The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-02-05
.. Pre.idcnt to Ono rcr,n.

pending in Congress, to the effect
that no President shall be eligible to
a reelection, will soon be brought to
o vote. The bill was introduced by
Senator Wade, and as it has been
favorably received in Congress, its
passage is quite probable. The i'm
mediate object of the bill is to pre-
vent President Johnson from secur-
ing a second term Of Office, and, as
far rs that is concerned, it is any
thing but praiseworthy. The gene
raj principle of the measure is excel
lent, however, and we hope that it
will, in some form, be adopted.
There is no doubt that great deal
of the corruption, partisanship and
bad management attached to our Adj
ministrations, are directly attributa-
bic to the policy of permitting u Pre-
sident to hold two terms. If
Presidents were all paragons of ho-
nesty, faithfulness and purity, and if
they had no ambition to continue in
Office, the present rule would be well
enough. But they are mortals, falli-
bic as the rest of mankind, and gone
rally anxious to pcrpetuate their hold
! of power. The consequence is, that
q President, from the first to the
last day Of his term, is apt to have
his eyes steadily fixed upon the sue
ccsslon, and to shape his course with
special reference to that end. He
knows that he holds. in his hands a
mighty power that can be made avail
able in carrying out his object, and
he must be pNitical anomaly il he
fails to use that power for his own
advantage Under these circum-
Stances. the patronage of the Go
vernment is thing to be bartered
or sold. Offices are given to men
in consideration of certain prospect
i've services, and he who can control
the largest political influence is
likely to receive the best position for
himself or his friends. The short
comlnGs of officc-ho!ders are, consc-
quently, overlooked, and their mis-
demeanors are often kept secret
solely because Of the political injury
that might arise from disclosure.
In short, the Government is turned
into partisan concern, and not only
the Executive, but the whole con
course OF his subordinates, shape
every action with a view to the fu-
ture. Ii We had a law rendering
Presidents ineligible to reelection,
there would be far less corruption
| and partisanship in the conduct of
the Government. There would still
be = certain degree of partisanship,
lor it cannot be expected that Pre-
sldent will appoint political enemies
to Office. The gain, however, would
be IN the fact that there would be no
bargain and sale about the matter
The President would not be led to
appoint an Objectionable person to
office out of fear of that persons po-
lltlcal influence, nor would he be in
duced to retain an obnoxious man on
that account. The President would
then be free to bcstow his patronage
upon whom he might like, without
tear OF the consequences. His public
acts, also, would be likely to be 60
verncd by his honest convictions of
right and justice, instead of being
east IN the mould of political expe-
dlency, rs they are apt to be under
our present system. We think. how
ever, that if the one-term principle
be adopted, it wonld be better to ex-
tend it to six years. If public officers
could be subjected to no test but that
OF honesty, faithfulness and capa-
bllity, there would be no necessity
for this change; but inasmuch as y
complete list of new officers must be
expected with every change of Admi-
nlstration, it would be better to make
this change less frequent. We have
no doubt that a law fixing the Presi-
dental term at six years, and render
ing an incumbent ineligible to re-
election, would result in better and
purcr Goycrnment-Nea York SIN
THE HoRRoEs OF SLAVERY. The
Richmond Whig relates the following
incident as illustrative of the horrors
of slavery:
We were never so forcibly struck
with the horrors of this barbarons
institution as on yesterday. We saw
a white-eyed, blacks kinned damsel
Of tender years, whom we had often
seen before, when she was in high
glce, and had enough of this worlds
goods to fill her stomach and clothe
her back, at ''ole massa's' expense.
She was trudging along through
the snow, with scanty raiment, and
nary n shoe, looking for one of her
blue liberators who would put his
Ia L