Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-01-12
SOUTH CAROLINA LEGISLATURE


Report Of the Committee Federal Relations, on thC
resolutions from Vermont, relative TO the propriety
oflimitng, by an amendment of the Constitution the
Eligibility Of the President of the United to single
term
Your Committee have come to decision, that nc
such amendment is dictated by sound policy, and they
take leave TO give the reasons which have brought ten
to that conclusion.
The stability Of every Government and its efficiency
in accomplishing the object of its soh
tie harmony and energy Of the wAce' SeozAFSe De
partmcnt which necessarily includes all the subordl
nate officers over whom line Chief Executive must pre-
side, and whose performance Of their respective duties
he must enforce. This only be done by placing il
the hands of the Chef Magistrate the power 10
the ndoent and the fathless and name their substitutes
Every new election of Chief Magistrate necessarily lead:
10 the removal of the most important well the
subordinate officers Indeed every new administration
comes power under the specous name OF reform, and
no reform satisfies lis partzans eectually as the
mova of the ncuInbents OF the former administration
and the substitution Of themselves i'll their place
The fact that old administration is superseded is al
WAYS an excuse, as well inducenent 10 produce
thorough reform. which vii! be the more acceptable
lis friends proportion as It reyerses all that has
been done by its predecessors. The anxiety for Of
flee will necessarily press upon every new admln'stra-
ton the reorganization of the Executive Departments,
and every new President will necessarily have I'M
Fortunate friends who Will expect office the
reward of their zeal and services. Thus new ad-
llnistraton will impede the course OF business, and
lose all the benefit OF experience and harmony IN the
conduct of the Executive officers Of Government 1T
seems 10 be general, well as wcll.founded OPT
MON that If the incumbent be ineligible, the term
now fixed is too short. II requires more than four years
for any important system OF measures TO be fully dis
cussed by the nation and their elections in the Senate
and House be made in conformity: and especially,
will not the practical efficiency OF such measures BE-
80 fully tested as 10 enable the public to form correct
Judgment of their policy. The repeal of measures long
debated and solennly decided upon, before their
rits have been tested By experience produces most
nauspicous instability in our institutions, calculated
90 bring Licm into unavora5le comparison wth
Governments less free in their Constitutions, and more
stable and uniform their policy. TO increase the
term therefore, seems to I've almost necessary con-
coml,ant Of the measure of limiting the eligibility 10
a single Term.
The comparison Of the advantages Of the present sys
TEN win line one proposed leaves 'lte reason 10 rec'-
mend change. Gen. Washington, by his example,
has afforded practical rule which will not be departed
FROM but in cases of emergency; and the result oil past
ypcence has established that every President, whose
measures have been approved by the people, and de-
served their approba,on has received the testimony Of
his constituents to that effect, until the late cxra"rdi-
nary combination of all the dlscprdant elements oil po-
tca discomfort has succeeded III superseding an
Administration, possessing the confidence OF large
ind consistent portion Of the people, and the fact
HAT the President Tins removed IS eligible, wc hope
will enable the people 10 yndica'e the pure prncl-
,Ies and honest and faithful Administration OF the pre-
sent Chief Magistrate. The first objection TO The li.ni
alton ofcIigiby, is found in the fact that II presumos
he people not capable of selfn"vernment, and
!, rilI opero,e TO diminish his ndncement 10 hdrlity,
md Difference to the advice and counse OF ms asso
.iaes and the Representatives OF The people, ana rem
Ter him headsrong and wilinl, under the assurance
,, m merit can secure him continuance OF pnoiic
confidence II takes from the incumbent that nope
e reward which the strongest incentive 10 vir'u-
,us eFr,s All his measures would lie temporary:
mr. few men would engage IN snch IS required w
ensive and important labors and promised lasting ne
,c6,s 10 the country, when it was asc"rtaned that
49, torn of Office must expire before they are per-
ccd and fairly tested; they would be Liable to he per
rcr,ed and thwartcd By successor, who would irei
M ambition perfect measures Tie crccit ana hohos
If which world be ascrlbed 10 rs predecessors. IL rs
not human nature to nurse and educate the offspring
# others and ncgctour own or to bring ourselves TO
belief that they are more promising and worthy of cul.
ya,;on Thus even virtuous ambition will be dscou-
arcd and its energies crushed.
If there is any danger that the Executive can by
corruption or violence, usurp any power BEYOND .h'
Constitution, inducenent could be more SEDUCTIVE
Than the consciousness, that MERIT however exalted
no virtue however eminent, ever obtain another
xpres sion of that sweetest reward Of patriotic dcvo
ton. the warm "we DONE OF grateful country
The fact that the incumbents ineligible, and thr
term short, would fill the country Will men wnosc
abilities and political Influence had already raisea e
10 the hioies Office in the Union, full OF anbitlo ana
,Ioss nader ban Of prohibition and ready to ionent
discomfort. -, , r -.
hest talent and matured experience, which WIZ ot
come disqualification for the very 'ihce, where y
mrst in times of difficulty and danger, be The mos'
to the public welfare There are III
,he history of all nations, emergencies, when some
c;f,es individual seems raised up By Providence 10
rescue his country from impending rum, ana !"
may so happen that the term OF President may expire
lille tho nation is involved in the struggles oil war,
IT,, - ..ssos tho full confidence Of the army and the
nooni whose nlans are matrred, and his departments
nrra,;zod for effective action; and such constitutions
would compel the country 70 ioFego Tue
services of her most efficient citizen, ana To submit 70
the fluctuations and error which new organ zi'o "
Tho Executive Departmen must inevitably produce ana
,h,,s 70 see in his successor some ambitious rival
r.o will delight TO defeat wcl-lad plans, and remove
faithful publ,c aaents that he may experiment upon
other measures the credit OF which, II successful, VI"
rebound to his own honor and enhance MS own ANY
II is impolitic and ant'repupncah' anu 49, ID
naonle thus to be trammeled by organic laws, anu
rcnted from exercising their own Tree WIZ OH sucn
norgonces ms NAV arise in the course oil eVehts 1hu
I;s distrust OF their intelligence and integrity al
war with the very basis OF all our 'hsttusons' VIC
n,ci,v OF the people for self government
r. -,r;de nv the Constitution against the stao'iity
r,he administration of the nalion hnds no excuse IN
.oon or experience, and that change oil men WIZ
luce change Of measures, - as certain Us sel-ioVe
prompts men devote their energies to projects, .ne
.,utation of which will enurc to themselves fdnel
ban follow up and perfect the schemes OF others. Inc
people in the of four years can ascertain Inc gen.
eral tendency ofthe measures ola Administrators anu
70 election of the incumbent operates rs public ex-
preston of confidence in its general principles and mea
sues at the time that It also permits the peo
the fountain of all power to arrest an improV'aeI' or
vicious course OF measures, before tne "Ju" ~
dprPy
If ,,e exclusion be for an intervening term only,
then all the apprehended evils of stability w'li be en-
coun,ered, without tie anticipated benefit Of d'snerest
edness and independence, an incumbent may so OF,
rsct his measures as 10 prepare for reelection ana
asae the country during the interval ter sneS
vii ollow some vino feel the force of the fact tha' Tue
term OF four years too short a"
tended term some to eight Years ann ts
WIN, Which BY intrigue, corruption or temporary eseemen
s. int. as The he 5ss' to
she ubc servants is exposed and felt the people
a, submit to the wrong and endure all the evils