The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-12-04
POLITICAL.
From the Boor.Gek Times Of April IL, 1910.
THE JACKSON CREED In 1928.

period the able and conclusive speech oil Gen Alex
ander Smith, leading friend Of General Jackson
from the State Of Virginia. and shall append note
from General Jacksons first message, IN concurrence
with the views Of all his friends at that period. Sure
" the momentous question has lost none of its i'm
portance by the alarming increase OF Executive pa
ircnage since that perodand put the question to
the upright Jackson men of that day, whether they
will now stand by their principles, that portion of
their party who have abandoned them Of course
every reader will decide according Ia his feelings
interests Of his country At all events let all read
the speech So strongly dld the necessity of limiting
the Presidential tenure TO single term impress itself
upon the public mind Of that day that General Smith
moved amendment TO the Consultation inhibiting
the President from reelection.
SPEECH.
The Constitution should be invioable, but not I'M
changeable. The Constitution is the supreme law !;
but to hold any law to be unchangeable except the
moral law to obstruci the Improvement of the social
state.
In the infancy Of this government it was perhaps,
necessary that Gen. Washington should serve Sc
cond period of four years. because of the unequaled
confidence reposed by the people in him; and the
weight of his character in sanctoning the measures
of the new government. II again be i'm
portant require the services Of any man. for
period longer than four years
In governments of despotic character, where the
will Of the chiefs law the continuance Of the life and
reign Of an Alexander julius, Peter, or a Nape-
leon may be necessary to the completion great plans
Not so in our government of laws.
What schemes can President FORM that he may
not execute in four years Should he contemplate
making canal from the Balize to the mouth of the
Oregon he has only TO recommend the measure, APP
prove of the act if Congress will pass it, and leave
the completion Of the work to time 1t will be carried
on as well under his successor under himself Mr.
Madison recommended an increase of the Navy; the
plan adopted and its execution is going on al
though he is in retirement. Nj. Monroe's plan for
certifying the ports is progressing well if he
was still Chief Magistrate.
Why should any one be elected President second
time q With population Of twelve millions, rapidly
increasing; shall we, at any Time have but one man
fit to FIJI the office of Chief Magistrate Can it ever
happen that, in % years, say generation, we shall
not have fit TO fill the office Of President
What are the qualifications Patriotism; attach
ment to equal rights; integrity good Judgment and
a well informed mind. Such men, trust, will never
be in the United States.
We hold that all citizens possess equal rights Then
we should favor rotation in office, among equal
qualifications. BY reducing the period for which the
President may to four years, this Office will
ward the services of twice many Of distinguish
ed citizens otherwise could possess it. BY ncreas-
ing the number of those whom you may confer the
highest reward of virtue, you will excite emulation
and increase the number of those who will aspire to
deserve that reward by public services and you may
then satisfy the claims of the grand divisions of the
United States. 1t is exating man too much above
MS peers 10 eject MN PRESIDENT q second time.
lit shall be deemed expedient that the President
should for longer time than four years let the
period be extended by amendment to the Constitu-
ton and let not the President be a candidate. To
appears inexpedient to enrust the office of chief
magistrate to any man for long time.+ The greater
the power attached to any Office the greater the dan
ger of continuing it long in the same hands II is in
offices of great authority that rotation is most
ry, to prevent power from becoming too firmly fixed in
the same hands. will not consent to extend the pc
rsnI hs.h tha .talt
day. But the long continuance of President in
Office is the least of my objections to his eligibility
second time
Sir, the honor the nrefare, the tranquility of the
nation, the fairness Of elections, require that the Pre-
sident should not be candidate.
The HONOR of the nation requires that the President
should not be candidate.
The President should possess public esteem II is
an essential qualification. This nation cannot be
contented under the authority Of espsed Oh detesed
man. What is so likely to bring President into
contempt, as for him 10 be candidate while he is
President, and thus to have every thing published
against him for which there shall be any cause and
much for which there shall be no cause? Let the
publications be considered which were made against
of former Presidents as well those which
have been made against the present President and
think it will be acknowledged that those publications
must have had an injurious effect the character of
the nation abroad.
Sir there is way of preventing those attacks but
to say that the President shall not be candidate; for
if he is candidate, he may, and probably will have
opposition. Il may be for the good of the nation to
disgrace him. thereby to prevent his election and il
will then become the duty Of those who may deem
him unworthy of election to expose his unworthi-
Thus the character of the nation will suffer in
the character of its Chief Magistrate The love OF
power, or the love of emolument may induce Presi
dent to he again candidate, but let not allow him
to expose himself in situation which may prove in
jureus to his reputation, and the character of the
country.
If the President is not re- eligible there will seldom
be motive for charges against him, through the me-
charges against him, which may be expected to be
done if he is candidate. The object of attack on
President will be to put him out of office and these
will be useless, when it is fixed that he must 90 out OF
office. The characters Of distinguished men belong
TO the nation; and il, at any time, circumstances
shall not permit good citizens to respect the man who
fills the Presidential chair, it will be to be regretted
Sir, we would prevent the recurrence of state OF
things which has once arrayed one half and
thirds OF the nation, against the Executive branch Of
the government II we must periodically, be divided
into parties by the claims Of rival candidates let moi
of them be President.
have said that the trefdre of the nation requires
that the President should not be candidate:
The President being candidate, the measure of
the government will be thereby affected Every mea-
sure recommended by the President during his frs,
four years, will he viewed with suspicion and dstrus
That weight which his recommendations would have
were they believed to he dictated by the public good
only will be diminished when they are supposed TO be
parts of plan to favor the reelection of the Prcs
dent
President intending to be candidate NAV select
his cabinet with view to his reelection He NAV
adopt public measures with the same view Is State
disinclined to him He may soothc it by lavish cx-
penditurcs of public money He may create unneces-
sary places to extend his patronage II will probably
be said by the opposition that his measures re adopt
ed, and his appointments made with view to the ap-
preaching election and thus it may happen that the
measures OF President may be msrcpresenied TO the
injury of the country, whereas if he is not candi.
date, his measures will be considered with candor
there will be no motive to the contrary
That such, too, were the opinions of Gen Jack
son, who came into Office in the March succeeding
aunte from his first message 40 Eallars.