Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-02-27
MIR. wADE,s AMENDMENT.

II will be recollected that Senator Wade,
of Ohio, few days since introduced res
olutions proposing an amendment to the
Constitution restricting Presidential incum-
bcncy to one term of four years, also apply
ing the same rule to the case in which Vice
President succeeds to fraction of term,
and also to the successor Of the President and
Vice President in case both are removed
during the term for which the former was
elected.
| His speech on presenting them descants
upon the weakness of human nature gener-
ally, when ambitious motives are presented
to il, and defends the necessity Of the pro
posed amendment upon the ground that the
interests Of the country are made 10 suffer,
when. the Presidential incumbent seeks TO
use his position to secure his reelection All
this is true enough and well enough, but
there is throughout Mir. Wade's speech
vein Of hostility to the present President so
manifest, that the whole scheme will strike
the public mind as merely special means Of
preventing all possibility of Mr.. JOHNSON
being able to hold the position beyond
the present term. II there be good in
the proposition intrinsically, of which
we do not now express an opinion, the re-
marks of the Senator were Of such a char
acter that its merits will not at this time re-
ceive that fair and calm investigation
which all propositions to amend the organic
law demand.
Mr.. WADE arraigned the President for
failing in his official action as President, TO
make good after the manner desired by the
Jacobinical party of which he is magnate,
his assertion that treason should be made
odious and traitors punished; and by strong
implication charged that his reason for not
doing 80, was desire to ingratiate himself
into favor with the former rebels and attach
them TO his fortunes as a Presidential can
didate in 1868. STEVENS, SUMMER WADE
and that ilk who are attempting TO brow
beat the President, and banlk his wise and
patriotic policy, in order that ihey may riot
and revel in the spoils of a peoples
liberties and fatten upon possessions con-
fscate unto the States" would dot this
country over with gibbets standing thick
as telegraph poles, and proclaim univer-
sal escheating of estates for the benefit of
flock of foul harpies. They see that Presi-
dent JOHNSON has too much craftsmanship
and humanity in his composition 20 sympa-
thize with scheme so revolving to the civil
isation Of the age and that would shame
the cheek Of a barbarian even and hence
they would, under the guise Of whole
some care for the public interests, while pro-
viding that strife should continue till his
term expires, provide also, that he shall
then be no longer in their way.
Bat they win fail. We do not know what
President JOHNSON thinks or desires about
the succession. All true men, as he himself
is, are intent on remedying the preseat
troubles and relieving the people, and only
such misch..ssmakers rs Mr.. WADE sre
casting about for contrivances for political
aggrandizement years hence. This amend
ment il one Of them and should be sup
pressed in Congress, without troubling the |
States with i,s consideration.