The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-12-01
HERALD TUESDAY DECEMBER lses-TRIPLE

illustrious predecessor" considered second
term his reserved right in the regular demo-
cratic order of succession, and to his deadly
struggle against the Southern oligarchy for this
right we are indebted for that rupture in the
party camp which eliminated in the late rebel
hon. Had the one term principle been the law
this rupture might have been avoided, and we
should have escaped all the fantastic tricks of
Tyler and Fillmore and poor Pierce, and the
foolish, profitless and costly policy Of Andrew
johnson.
We dare say that General Grant has been
looking into these lessons Of the past and that
in order to rid himself of all such entangling
affiliations, and in order that his admins
tration may be judged fairly upon its merits
by the opposition, he is anxious to be limited
by a constitutional amendment to single term.
He doubtless wishes to disabuse the democ-
racy of that foolish idea, SO broadly ventilated
by General Blair, that once in the White House
General Grant will stay there while he lives.
The truth is he did not seek the Office, did not
want it, and does not wish to hold it longer
than four years. We are satisfied, therefore,
that Congress, in acting upon this one term
proposition, will be heartily supported by Con
eral Grant.
Next with regard to universal suffrage. We
suspect that the constitutional amendment,
article fourteen, which provides that the seve-
raj States may regulate the suffrage each for
itself, but that in proportion as the suffrage is
restricted representation shall be restricted, is
not considered settlement by General Grant,
but rule apt to result in endless troubles and
agitations from the conflicting plans likely to
be adopted among the States. Hence, no
doubt, General Grant has concluded that
constitutional amendment making universal
manhood suffrage the supreme law Of the
land in all the States and Territories
is the only decisive solution of this
otherwise embarrassing question. Very
good. Let Congress act accordingly in sub
hitting the proposed amendment to the seve-
raj States for, with the understanding that
it is advocated by the President elect we can
not doubt that it will be speedily ratified by
the necessary three-fourths of all the States
Of the Union. The question will thus be
settled on the broadest basis. But what Of
Southern negro supremacy? The late cleo
tions have shown that there can be no such
thing. The Southern negro vote is subject to
the controlling Southern white element, and
hence, even under universal negro suffrage, we
expect that by the year 1870 the whole South
will be, in the hands of the democracy, recon
structed, and that thus we shall have new
Southern balance of power which will con-
troll and decide the Presidential election of
1872, General Grant, on the one term prin-
ciplc, being out Of the field.
With these two propositions of one Presi-
Dental term and universal suffrage fixed
in the supreme law Of the land, General
Grants administration and Congress will have
a clear field before them for the settlement of
the great money question, and clear field will
also be presented for the agitation of women 8
rights to all concerned in that great enterprise.
In consideration, however, of the peculiar
magnanimity and patriotism of General Grant
In proposing to limit his public services in the
White House to one term under a constitu-
tional restriction, and as a simple matter of
national dignity and decorum, the Congress
which meets next Monday should, before the
4th of March next, pass an act raising the Presi-
dents salary to one hundred thousand dollars
year. The Chief Magistrate Of the United
States ought to be able to hold up hje head
even in the presence Of our city Sheriff,
O'Brien, or Richard O'Gorman Nor could a
more graceful act be passed or one more
acceptable to the people than this increase Of
the Presidents compensation, incidentally as
another recognition of the invaluable services
Of General Grant in saving the life Of the
nation