The daily union., 1856-02-02

THE sINGLE-TERM PRINCIPLE.

The National Democratic Review, just started in this city
by George p Buell. esq, contains elaborate article
the oneerm principle applicable the presidency The
avowed object of the writer is to persuade the democrats
throughout the country that fathers made great
bander in not fixing upon every President constitutional
disqualification for reelection and he appeals to them
select delegates TO the Cincinnati Convention with spe-
cia view of correcting this blunder of Washington,
Madison, Mason Randolph, and their illustrions
peers by SHE, formal adoption Of the singerm prin-
epe portion Of he democratic creed" Overlook
ing the fact that the question discussed by him
thoroughly investigated and debated by the
trainers of the constitution and failing to concede 10
their final decision of the question that respect which
due to the arguments and considerations on which they
fixed the presidential term at four years and allowed the
Executive to be re-egible the writer in the Review
quotes literally from the distinguished French author M
de Toqueye and relies upon his enumeration Of the evils
of permitting President to be reelected.
Before proceeding to quote from NJ de Tocqucvile the
reviewer his position and his object in the fol-
lowing explicit terms
Claiming, have ntimated, large share Of the at
tentioa Of the National Democratic Convention OF 1885, will
be the establishment Of rule in regard the reelection
President of the United States We take for granted
that the siyterm principle the ordinary doctrine the
democratic party but surely necessary that declare
to the world its formal adoption portion Of the demo-
cratic creed"
We admit that the re-eligbility of President presents
slegimate subject for political discussion and therefore,
that its investigation in National Democratic Review is
entirely unobectonabe provided the of treating
the subject does not fall below the standard which ought
to characterize the tone Of Review which processes to deal
alone with great national principles and discard the
idea of partisan publication. The following
densaton of the argument Of de Tocqueve against the
re-egiby of President is fully up the standard Of
national review.
The truth Of the observations Of NJ de Tocquovilc Is
confirmed by the experience OF every hour The evils Of
which he speaks have essened In magnitude last
twenty years. the contrary they have become ap
parent, and have assumed dangerous type. The
President Of the United States should be delivered from
temptation; he should consider reelection impossible and
In that case bis attention would be devoted to the dchrge
OF the impor tant trust committed his hands he would
know that his reputation would depend upon his conduct
during single term snd all the energies his intellect and
ali the promptngs Of his heart would combine in mighty
effort to gpalze, by bold stroke Of or political re-
form, the only epoch OF the county history Of which ne
could hope to be regarded the prominent
would consult the true interests OF the people, and would
the President Of the nation and the mere controller Of
the Offices
These unquestionabiy forcible views and such as
very inducing the trainers OF the constitution to
adopt the principle Of rendering the President ineligible
We doubt whether there any question before that
assembly OF sages In regard TO which II was more difficult
10 fix npeu satisfactory rule than 10 the duration of
the presidential Office and the reegibty Of the incum
bent Un'il the close Of the session the avori,e
plan make the term seven years. and to declare
the President ineligible. Finally, however It was de
ermned after full consideration Of all the arguments
on both sides to reduce the term to four years and tn
allow the President to be reelected II we were now
called upon TO act member Of convention TO form
constitution disposed TO the opinion that we would
adopt be plan OF extending the ak or seven years
aud Of making the incumbent ineligbe but 1t Is wholly
different proposition which s advocated by the writer
sutution make the President ineligible but he
would have the democratic party Cincinnati nterpo-
late into its creed principle which would eectusly
ride the constitutional provision the subject and
tach The Executive disqualification unknown 70 the
constitution
Our understanding Of the great object Of the democratic
party has been to advocate and perpenate the principles
Of the constitution, and not to establish organization
TO tbwsrt nulif those principles The writer in the
Review however takes II for grantedupon what author
ity we are guorantbat "he snge-term principle is an
ordinary doctrine Of the democratic party We suppose
he means by Gan ordnsry doctrine OF tho democratic par
t that the members Of the party generally sccede to the
propriey Of the oneterm principle II certainly Is not
known to us that there ia Any such general sentiment
amongst dsmocpts We members Of the legislatures
soYsEor, members Of Congress, sepsioTa and Indeed