The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1871-12-23
Constitutional Amendments.


Since the present session Of Congress COM
menced several joint resolutions have been
offered proposing amendments to the cou>
stitution. General Morgan, q democratic
member from Ohio, has submitted an amend
ment which. if it passes Congress by two
third vote and Is subsequently adopted by
the Legislatures of three>foHrths of the States,
will render citizen, Of foreign birth eligible
to- the Office Of President. This proposed
amendment has very recently been fully dis
cusssd by the newspaper press Of the coun-
try, and 50 far as the democratic journals are
concerned, has met with an unqualified en-
do:sement. AS the law now stands negro.
Frederick Douglass for example, can be
elected to the highest Cffice in the gift Of ths
people, while certain white men of intelIi
gsnce aud culture, such as Carl Schurz and
Richard OGorman, are ineligible for the
reason that the ono was born in Germany
and the other in Ireland. The negro being
the superior Of the white man IN this respect.
it would seem to be nothing more than SIM
pie justice to place the latter Oh a eonstitu-
tional equality with the former, especially
since the reasons which Influenced the fraHa>
ers Of the constitution to insert In it the pro-
hibition against foreigners have leng siucs
passed away, or ceased to have any ferce
1t is supposed by soma that this change in
the fundamental law is especially intended
TO open the way for Gen. Schurz to become
candidate for the Presidency, not In 1872,
but at some future period We do not re-
gard it in that light, but simply as recog-
milton Of the constitutional right of any citi>
zen, without regard to nationality. to aspire
to the highest office in the republic. AS to
either negro or a foreigner ever being elect
ed to the Presidency, we think the child is
yet to be born who will live to see such a
political event take place but as equality
OF political rights is now the alpha and
Omega Of American legislation, the adoption
OF this amendment is called for on the ground
Of consistency, if for 70 other reason, and we
trust that Congress will pass it and submit
1t to the several State Legislatures for their
ratification or rejsc:ion.
Another piut resolution has been offered
by Mr.. Potter, democratic member from
New York, proposing an amendment ex-
tending the Presidential term to six wear:
and forbiddiag reelection. This question
has been agltated and discussed almost from
the commencement of the government. -
Washington in his farewell address. and
Gen. Jackson in similar paper, took stron0
and decided ground in favor of the one term
principle, and the Subsequent experience oi
the country has proved the wisdom of thei,
views On the question. 1t may safely be af,
hrmed that public opinion in favor of the
doctrine amounts now to almost unapimity
The reelection Of President is the most
fruitful source of corruption in our national
politics. for the obvious reason that his first
term is entirely devoted to securing his nom.
ination and election to second. The dis,
graceful history of Grants administration
and the prostitution OF his ofics to bring
about his denomination. arc irresist;ble ar
Ruments in favor of this limitation Of tbe
Presidential term and ought to secpre its
adoption by every State in the Union. Even