New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-02-23

dent tomorrow, would vote Tor MIR. LlDOoih'
They would have no fair opportunity to make
another choice. But so the great body OF the
Tcderalsts of 1900 undoubtedly preferred John
Adams for President; yet running him defeated
and broke down their party; when, had they
supported John Jay Instead, they would have
triumphed, and lad before them long years oil
power and usefulness. So great majority oi
the National Republicans of 1898 preferred Johh
Quincy Adams for a cond term; but they were
beaten with him nevertheless more dIsaslroilSiy
than they could have been had he given place
10 Henry Clay. So Martin Van Buren, was the
undoubted first choice of the great body OF the
Democrats in lao; while Gen. Harrison was
not the first choice Of the Wings; vet Harrison
beat Van Buren, more overwhelmingly than
Clay could have done. The party that grained
II, preference was routed; the party that sacn-
feed its preference was sweepingly triumphant
And 50 in the el, ions respectively of Polk and
Pierce. But we need not pursue these illustra-
tiTus.
III. II has been setted-we think, well set
tled-bv the deliberate action Of both political
parties. that President in Office is not to be
reelected unless under the pressure OF eStraor-
binary circumstances. Ii was for over forty
years tlc general rule TO elect iora'second term;
for the last thirty year, no President las been
rechoFcn. An amendment Of the Constitution,
making President Ineligible for q second term,
has been often urgcd--Wc think not wisely.
Better leave the matter whore ii is-in the
hands Of the People. They will, at long inter
walls. decide that a necessity for reelection Ok
lists: when none such is obvious and pressing,
they will decline to reGlact. We do not see
how this could be improved.
The practical question: then, is this-Ha
Ny. Lincoln proved so transccndently able and
admirable President that all consideration OF
themerits, a'iltios, md services Of others should
IT, postponed or FOL orne in favor of his r.
election TIN is a question whcreon pending
the defn;tiye selection Of our candidates, there
should be the utmost freedom Of opinion and
EXPRESSION. We answer it in the NEGATIVE.
Heartily agreeing that Mr.. lincoln has done
well, we do not regard IT rs az all demon trated
hat GOV. Chase, ten. Fremont, Gen. Butler
or Gen. Grant cannot do as well. We freely ad-
nit Mr.. Lmcom's merits: but we infisttLa they
are not such ss to lpsc and obscure those of all
The state smen and soldiers who have aided
IN The great wora Of saving the country from
disruption and oyctlrow. And, # others have
done as well il their respective sphere, then
we hold that the eenilS o. 0lf Institutions, the
sanitary One Term principle, which has been e.
tablishcd by tho concurrence o. each ofour creat
par'i.s and by the action OF the people, over
ruling either in turn, c"unsels the choice oil
another from among our eminent unonsts Tor
President from and after March /, loG5.
Such are our convictions. Weplace them be-
fore our readers in company with those oi the
Legislatures and Conventions which have ind-
Gated an opposite conclusion, and ask that jadg-
meut be rendered in accord with The prcpondcr-
snce not OF authority, but Of rea.ons.