New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-11-15
core.,,.nen, hs the E,eopie.

question which the ambition OF Louis IVA
poleon has raised namely, whether the
provisions of the Constitution shall be an
bulled for the qualification of that gentle
mar. Tie Constitution being thus up for
consideration, the inquiry has natuFally ex-
tended beyond the meaning Of It's prescrp-
tons to their logical validity and the pollu-
cal philosophy on which they are founded
The query whether the term of the Presl-
dent can be indefinitely prolonged, without
violation of the fundamental law, naturally
suggests another as to the need of having
. President at all. and after heightened
considerations it has been agreed by the or
CANS of the republican and socialist party
Of all shades, that such an officer is not
necessary.
This opinion had hitherto been held only
by the more ultra and radical Democrats
When the present Constitution was formed
the more moderate Republicans would not
hear of a Government without an Executive
as an Independent branch. They regarded
it as a necessary check and balance upon
the Legislature, and accordingly were
strenuous for its adoption among the lnstl-
tutions of the new State. But the expert
ence of two short years has shaken their
faith, and many of them are now ready to
try more democratic system. Still, 1t IS
perhaps not SO much that they have
changed any part of their political convic-
TONS. as that they see danger in the pc
culiar position which Louis Napoleon has
acquired, and which he could not have &C
quired had there been no Presidency. They
accordingly contend for the abolition of
that office rather as a device to escape
difficulty now at hand, than because they
are persuaded that under any state of
things the affairs of the country would be
better conducted without it. Not so the
thorough Democrats and Socialists; they
only say now what they have always said
under all circumstances.
OF course the American prejudice found
ed on the American habit, and originating,
along with many good and many bad po-
itical notions, in England, is, that there
must be a President in every Republic.
But vet, speaking for ourselves, we confess
an inability to be convinced by the argu-
mcnts we have yet listened to on that side.
The weight Of reason appears to us to be
with the Democrats. Why, they say, can
not the Government be as well administer
ed by Cabinet appointed directly by the
Legislature, responsible to it, and removal
bic at discretion, as by an Independent Elk
ccutive elected for long term, welding
vast patronage, and conscious of direct re-
sponsibility to nobody? What is gained
by removing the power so far ffom the
control of the people, who are its source,
and putting it where it may be perverted
into an instrument Of private ambition and
selfish aggrandizement!
We are read to maintain that the eX-
perience Of our own Government is entirely
IN favor Of the democratic answer to these
questions. We are convinced that this
country would have been spared many
evils, had the Executive power been exer-
cised with direct responsibility to the Peo-
pie through their representatives. The
worst stretches ofauthority, the most pal pa
bic inroads upon the spirit and letter Of the
Constitution, the most fragrant violations
of the popular conscience and will have
been accomplished by the President, while
Congress, il accessory, has been made so af-
ter the commission of the crime. For in
stance, the war against Mexico could only
have been declared by an Executive clothed
torthe time with power actually irresponsi-
bic, The People, could they have exercised
decisive control in the case, would never
have done it nor permitted it.
The same is the case with corruptions
and abuses of less glaring kinds. They
creep into every Government Just in pro-
portion as it is remote from direct popular
control. In this country the Federal Sen
ate is VIGOROUSLY great deal more cor
rupt than the other branch of Congress, for
the reason thai its members are not elected
by the people and hold office for long
tenn. The fact that the Representative
must soon give an account Of his steward
ship and have it passed upon at the ballot
box checks in him the impulses which the
Senator may indulge without fear. Con-
structive Mileage is specimen of the free
dom with which this irresponsible and un-
necessary body presume to nlnnder The