The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-05-20
DAILY.


they baptized themselves with the seductive name
of the Democracy, and have continued to rejoice
therein ever since. BY that designation ] shall
speak of them hereafter, as have hitherto, though
am far from admitting that there has been much
of true republicansm displayed in their course.
What then. the pledges given by the Demo-
cracy and before the Presidential election in 1925
and how were they observed and kepts
l. They took ground distinctly and cmphatically
in favor of the term principle. They held that
no incumbent of the presidential ofhcc should be
reelected. On this ground they opposed the re-
election of Mr.. Adams, and insisted unless this
limitation could be adopted. at least in practice,
rious evils would follow; the President would busy
himself during the whole Of his first term in efforts
to secure second. The political press favorable
to the election of General jackson was incessan in
the advocacy of this principle, and public speakers
| and disclaimers, enlisted in the same cause
everywhere active and Jealous in urging its neces
sity and Importance on the people We know
| what the result Mr.. Adams was defeated, and
the hero of New Orleans became the seventh Pres
dent of the United States. President jackson, in
his first annual message referred 70 and recognised
the obligations which be and his party had assumed
in this respect. He says:
| at would seem advisable TO limit the service OF
Chief Magistrate to single term of either four or
six years"
| In his second annual message, he says:
| Experience abundantly demonstrates that every
precaution in this respect is valuable safeguard
of liberty-onc which my reflections upon the ten
denotes of our system incline me to think should be
made still stronger. II for this that, in
| connexion with amendment of the Constitution
removing all intermediate agency in the choice of
the President, Irecomme,,d restrictions upon ue
reeIigibiiity@ @ that officer and upon the tenure Of Of
fees generally. The still exist; and re-
| new the recommendation with an increased conf
dence that this adoption will strengthen those
checks by which the Constitution designed to Sc
| cure the independence of each department Of the
Government, and promote the healthful and equta-
BILE administration Of all the trusts which Il has
fcreated."
| In his third annual message, after referring TO
| his former recommendation OF amendments of the
Constitution, giving the choice of the President d-
rectly the people, and rendering the Office of Pre-
sdent ineligible after one term, he says:
$50 important do ] consider these changes in our
| fundamental law, that cannot In accordance
| with my sense Of duty, omit to press them upon
| the consideration of a new Congress-
| AS fitting commentary on the fidelity of Gene
raj jackson and his friends to this pledge, it is sui
| ficient to state that Mr.. Doneson, then private
secretary Of the President in the winter of
addressed letter to General Kripps, member of
| the Pennsylvania Legislature, with views and for
purposes which will be readily appreciated, in
which (speaking of the reelection Of General j.
he said that s'the President would doubt feel 1t
a most grateful compliment to be assured that the
course of his administration has not disappointed
the wishes Of Pennsylvania, TO whose partality and
early support he is so much indebted" This letter
was, il is said ranked by the then President; but
justice TO General j. requires it should be stated
that Mr.. Donelson denied that he General J.) had
any knowledge of its contents.
In due season he was nominated by his friends in
the Pennsylvania Legislature, and responded there
to in letter dated February 9, 1881, in which he
admits that "he had not anticipated that 'the ap-
probation of his fellow-ctizens would subject him
TO any future calls in the service of his country
He then refers TO his recommendation of an amend
ment of the Constitution rendering President not
re-eligbe, and suggssts he had exPected.to retire
cludes 10 be overruled by his friends He says: 81
feel to be my duty 10 yield my personal cishes 10
their solicitations."
IL will hardly be a sufficient answer TO say that
General jackson merely recommended an amend
nent of the CONSTITUTIONS for If any practice be an
evil 20 great as to require that extreme remedy,
one would suppose that il would be advisable to
change the practice itself On the reelection OF
President Jackson this subject dropped. He
did not deem Il expedien TO refer TO IL again in his
communications 10 Congress, and the Democracy
have been profoundly silent in that regard from
that day 20 this
| 2. Another ground assumed in the canvass Of '2S
was, that members Of Congress should not be ap-
pointed 10 Office, either during tho term for which
This last addition TO qualification Of the rule was
indispensable 10 its efficiency. The object was 10
place Congress beyond the reach Of Executive in
huence-to make il truly iudependent-an object
which would certainly be evaded defeated, If
members could become recipients Of Executive IA
vor Immediately after the expiration OF their terms
II will be recollected that General jackson was,
during the canvass Of 1924, member OF the Sen
/
Representatives, in the winter Of 1924 '25, he re-
| signed his seat, and, returning home, was on the
18th Of October, 1925, honorcd with public recep
ton by the General Assembly Of Tennessee, and
in an address then delivered, dwelt cmphatically on
the evils resulting from this source, from which
| submit the following extract:
with a view TO sustain more efiectualfy in prac-
tice the axiom which divides the three great classes
ofpowcr into independent constitutional checks,
| would impose provision rendering any member
Of Congress ineligible TO Office under the general
government during the term for which he was
elected or for two years thereafter except In cases
''But il this change in the Constitution should not
be obtained, and important appointments continue
TO devoye the representatives in Congress, it re-
quires depth Of thought 20 be convinced that cor
ruption will become the order Of the day, and that
under the garb of conscientious sacrifices 10 establish
precedents for the public good, evils Of serious i'm
portance 10 the freedom and prosperity Of the re-
public may arise. IL is through this channel that
the people may expect TO be attacked in their con
stitutonal sovereignty, when tyranny may well be
apprehendcd 10 spring up In some favorable emer-
gency. Against such inroads every guard ought
20 be intcrposcd, and better occurs than that
of closing the suspected avenue with some ncces-
| sary constitutional restrictions. We know human
/ nature TO be prone 20 evil-wc are carly taught to
pray that we may not be led into temptation; and
hence the opinion that by constitutional provision,
| all avenues 10 temptation the part Of our poti
| cal servants, should be closed"
| ] have no doubt those remarks we're intended
as an indirect blow at the distinguished Senator
from Kentucky, (Mr. CLAy.) who was then broadly
charged with "bargain and corrupnOn,' with hav-
ing entered into an intrigue 70 promote the ceva-
ton of MIR. Adams 20 the Presidency, in consider
alton Of being made Secretary Of State-a foul cal
umny which has long since been shown 10 have been
as groundless il was malignant Bot whether
General Jackson did did not intend 10 counte-
nance that base SANDER IL Is certain that the eScu
sion OF members of Congress from Office, in con-
formity with his We've, was prominent feature OF
the canvass Of 1928, and constituted an essential
part Of "tbe platform" from which he vautcd into
| the Presidency. So much for profession. We now
come TO practice, which, usual with the Democ.
racy. we find directly the reverse. No sooner bad
/ General jackson reached the White House than he
commenced appointing members Of Congress 10
office He not only made numerous such appoint
mens within two years after the expiration OF their
terms, but, in some cases, even while they were
| occupying their seats in or other Of the two
Houses. Five members of his cabinet were taken
| from Congress, and only one, (Major Barry, as
| Postmaster GENERALLY from the people at large !
have before mo list Of twenty three members APP
| pointed by President jackson 10 Offices Of every
| grade, from a cabinet minister down to an ap
prsiser OF customs. The most remarkable case was