The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-10-16
ron THE MAplsoslAS.
THE ONE TERM PRESIDENCY QUESTION.

Whatever may be your opinion, MIR. Editor, or that
Of the President hmself-and Of both am ignorant
there can be no valid why you should not allow
this question TO be fairly discussed. IT, then, you
will permit me- will show, first, that the question
does not apply 10 President coming into power AZ
did the present incumbent; and secondly, that il Is
safer and more conducive TO the public welfare 10 leave
the Constitution was formed by its wise trainers
than alter il in this great Fundamental provision, and
pr hibil reelection, even though the people should
desire IT, Will you open your paper TO the discus
sion l say, then, tina, the reasoning, whatever il
may be- against a second election does not apply 10
the present incumbent-for, SO far from his having
been elected President of the United States, he
has never been a candidate for that Office The peo-
pie have never passed judgment upon him in that
speet He is there by the providence of God and
let me ask whether, coming thus by accident into
power is be ter for the public that he should exer-
else that power without any sense or fear Of account
ability or whether il is better that he should do il
der the anticipation and consciousness that the people
will pass Judgment upon him, and either condemn
him to that retirement from which he was drawn, by
the death Of his predecessor, or whether their judg
ment on a Of his administration, shall be. well
done, good and faithful servant" Experience, that
best OF all tests has proved you to possess wisdom
and patriotism "A.bIrd in the hand Is worth two in
the bush" We will call on you again to rule over
The argument raised against my position goes on
the supposition that the People are corrupt and ncom
own concerns Il strikes at the loot of republi-
can system which is founded the doctrine that the
People are The best judges Of their otrn interest Much
more sonabe, much more republican would II be TO
maintain that the People should be left entirely free to
elect and re-elect often they IN their sorerefgn
capaciiy and Judgment, think iriH best comporf wh
he public reifare. But this view of the applies
10 nv second DIVISION laid down for this discussion.
The question in hand is whether supposing il TO b.
admitted that one term the safest incumbent no
comes into power by accident and by the choice Of
the People comes within that category contend that
he does not The who l. put up as a candidate
for il goes through The ordeal OF severe examination
His qualities service, and character undergo strict
scrutiny and history may pronounce that alter serv-
ing in subordinate stations he was adJudged by the
People 10 be ,rorthy Of the highest in their gift But
where he gets TO be President, who was elected to an
inferior and very different office, IS even questona-
be whether he ought not to be held bound TO stand
The test of popular sentence Might not his refusal
in advance to do so be considered an act OF political
cowardice Would il not evlnce consciousness that
be had by accident gained elevation to which he
could not climb on his merits? Would not many of
hose who recommend his decenslon be among the
first to say All tie gapes were eyond your reach
and therefore you said they tcere souri,; would they
not dictate to the Muse of History TO say of such
Providence threw in his way, he lost by
his ocn lceakness. am wiring in reference to prn
,iplcs not men. know nothing of the sentiment Of
he actual incumbent but it he should back out, under
existing circumstances, after being much abused
should no longer regard him as do now one Of the
rue old Virginian stock, with leetie touch Of tho
Eclipse blood which, you know, the it is lash
WYTHE.