nothing but one huge encampment, and it was thought best for the "Dutch wife," as the old Admiral always called her, and young William, to retire into the country. Accordingly they went to Wanstead, in Essex, near Chigwell, two very remarkable places for their historical associations as well as for the beauty of their surroundings.

Old Wanstead House was in its glory. It had been rebuilt by Lord Chancellor Rich and had received Queen Mary just before her coronation; had been visited by Queen Elizabeth for four or five days, and had witnessed the marriage of the Earl of Leicester with the Countess of Essex-the bridegroom being at the time lord and master of the domain. Chigwell too was

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