Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1866-02-27
Senator Wade on the One Term Principle

Senator Wade, of Ohio, offered IN the Senate,
the morning the veto message sent to that
body, a resolution to amend the Constitution as
to render President ineligible second term
the prohibition to apply TO President elected by
the people, or succeeding to the office by the
death, removal or resignation of the elected Presi-
dent. In submitting the resolution Senator Wade
spoke follows
" In offering this resolution will state that it
is no new idea Of mine. for have been an advo-
cate Of it for many years And have decided
on the very strong impressions have on the sub
iecs BY very careful observation of the workings
of our government through such periods as have
been an observer of it. l believe it has been
very rare that we have been able to elect Pres-
dent of the United States VINO has not been
tempted to use the vast powers entrusted TO him
according to his own opinions to advance his re-
election, and when | say i. of the Presidents who
have preceded US, say it In no attempt to deprs-
ciate the merits of these men, because the Const-
tuition places before them temptations which We
can hardly expect that human nature will resist,
and in the long run, Sir 1t never will resist Early
IN the history of our government Washington
himself, who was exceedingly sagacious in the
work king Of our government, informed us that 1t
was his opinion ths: here a weakness that
ought to be Iemedied. He saw It early. He saw
powers during the period he is President might
be tempted to use them for his Advancement after
ward and almost ell the Presidents since have
felt the necessity of such check upon per-
sonal ambition 1t IS the injunction of more than
human wisdom to be relieved from these tempta-
tions. We might trace this, had We time, through
preceding administrations, and we should find that
this influence weighed like gravitation upon the
mind of almost every President we ever had
- have m
doubt that the present Chief Magistrate came into
his office while he perfectly single in his mind
and sincere and truthful in his opinions What
were some of these opinions Why, sir, he spoke
and recited it every day for two months that rrea-
son was great crime; that It ought to be pun
ished that it must be rendered odlous =; and that
he was toe man to 90 this. He said it to every
delegation that waited upon him until the words
became stereosyped in the minds of the whole
people. How, sir, has he performed that pledge !?
Has he punished any body? Why, sir, we have
the unhearedof spectacle of one of the greatest
rebelhons that ever cursed mankind-involving
more people, more lives, more expense, than all
the rebellions that ever occurred in history-and
yet, sir, no man has been punished in consequence
OF it Something is wrong. If this is ali right,
then the whole system of penitentiaries through
ou: the Union ought to be abolished. Sir, the
President was right when he said that treason
was a great crime and ought to be rendered obi
GUS. Why did he not carry out this declaration
What has occurred to change his position on this
question | will not say that this ambition which
has tempted all who have gone before him ghed
upon his mind to tempt him, but it is exceedingly
singular that far from rendering treason odious
by punishment, be has hoisted into the most ex-
alted positions many of the leading traitors in the
South. Who else, in any period of the world
history, ever thought of taking a rebel red with
the blood of his countrymen, and placing him in
the position of Governor of State-a Governor
of State who has sought to overturn the govern.
ment of the Union, and who envoked despotisun
to aid him in doing it, Is that the way you make
treason odious among mankind Is that the poll
| cy about which we have heard much ? Nobody
has been able to tell US heretofore exactly what
that policy was, but We all say that it was kind
of policy that suits every rebel, every copperhead
and every enemy of the government of the United
States, both foreign and domestic. Well, sir, al
the policy has become developed, we all nov
see precisely what it is, and why it was gratefu
to the ears and hearts of every enemy of hi
country. 1t was no less than this that thos
States should suffer nothing or forfeit nothing b,
rebellion-but that they should be admitted, u q
washed and red with the blood of their country
men, into full communion with the honest, loya
men of this Government, and into the councils Q
the nation. What has brought about this change
sira 1t all points to this fact-thas it will no