Mr. TRUMBULL. I understand foreign ministers are paid quarterly and postmasters uarterl. I resumed that was the general law, t. ough I, had) not referred to it recently with a view of ascertaining how that might be. The longest possible period the would have townit would be 9 months. he average period when Congress is not in session is not over 6 months; and taking the average, it is essible, if an Officer was a pointed the day after congress adjourned, that he might have to wait 3 quarters for his salary instead of waiting one uarter. That would be no very great hardiiliip upon anyone. As the law now stands, he may have to wait a quarter for his salary; so that the proposition, in the form in which it is pending, involves no constitutional nestion whatever. It is certainly cometent tor congress, if it thinks proper, to declare that all salaries shall be pai annually or semi annually. Would the Senfrom Ohio think that avery great hardship? I do not suppose there would be any great controversy if a.roposition was made in the Senate to pay sa arics every 6 months or every 9 months instead of every 3 months, if it was found more convenient in the transaction of the business of the government. That is all that this proposition amounts to, and the object had in view is simply to obtain the advice and consent of the Senate upon these appointments, which is the spirit of the Constitution. The intention of the framers of the Constitution was that officers should be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. Whenever that is not done, it is an exceptional case. There are some exceptional cases. What are they I They are cases where vacancies happen during the recess of the Senate. It is not proposed by this amendment tointerfere with those exceptional cases. The framers of the constitution thought they were the only cases it was necessary to except from the general rule which they prescribed for the appointment of officers, which was by the action of the President and the Senate conjoiutly. That is all there is to this amendment. I have no sort of feeling about it. As I believe I have once before remarked, I was led to take some part in it in consequence of the amendment 1st proposed by the Senfrom Missouri, and in endeavoring to aid in perfecting that amendment. It is for the Senate to determine.