Andrew Johnson: “This would be simply civil war, and civil war must be resorted to only as the last remedy for the worst of evils.”

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.

The danger of a defeat of the popular choice in an election by the House of Representatives is no greater than in an election made nominally by the people themselves.

I transmit herewith, in answer to a resolution of the House of Representatives of the 16th of December last, a report from the Secretary of State of the 6th instant.

My object in this communication is to suggest certain defects in the Constitution which seem to me to require correction.