Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1824-02-03
Eighteenth Congress.
IN SENATE. January 90.


the bill authorizing the laying out and
making road 10 the TERRITORY OF Flo;
rida without the amendment.
The bill for the relief Of Hanson Ksl-
". the bill for the relief Of tho Presi.
dent, Directors & Go. Of the Merchants
Baok oil Newport, r l., the bill con.
fleming the claim of the heirs Of Nicho-
las Bawdin and Joseph Chastang to =
Ger, ain tract of land; aud the bill for
tho relief of Samuel Wharton, were Sc
vsraliy read the third time, and passed.
Nc. Chandler pressntsd the petition
Of Moses Weeks, who states that he re-
csiyed wounds in the Revolutionary
war, which occasisned the loss Of one
OF his legs; he therefore prays for an
additional pension. Referred to tho
Committee 90 Pensions.
The resolution reported by the select
committee on the several amendments
20 the Constitu,ion, which provides that
no person shall be eligible TO- the Presi-
dsney for more than eight years, was
taken up for consideration, in Commits
tee Of the Whole, Mr.. Lanmsn in the
Chair,
Mr. Dicksrson spoke in favor of the
amssdmsnt He thought sucha check
necessary to the pressrvatios OF the
purity Of our government. a. was evin-
ced by the history OF ancient and mo.
dorm nations-ss cougenial to the pr'n-
oipies of our own institutions, and IN
conformity to public opiuion.
MI. Holues, Of Maine, thought there
could Do no danger 10 adopting an a.
mend ment like this, which goes TO re.
s,saiu powsr-wh.tever objection might
be urged agsinst increasing the autho-
rity Of government. At this time, It
was peculiarly proper to consider su0h
. subject; when there sno danger from
She want Of this restraint. When Nc
have President, popular, young, am.
bieioss, and with all the influence az.
sacned to his office, be might offer ina
ginsry dangers, as al excuse Tor at
tempt at re.siection. The restriction
he considered salatary ono.
Mr., Barbour did not rice 70 oppose
she amendment, for hs thought fasora.
Div Of it, but no rose to express the
views which he believed were snter-
sinsd by those who proposed tho a-
uendmsnt. 1t would be perceived that
ths rs.olasion, At Prssent, proposes that
no person, after having bsen twice o
leetsd Presidsut, shAll be again eligi-
BILE. Mr. B. made some remarks upon
this restriction, and concluded by NOV.
ing to amend the amendment, 90 a. to
provide that no person should be elect.
ed for more than two terms swccessiDe-
~. This provision he thought. would
sufficiently do away the apprehension
Of any danger from continuity in Office.
Mr.. Dickerssn opposed the amend.
msnt Of Mr.. Barbour. He thought that
no individual ought 70 DO elected to the
highest Office Of the Government, in
any case. for moro than two terms.
Mr.. Barbour replied. He contended
that, after one election, and subse.
ousnt return to private. life, the indivi.
dual ought net to be disfranchissd, and
deprived Of the right to be elected. He
instsnesd the example Of the distin.
guished individusls, At present living,
who have filled the ofice; living. too.
Is far a. he could ASCERTAIN. from his
intimate knowledge Of all bot one Of
sho.e individuals, and from 5aving read
the public writings Of the other, with
their mental powers uuimpahed by the
ravages Of Time. Such men, he thought,
ought not to be prosNribed from re-e-
lection.
some further debate took place, be.
swsen NIe.srs. DIeksrson, Barbour, and
Holnes Of Maine.
MIR. Macon said, the example Of the
iliustrioas msa who had filled the Of.
fee of President, clearly showed their
opinions on this subject; that several Of
the IN had been solicited to take the Of.
fee again, but had declined il; that al
men vho had rendered great services
to their couotry. would inevitably meet
with the love and gratitude Of tile PEG.
ule that there was time in the life Of
nen advanced in years. whea they begin
60 fear failure in their faculties, but,
when that time hes passed, they lose all
doubt Of their capacity and compslsn.
oy. For this reason, thsrs ought to be
some restraints in the constitution, as
to the time fer which persons shall Do
eligible to the off, Of. President. Dir.
Al. was in favor Of the resolution a. res
ported BY the committee, in preference
to the amendment proposed by the gen.
tleman from Virginia.
The question was then taken on Mr..
Barbour's amendment, which was lost.
The originsl resolution vas then 70.