Andrew Johnson: “They can be productive of no permanent benefit to the country, and should not be permitted to stand as so many monuments…”

I would therefore recommend such an amendment of the Constitution as may remove all intermediate agency in the election of the President and Vice-President.

Strongly impressed with the truth of these views, I feel called upon by an imperative sense of duty to revive substantially the recommendation so often and so earnestly made by President Jackson.

I transmit the accompanying communications from the Secretary of the Interior, together with the papers to which they have reference.

With these brief suggestions the bill is respectfully returned, and the consideration of Congress invited to the accompanying preamble and resolutions.