Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1841-01-06

ONE PRESIDENTIAL TERM.-This subject
is beginning to elicit much interest, and we
subjoin the following article from the Charles
ton Courier, as containing our views on it,
with the exception, that we would prefer the
term of service to remain four years instead of
being altered to eight. We believe the term
Of four years TO be sufficiently long to enable
the President, generally, to carry out any
measure which he may have in view, and
which may meet the appreciation of the peo-
pie, and in tho event that he should not dc
50, it viii be carried out by his successor, in
the event that it does meet their appreciation
By having our elections thus frequent, we shall
avoid the increased excitement, which always
attend elections where they are of rare occur
renee. When men feel, that the candidate tc
whom they are opposed, will remain in office
but short time, they are less violent in thei-
opposition and when he is once In Office, they
are willing TO wait the legal, and proper mode
of effecting a change of measures; but when
a candidate is before them, to whose eharac.
ter and principles they are much opposed, and
they reflect, that if he is once in Office, long
series of years must elapse before they can
look for change of policy, they are more Vio-
lent in their opposition to him, less scrupnlous
as to the means to which they would resort, to
ensure his defeat, and when once the contest
is decided against them, they are less patient
under his rule, and are more apt to break into
faetious opposition, are open and determined
INSTRUMENTATION. Again; with President in
Office, who has foated IN on the tide of an
overwhelming popular majority, with eight
consecutive years, there being no means Of
removal save the nominal one of an impeach-
ment,) to carry out any measure, conceived by
a keer, crafty, determined and INSCRIPTIONS
spirit, with all the immense revenues of this
Government at his command, (as they have
been at the command of the President since
the removal Of the deposts,) with Cabinet
reaG4g to do his bidding, large body of the
aeople blil,,dly following him as their leader,
! tornoi5,, e minority in the Legislative coun-
c;ls of tho notion =, he same spirit, and when
added to these. number g,D a,snienty iasrge, to
form Majority to be found in the OPP 'osition'
who are fools enough to be cajoled, are knayes
enough to be bought into his service, and we
should have cause to tremble, temporarily, for
the republic. We say, temporarily, for we
have no fears, that the American people, viii
ever be made slaves Of, save, when led away
for the time, by a wild spirit of party, under
the guidance of popular leader. As to the
necessity of curtailing the service of the Pres
ident to single term, we concur fully with
our brother of the Courier, and, as his argu-
ment is better team any we can make, we sub
join it. As 10 the duration of that term, we
must, with all due Difference, beg leave to
differ, and to say, let The motto Of att true State
Rights men be, four gears and a single term.
ONE PRESIDENTIAL TERM.-The
experience of the past seems to have
Produced a universal acquiescence in
the propriety of limiting the Presiden-
tial office to single term. Under the
system ofre-eligihility to the Presiden-
cy, we must expect the candidate for
reelection, unless endowed with a de-
gree of virtue, scarcely to be hoped for
in these degenerate days, to shape rhe
course of his administration and exert
the power of his Office more with a
view to his success in the canvass, than
the public good. But if re-eligibility
be prohibited, the incumbent will have
no motive. no temtation, none at least
of a political character, to stray from
the path Of duty, and there will be very
reasonable assurance that he will admin
lister the government with a single eve.
to the welfare Of bis country. If the
people Of the Union have come % these.
conclusions, the Constitution should
be at once amended to prevent the Ie-.
curance Of the evils under which we
have seriously suffered-the evil Of
bringing the corrupting power and
patronage Of the general government