Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1830-12-20
THE EEEeETNIAy
LYNCHBURG, DEC. 20. 1870
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE, Ma .

lakes occasion TO renew the recommend.tz
made by him al a former period, of an anna
ment to the Federal Constitution, by which
people may acquire more direct and INN.
ate agency ia tic ch1ice Of their Chief Ma.
trate, and also by which the contineen, 49,
Of the House OF Represeu tatiyes shall b.
dercd unnecessary. M Que who has na,d
attention to the events ofihe last 81. yss,.
for momeat hesitate TO Init the neces,i,, Il
some alteration in this feature of the Coos,,.u
ton. But il seems 10 he difficult 10 d.,.,
what should he the substitute for the plso vb,.,
nearly all admit must be essentially chsru.i
For several years last past, IL has been tie an
jeci OF occasional debate, both in Congress a.,
in some Of the State Legislatures; bu, ,bs,..
positions for amendment. which bave be ~ y,,z
mined for public consideration, have bpoo =.
various in character, as they have been p,,,,c
piled 10 number; aud we seem TO be a. far h..
having arrived at any conclusion upon The ,,t
jsci, as We were, when the imperfec,ions Of tba
existing system first directed public a,rer,;..,
IN the necessity Of amending it. The Pre.,I.,t
however, does not submit any specific nropo.,.
lion; aud II ia not consequently, either onr d,,,.
or intention, at This tine, TO di5cuss those win
have been proposed by Others.
Upon other features of the Con,,tolion. b,,
ing reference to the Presidential Office. how
ever, General Jackson is ms explicit a. bs In.
heretofore been. He distinctly recommen5s
that that instrument be so amended, as III,
members of the Legislative branch 81 the ,ov.
erament he placed beyond the reach Dilemma
ion from the Executive: or. in other worIs
that members of Congress, during tho exis,pnc.
Of their obligations TO their coust iluent,. ,ha
be rendered ineligible TO offices in the riff 90
the President. For our own parts, while wa
admit the necessity of a vigilant and eslou.
waIchfulness over public officers, of everv
grade, we must confess We can perceive m
necessity for such constitutional restriction
as that recommended, in the range of seectr,5
permit ed 10 the Executive, in filing bipb
and responsihle offices, while we do see seyera!
strong objections to it. More particular, viii
there be no necessity for this restriction II
the amendment to the Constitution prev9u.ly
suggested, taking the ultimate choice of Pres.
dent from the House of Representatives, be
aPopted. There may be som- suspicion ofa col.
lu'ion between member Of Congress who, IN
that capacity, supports candidate for the Pre-.
idency, AMI President who Immediate al
forwards bestows upon him an office. Bat tia,
suspicion must cease with its cause-lhat ia.
WHEN members of Congress, as such, will IA
longer have vote 10 bestow upon a candidate
for the Presidency IadreI, tue bad tendebcv
Of such an amendment is shewn in nothing NOR
strongly 'hhn IN The course Of Genera Jsci-
son bmSeli, since he has been in ,he pre.ilc,.
tai chair. He could have done thai, wifhaqt
constitutional provision, which he wishes n
enforce others ~ do, by such n provision
Yet, no" freq"ently has he vioiate tie spirt
his own Recommendation, by appointing mem.
bers Of Congress 10 o,ice--ia which Course We
aIe bound to presume be con.slipd the pubie
interest, while he inflicted no wound on puhIs
morality, nor violated the obliea ions existing
between the representative and rs cons,iiHs
ents. Members of Congress ave hrquenrg
qualified. by their long and iaimate acquaia.
lance with public concerns, 10 perform the du.
ties Of many o the higher fiices with greater
ability, and with more advantage TO the coun.
try, than any other persons. II is for that rea-
son, doubtless, that General jackson has him
sell selected such individuals to fill several de-
scrptions of Offices and for thai teasor future
Presidents should no, be declared like latitude
of choice
The President likewise emphalicalIy repeats
his recommendation, that tie Constitution besD
amended as TO render an Individual ineligible
10 the Presidency, more THAI one term. In ibs
we heartily concur We re-
gard IT as all impoitant-both because il wi.
take away all motive in the incumbent 10 SHAPE
his course with view TO court the popularity
oil those to whom, without this amendment, he
viii look with solicituie, net only FOR dPpro' !
Dalton, but for reelection while it will
IN like manner. destroy in a great measuf'I
all motive in those who oppose his election, fo1
organizing themselves in An opposing phal'nil
nom the first moment of his iOslallsiion-fef. -
Veriing his motives and his acts--and even
losing sight too frequently of the public goo1
IN their anxiety to present his reelection, os
thwarting his measures. Such WAS the case
with regard TO the Panama Mission--Io tho
Vest India Trade-and TO other measures IN
which The last administration was met and mls
represented al every step, by faction IN Con
errss, "a unprincipled and violent, as il was IA
en.ed and persevering. Had MIR. Adams bee"
Ineligible a second term, who, for a moment
believes, that a man OF his sterling parioilsm
anu integrity, and splenli intellect, and cha