The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-09-19
The One.Term Principle.

The October Galary contains Mr.. Horace
Greeleys promised article upon the One
Term principle, the application OF which to
the Presidential office he warmly advocates.
Ofice.seeking is sour national vice, and MIR.
Greeley is convinced that we shall vainly
hope for Civil Service Reform while the root
of the evil remains intact-that root is 'the
reelection, while in office, OF Presidents,
Governors and other dispensers OF vast
patronage, with their consequent tempta-
"tion to use that patronage in aid OF their
Town continuance in power" Moreover,
the practice Of re-electing chief-magis-
trate, while in Office, " distracts his atten-
"tiou from the proper cares and duties OF
'his station, and impels him TO consider,
"not who are fittest and most worthy to ill
"the offices in his gift, but what choice will
"be most likely to improve his chances for
denomination"
The scheme of limiting the service OF the
President to a single term originated, in
1929, with General Jackson, who recon-
mended it's adoption in his first annual mes
sage. Governor McDuffie, OF South Caro-
lima, was chairman Of the select committee
OF Congress which, in the following year,
reported q constitutional amendment, pro-
viding that "no person shall be hereafter
eligible to the Office of President OF the
United States, who shall have been pre-
viously elected to the said office, and who
"shall have accepted the same or exercised
{" the powers thereof" But General jack
SOD, by this time, had abandoned the idea.
The One-Term amendment was not acted
upon, and General Jackson was reelected.
A similar amendment was referred, in 1885,
to the Committee OF The Whole on The State
of the Union, which never found time to
consider it. 1t may, however, console MIR.
Greeley 10 remember that clause declaring
that the President is not re-eligibe may be
found in the half-forgotten constitution OF
the occe famous Confederate States.
After 1882, Mr.. Lincoln was the only
President who secured his reelection, while
the attempt 10 obtain q second term had, in
Mr.. Greeley's words, "cost some signal
defeats 10 either party" For quar-
ter OF o century, he says, these Efforts
proved successful; Of late "tbey have very
generally proved disastrous" MIR. Gree
ley is in error, however, in counting South
Carolina as one of the States in which the
Governor is not eligible to reelection. In
this State The Governor holds office just as
long as he can obtain nomination and
popular majority. No constitutional obsta-
Gle stands in the way of the patriots who
disinterestedly crave second and third bite
at the public cherry.
1t is rather unfortunate that Mr.. Greeley
should be an avowed opponent OF the re-
nomination Of President Grant, at the time
when he seeks to crystalze public opinion
in favor OF the One-Term principle. lima
tured persons, who have not the fear OF the
Tf'ibune's vigorous Saxon before their eyes,
will be apt to say that the Sage OF Chappa-
qua is only anxious to be given an oppor-
tunity of embodying in Preside ntial mes
sage what be knows OF the cultivation OF
Ruta-bagas, and the Protection OF American
industry. There is, certainly, little reason
for believing that the adoption OF the One
Term principle would abolish, or check, the
abuses which thoughtful citizens condemn.
The result might only be to crowd into
four years the jobbing and stealing which
are now done in eight. There would be the
same friends to reward, the same antago-
nists to punish. Indeed, there is only one
way out of the muddle, and that is, by de-
priving the politicians OF the power to en-
danger any mans daily bread; by causing
appointments to be made on account of fit
ness alone, such appointments to last during
good behavior. But until the people are
represented in Congress by those whose sole
aim is the well-beng of their country-un-
til, in other words, the best citizens are
elected to the offices OF highest responsible
ity-we need not expect to find political
msjorily in Congress who will strip them
selves, of their own accord, of the power to
lquidate their private election debts by
drafts on the public treasury. 1t is the ex-
pectation of fat place which makes prima-
ry meetings pliable and committeeman
Jealous. Deprive the professional politicians
of this incentive, and they will cease to
bully, to cheat, to bribe. Then may respec-
table voters hope to elect incorruptible and
irreproachable citizens to the posts which
are polluted by the Buffers and Bowens OF
the day.
The National Commercial Convention.