Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1864-03-12
r-....vAlIs - Ae.Elecsiea 81 The
~ President.

~ r....evaIls - ne.Elecsiea 81 the
The work Of Do Tocqueville. ce'e-
lrsted French author aud statesmen, on
the Democracy Of America, has attract
ed the greatest attention throughout
Europe, where il 10 universally regarded
40 . sound, philosophical, impartial and
rsmar kably clear and distinct view OF
our political institutions. Writers, re-
v;.vers and statesmen Of oil parties
have united in tho highest commends-
tioo, Of its ability and integrity. Also in
America the high merit OF De Tocque-
v,lle's work is fully acknowledged. DE
Tocoueville wrote bic book about thirty
yeas ago. What is his opinion respec-
i've the principle Of reelection Of the
pre,ideoti De Tocqueville admits that
bv to principle OF ioeligibiity of the
President the country may be deprived
Of . man At the very time. whom he has
sbosn bic ability in conducting its
affairs.
but If these arguments are strong,
perh.p. still more pow eifu! reasons may
10 advanced against them Intrigue aod
corru vti N are the natural defects OF
elect w government; but when the
head If The S a.e can be re-tlecte J,
these evil. rise 10 great height, and
compromise ,le very .xisttn c- OF the
nnlrv. hen sintle candid ate seeks
to rise ty intrigue, his mapG lvres mus
necessarily be limted TO a narrow
sphere; bat when the chief magistrate
enters the lists, he bor,ows the strength
Of tho government for his own purposes
In the former o 4se the feeble resources
OF an ,ndiyi iual are IN action; IN the
latter, the State itself. with all its i'm
men influence, IS busted IN the work Of
corruption aud cabal. The private Cit.
zen. who employs the most immoral
practices to acquire power, IAN only act
10 manner md rectIv PEE udiclal to the
public pro. pe,ity. But If the rcp' csent
alive OF the executive desccnds into the
lists, tho cares of government dwitdle
iuto second rate Importance, and the
success OF his election l. his first con.
Germ. All laws and negotiations are then
to him nothing more tnan Q cctioneering
schemes places become the reward OF
services rendered, not to the nation, bu'
10 its chef; and the influence Of the
government, f not injurious to the coun
try, is At lea.t no longer benz ficiaI to the
community Tor which it was created.
at is impossible to consider the ordi-
nary cou.se Of sffai,s in The United
States without pe-o.iv,ng hat the desire
OF being re elected is the chief aim Of
the President; that his whole admins
trat'on, and even bis most Indifferent
measures, tend to this object; and that
rs the crisis approaches, his personal in
terest takes the place OF his interest in
the public good. The principle of re-
eligibility renders the corrupt Influence
OF e ective governments still more ex-
tensivs and perniciaus. 1t tends to de-
grade the political morality OF the PEG.
pie. add to substitute adroilncss Tor pa
triotism."
ain America it exercises still NOR.
fatal Influence on the source of patlona
existence" DE TocqneviIle goes on to
show, that the passions Of the multitude
are checked by the power of the Presl :
dent. And be then continues:
"Bat by Introducing the principle OF
reelection they patty destroyed their
work; and they rendered the President
but little inclined to exert the great
power they had vested ia bis hands. II
ineligible second time, the President
would be lar from independent OF the
people. for his responsibility would not
be lesseocd but the favor Of the people
would not be so necessary to him as 10
induce Linn to court it by humoring its
desires. II re eligible (anl this is more
especially true at the present day, when
political morality is relaxed, and when
great m.r are r4re.) the President of he
Uni,ed States becomes al easy tool IN
The hands Of The mi ri y. lie adopts
It's liS'ngs and its an'mosuies, he has
tens to anticipate is wishes, he f,,e-
stall. it's mpaio,s, he yi,ldst tors idies,
Cravings, and instead of guiding il, as
the Legislature intended that he should
do, he is ever ready to follow its BID
ding. Th-', 10 order not to deprive the
state OF The talents of an individual.
those ,aicn,s have been rendered almost
useless, and 10 reserve an eypedien, tor
ex ra"rd'na'y perls he country has
been exp, SD to daily dangers.