Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-03-01
THE PRESIDENTIAL OFFIC-E-ONE
TERM PRINCIPLE.


THE PREsiDENTIAL OFFICE-ONE
TERM PRINCIPLE.
Much has been said and written, recently,
upon what has been called the one term prin.
ciplen-that is, to limit the Presidential term
Of ollice to single election of four years. 1t
is question 10 which we have heretofore given
but little attention or reflection, nor would we
do SO now if the glaring fact was not presented,
from various quarters, that the Executive or
gans have made a simultaneous attack upon
it as a base and dangerous innovation, not
only upon the established usages but upon the
creed Of the Democratic party declaring, in
deed, that Limitation of the Presidential term,
in one incumbent, to four years, would be
violation of the CoNsTITuTIoNT Some weeks
ago, neatly gotten up and well conducted
periodical in this city, called the Democratic
Review contained long article, display
ing much ability and research in favor Of the
" one term principle.' The whole ground Of
discussion was encompassed, and good and
sound reasons we're assigned in sustaining
the position assumed by the writer. But
alas for human frailty, when under the do
minion Of patronage po,cer the very next
number of the Reriec presented another long
article on the same subject belaboring its first
born most numerically, and stoutly maintain
ing the "t,ro-te,m" principle as the great bul
wark Of the Democratic creed!
What could have produced this sudden
change Of opinion in the mind of political
editor, who had evidently long and carefully
studied his subject? What new revelation
produced this remarkable conversion? Letfls
inquire, in friendly way, and see whether we
can throw any light upon the subject: A day
or two after the s'one term article made its
appearance in the Review, it was pounced
upon by the Chief Executive organ, and han
died in rather savage manner. The sharp
of a thousand strings" sounded its highest and
most impressive notes, denunciatory Of any
and every attempt TO interfere with the present
"twoterm principle" and thus prevent the
otherwise certain re election Of President
Piercel The strains from the /" harp" were
electrical, irresistible, and the Review-gun
was silenced, its position changed-then,
charged with other ammunition, was turned
against itself 1t did not float at its mast
head, and stand BIZ the motto, Mutare rel
timere Speono."
Before we proceed to give our own views
with regard TO the propriety of limiting the
time Of service of one President to single
term, let US look At the constitutional provision
so often cited by tse especial defenders of the
t,co-te1m principle, and see whether it can be
put in jeopardy by the adoption of a rule, by
the Democratic party, declaring that the same
Incumbent shall not occupy the Presidential
chair for more than one term OF four years.
The first and second clauses of the first section
of the sece- s-ticle Of the Constitution of the
United Stats read as follows:
"The Executive power shall be vested in q
President of the United States of America.
He shall hold his Office during the term Of four
years, and together with the Vice President,
chosen for the same term, be elected as follows:
Each State shall appoint, in such manner as
the Legislature thereof may direct, n number
Of Electors, equal to the whole number of
Senators and Representatives to which the
State may be entitled in the Congress: but no
Senator or Representative, or person holding
Office of trust or profit under the United States,
shall be appointed an Elector."
Here we have the mandate Of the Constitu-
ton on all that refers to the period of time for
which a President shall be elected The Ian
puage is too plain to admit Of misconstruction
1t designaies the officer, in whom the Execu.
tive power" shall be vested, by the title Of
president Of the United States Of America
and SAYS "he shall hold his office during The
term of four years" Il is neither mandatory
or restrictive beyond this Every thing else is
left 10 the sovereign will Of the people. The
Constitution does not deprive them Of the
power Of rejoicing President, not only once
or twice, but for as many times as they choose.
Neither does it prevent them from establishing
ayule or principle limiting the service Of
one President to single term Of four years"
The advocates Of the one term principle, there
fore, can claim quite as much support from
this constitutional provision as those who con-
denim its adoption as violation Of that sacred
instrument.
Let US more carefully examine the second
clause Of the article of the Constitution above
quoted. Il. declares that "no Senator or Rep
resentdtire, or person holding an office Of t,71st
or profit under The United States, shall be ap-
pointed an Elector" to vote for President or
Vice President Of the United Statesl This is
an important, q significant restriction. The
sages, who framed the great charter Of our in.
situations, must have been induced to make il
by the solemn promptings Of that powerful
monitor, whose counsels guided them to glo.
rious completion Of the work they had com.
mitted to their charge. They we're aware that
mighty power had been placed in the hands
of the Executive, and that the influence created
by this power might at some future day, be
welded by President, in such manner as to
secure his own reelection and continue him
self in power, NJ long as he chose to exer.