The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-05-26
THE RE-ELIGIBLITY OF THE PRESI-
DENT OF THE UNITED STATES


Intrigue and corruption are the natural de-
fects of elective government but rhen the head
OF the State can De reelected these eriis rise 10
a great height, and compromise the rery e.risf-
ence of the country. When a simple candidate
seeks to rise by intrigue, his manGuvres must
necessarily be limited to a narrow sphere: but
,chen the Chief Magistrate enters the lists, he
borToics the strength Of the Government tor his
0lrn purposes. In the former case the feeble
resources of an individual are in action in the
latter, the State itself, with all its immense in
fuence, is busted in the work of corruption and
cabal The private citizen who employs the
most immoral practices TO acquire power, can
only act in manner indirectly prejudicial to the
public prosperity. But If the representative of
the Erecutire descends into tie combat, the
cares Of Government d,oindie into second rate
Importance, and the success Of his election is
his chief concern. All lars and dlihe neg0fia-
hons he undertakes are 10 him nothing more
than elecfioneering schemes; PLACES BECOME
THE REWARD OF SERVICES RENDERED, NOT TO THE
NATION, BUT TO IT'S CHEF and the influence Of
the Government, if not injurious to the country,
is at least no longer beneficial to the community
for which ii was created.
sit is impossible to consider the ordinary
course of affairs in the United States, that the
desire of being reelected is the CHIEF aim of the
President that his whole administration, and
even his most Indifferent measures, tend to this
object; and that as the crisis approaches, his
personal interest takes the place Of his interest
in the public good. The principle of re-eligi-
bility readers the corrupt influence of elective
governments still more extensive and pernicous.
In America II exercises peculiarly fatal in
f1uence on the sources OF national existence
Every Government seems TO be afflicted by
some evil which is inherent in its nature, and
the genius Of the legislator is shown in Guiding
its attacks. A state may survive host of bad
laws, and the mischief they cause is frequently
exaggerated; but law which encourages the
growth of the canker within must prove fatal in
the end although ITS bad consequences may not
be Immediately perceived.
BY introducing the
principle of reelection, they the American Lee
gslators, partly destroy their work; but they
rendered the President but little inclined TO ex-
ercise the great power they had vested in his
hands II ineligible a second time, the Pres-
dent would be far from independent OF the peo-
pie, for his responsibility would not be lessened;
but the favor Of the people would not be so ne
cessary TO him as TO induce him to court il by
humoring its desires II re-eligibie. land this
is the more especially true at the PRESENT DAY,
when political morality is relaxed, and when
great men are rare,) the President Of The Uni
ted States becomes an easy tool in the hdnds0f
the majority He adopts its likings and its ami
mosties, he hastens TO anticipate its wishes. he
forestas ITS complaints, he yields to its idle era
wings and instead Of guiding il as the Legisa-
ture intended that he should do, he is ever rea-
dy to follow It's bidding Thus in order not TO
deprive the State OF the talents of an individual
those talents have been rendered almost useless
and to reserve an expedient for extraordinary
perils, the country has been exposed to daily
dangers" DE TocouEvuLr.