Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1864-03-04

public in his second term than be could be
in his first; and usually, where they can, they
act accordingly. A good man may be over
powered by his political enemies, and weak
or bad man be dropped by his political frie1ds
after one term of service; but Mr. Greeley's
q One-term principle" has nothing to do
with the result.
Take the history of our Presidential cleo
tons. Renewed elections OF the same men
were the practice-with one exception, that
of Iehn Adams-till the close of Jsckson's
% term in 1887, and few will deny that the
Republic got along very well up to that
time. John Adams was not reelected be-
cause political party of different name and
sympathies had gained the ascendancy among
the people. OF coarse they elected their
own man, and reelected him after four
years trial. So of his successors, Madison
and Monroe. j. Q. Adams was defeated on
his Cd nomination by jackson, but the " one
term principle" had nothing to do with it.
We well remember Hon. c. p. Van Ness of
this place, who advocated the election of
jackson, remarking TO us that it was not
likely any man would get a reelection to
the Presidency after that time, because the
number of persons DESTROYS of the Office had
so increased that they would combine their
influences to keep their own chances open.
Nevertheless jackson ,cas reelected. Van
Buren, succeeded him, and was beaten on his
second nomination because the people had
become deeply dissatisfied and would not
trust him again. There was no regard to a
''one-term principle" in the case. Harrison
and Taylor both died, and their SUCCESSORS,
Tyler and Fillmore, who came into the
Presidency simply because they were Vice
Presidents, were never the choice of the
people for the Presidency. They got into the
Presidential chair by accident, and there was
no desire to put them there again. OF Polk
and Pierce their own party had had quite
enough in one term, and so of Buchanan.
Moreover the Shareholders and treason-plot-
tiers of the South knew that they had got all
out of the two last mentioned which they
had the power to give We say then that
from the beginning of our government
to the present time, Mr.. Greeley's - one-term
principle has had nothing to do with sue
cess or defeat in our presidential elections.
There is no such principle recognized in the
constitution, none such has been followed
in practice. and none such ought to be advo-
Gated.
In Mr.. Greeley's article in the Independent
he gives two or three other reasons not a
whit better for not re-nomInating Mr.. Lin
coin.
First lie says the rebellion is growing
weak,and there is strong reason to hope that
it Will be over by the first of July.
Seoond He thinks it highly probable
that there will be no avowedly pro-slnvery
party in the feld-those who have been pro-
slavery being about convinced by this time
that nothing can be made by fighting over
what they now see is, or soon will be,
dead carcass. Saying nothing of the sound
ness of these two opinions, Mr.. Greeley does
not tell us-nor Is it easy to see-how they
bear on the question of re-nominating Mr.
Lincoln. But Mr.. Greeley has one more
reason ,onwhich he dwellswith great emphasis.
and that is a deep solicitude for the happiness
of Mr.. Lincoln If he would only declare
now, that he would not, on any considera-
ton. be candidate for reelection, what song
Of praise, according to Mr.. Greeley would 20
up for all coming ages to his glory in the
history OF his country Not mistake would
ever be remembered against him;-and more
over, for the coming twelve months of his
term he would have everything as lovely and
serene about him as a June morning On
the contrary, if he is put again in nomina-
ton, oh how the hounds will fly at his
heels and if after all he shall get defeated.
how bad he will feel This anxiety of Horace
Greeley for Mr.. Lincoln's peace ofmind is
We wonder he does not have any |
for the man who he would have nominated /
in Mr.. Lincoln's stead. We take It that Mr..
Greeleydoesnot supposethata any newcandidate
could go through the canvass without rough
handling, after the usual fashion in election
Mr.. Chase is evidently Mr. Greeley's candi-
date, and we must not be understood as say
nga word against Nh. Chase as man ofabil-
ty las a true patriot and sincere lover of hui
nan freedom. Mr. Chase holds now an Office of
vast Importance to the country, one in which
ne has won for himself great honor and we
ioubt whether at present the sound portion
# the community have any desire to see any
'ther man in his place. When they show
my such desire, it will be soon enough for rs
o consider it.