The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1871-12-28
MIR. SUMNER. AMEN NDMENT
After much threatening, Mr.. Sumne

i
After much threatening, Mr.. Sumner
has at length introduced his new consti
tutlonal amendment-one of the many
lsixteenths-to the consideration of Con-
gress and the country. He appears to
have been content to confne his promised
lopening speech to the elaborate aohere-
ases in which he has incorporated about
Everything that can be said in favor OF
the one-term principle. Of course no.
body dreams, even if the public sentiment
of the country were prepared for this
modification of the constitution, that it
is possible for any such change to be eff
fected in accordance with the section of
Mr.. Summers proposed amendment,
namely, on the 4th of March, 1873.
MIR. Summers arguments are ID That
the conviction has been growing among
the people that President should not be
candidate for reelection (2) that An
drew jackson held this conviction; (3)
tnat William Henry Harrison was of like
mind. and (4) that Henry Clay was mod
est enough to desire to be President for
only one term (5) that the Whig party
had one term plank in their platform
in 1874 (6) that B. F. Wade is of like
opinion (7) so..also. De Tocqueville, a
trenchmau and (S), in accordance with
all these concurring voices, the country is
i 4 rho
has held the Office of President of the
United States shall be thereafter eligible
to that Office"
There are many good arguments in fa-
orof limiting Presidents to single term;
but these arguments can find their best
expression in the will of the whole peo-
Mr.. Sumner has fallen into the delusion
of asserting as propositions held by the
country, mere assumptions held by him
self, and arising from perhaps the same
reasons which inspired Henry Clay to
adopt the course which Mr.. Sumner has
now followed. Mr.. Sumner assumes that
in the cases of Presidents reelected by
the people, the latter were convinced that
the Executives reelected imperilled the
very existence of the country. The fact
is that the people have never reelected
to perform for second term duties which
he had performed with striking ability,
unstaiped honor and unqualified success
during bis first term; and they have
never reelected President-though no
constitutional barrier manacled the popu-
lar yiIl--whrse personal character and
whose success of administration did not
render him, by experience and ability,
better man than any other in the nation
to fill the post with whose duties he had
become familiar and in whose pcrfor-
nance he had proven capable and faith
full servant Of his country. Mr. sum
ner's amendment assumes that the peo-
pie bave become so ignorant, so debased,
SO unpatriotic, so addle-pated aId 80 cor
cupt, that they do not know when to re-
elect a President who may be the best
man for the place, or when to discard at
the close of his first term, ore who has
proven merely mediocre CT fatty incom-
petent.
The demagogue's argument in favor of
a one-term rule, President Grant has al
ready removed from the arena of discus
sion-namely, the use of federal patron
age for political purposes. 1t was the
possibility of abuse in this which consti-
tuted the one term disposition of every
man whom Mr.. Sumner quotes; and yet
this possibility the same man, whom,
above all others, MIR. Sumner would de-
prive of reelection if he could, has, Of
his own will, despite the laggard higgling
of Congress. lifted completely away from
his own hands Under the civil service
| rules the President has already begun to
enforce, and which no future President
will ever be permitted to discard, the use
of federal patronage to forward the re-
election of a President, is ended.
Doubtless, the proposed amendment
will become subject of very general dis
cussion. Doubtless, too, not an afirna
| tive State Legislative vote will be obtain
ed upon it prior to the time Mr.. Sumner
has fixed for its going into effect. And
it will be we'll for impulsive Democrats
and Republicans who have personal spite
against the present Executive to note
that even Mr. Summers Amendment is
not intended to affect the reelection of
President Grant. and cannot effect it, if
i. were so intended. Therefore will it be
well for both these classes not to charge
the opponents of the amendment with a
sinister motive for their opposition aim
ing at the temporary benefit of one man
whom the people Will undoubtedly re-
elect.-Ere Post
Congressional News.
! Summers bill for the abolition of tie
4 N Il IT,