Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-12-23
THE OEE-TERx QUESTION.
Mr.. Summers Onslaught UpOu Grants
Chances for q EIsCtiOs.

duceo the following joint resolution, pro-
posing an amendment to b constitu-
ton combining the president to one term
WHEREAS, For many years there has been
an Increasing conviction among the people,
without distinction Of party, that one WELD
ing the vast patronage Of the PRESIDENT hould
not be a cand date Tor reelection, and this
conviction has found expression in the solemn
warning Of filustriOus~c citizens, and IN repeated
propositions Tor an amendment 70 the constr
tuition combining the president 70 one term;
whereas, Andrew jackson was so fully
impressed by the peril 70 republican institn-
president, who was welding a vast patronage
by his Office as a candidate for reelection,
that in his first annual message he called at
tenuon to III that IN bis second annual mes
sage, after setting forth the design Of the con-
stitution TO secure the Independence Of
promote a healthful and equitable ad-
mfnistration Of all the trusts which II
mad created, he did not hesitate to saw
"The agent most likely to contnayene this de-
sign Of the constitution is the chief magfs-
trate and then proceeded to declare hat sin
order that these appointments may be placed
as lar as possible beyond the reach OF any i'm
proper il n snces, in order that he may ap-
prOach the solemn responsibilities Of the high
est Office ln the glt OF a nee people, uncom-
mifed 20 any other course than the strict line
OF constitutional duty, and that securities for
this Independence may be rendered as strong
as the nature ofthe power Of It's pOsSessor viii
admit 1 cannOtb but earnestly invite your al
tenlOn 10 the prOpriey Of submitting such
amendments 10 the constitution SIS VIII rem
der him ineligible after one term Of service"
Again, in his third annual message, Jackson
made the same patriotic appeal. Harrison,
following in the footsteps Of Jackson,
ter Of acceptance his belief in the pro
priety Of the one-term principle in the
following explicit words. "Among the princi-
pies proper 10 be adopted by the Executive
sincerely DESTROYS TO restore the admtnistra-
ton Of the government 20 its original sim
plicity and purity, / deem IL OF the first i'm
portauce that he Onfne his service to a single
term" And then, in a public speech during
the canvass which ended In his election, he
declared that III the privilege OF being presi-
dent of the United States were limited 70 one
term, the incumbent would devote all his time
10 the public interest, and there would be no
cause 70 misTule the unJr and in con-
clusion pledged himself before heaven and
earth, II elected president, 70 lay down the
high trust faithfully al the feet Of the people at
the expiration Of his term; and
Whereas. Henry Clay though differing much
in politics nom Jackson, united with hin on
IN a speech, June p, 1870, when, after asking
for the provision 10 render a person
ineligible 10 the Office Of president
AFTER service for one term, he explained the
necessity for the amendment by saying
- much observation and deliberate reflection
have satisfied me that too much Of the time,
thought and eXertiOns Of the are
occupied during his nrst term in securing his
reelection. The public business consequently
suffers. Then, again. IN a letter dated Sep
TENDER 18th, 1872, setting forth what he
called the principal objects engaging the COM
mon desire aud common exertion Of the Wing
party, the same statesman specified an amend
ment 10 the constitution limiting the incum-
bent 70 n term in the presidentlalomce and,
Whereas, The Wing party, in its national
convention, at Baltimore, May !, h44, nomi-
mated Henry Clay as president with a plat
form where a single term for the presidency is
declared 70 be among the great principles Of
the Wing party principles fnseparable nom
public honor and prosperity, to be maintained
and adyauced by the election Of these cGndi-
ates-WhiC declaration was echoed at an i'm
-m-an~aaHHnnHn NHnmrnnnanH rnruEa QAAraauaa
By Daniel Webster, where IL was resolved
shat the Limitation Of the president TO a single
term was among the objects for which the
party viii uncOmpnomis1ngly strive until
their efforts are crowned with triumphant
Success; and
Whereas, In the same speech, and in har-
mony with these authorities, another states
man, Benz. +. Wade, at the close Of hts long l
service in The senate, most earnestly urged an
Of the constitution combining the
president 10 one term, snd in his speech on
occasion, February 3,1S65, said; The Of
ferlng Of this resolution is no new impulse OF
mine, Tor have been an advocate ofthe prln-
ciple contained IN ii for many years, and L
have derived the strong impressions which / |
on the subject from a very careful
Observation OF the workings Of the govern i
ment. During the period that / have been an
observer Of Them. / believe it has been very /
rare that We have been able 70 elect a pres1-
dent OF The United states who has not been |
10 use the vast powers entrusted
TO him according 10 his own Opin IONS /
10 advance his reelection" and then after
NEGL-z -HN~-1 II
lRent, the veteran senator further declared
there are defects in the constitution and
this is among the most glalaring OF them. All
men have seen them. Now let US have nerve;
let Us have this resolution 70 come up and ap-
ply the remedy"
Whereas, These testimonies revealing the
Intense and widespread convictions OF the
people are reinforced by the friend
~ observations Of De T~Ocqueville, the remark
able Frenchman 70 whom our country is un-
der such great and lasting obligations In his
famous work on Democracy il America,
where he says in words Of singular clearness
and force, Intrigue ana corruption are vices
natural TO elective governments, but when the
chief Of the government can be reelected, /
hose vices extend indefinitely and compro-
mise even the existence Ofsthe country.
When q single candidate seeks success by In
.rigue his maueuVres can operate only over
! circumscribed space; when on the contrary
he CHIEF Of the oYernmen himself
enters he ranks Of candidates, he borrows for
his own purpose the force Of the government,
In the first case IL Is one man. which is feeble
means. In the second place It is the govern
ment ITSELF with its immense resources, in
rigues and corruptions." And then again the
anne great writer, who mad studied our cOun-
80 closely, testihes that it is impossible TO
consider this ordinary course OF affairs In the
United states without percelving that the de-
ire 10 be reelected predOminates In the
Of the president: that all the policy
n his administration tends 10 this point; that
his best movements are s~ubordinated 70 this
lbjeCt; that in proportion as a movement or a
srlsls approaches, individual interest substi-
utes itself IN his mind for general interest.
W nErEas. AL these E6nGuETlnE Voices whose /
patriotism, experience and reason bear testi-
have additional value at a moment
when the country is looking anxiously 10 a
,95qTm reason a. me thai si'h the s%eT peffi, from roE the
.hief magistrate, so long as he Is
to temptations, surpasses that rom
my other quarter, and thus finish tEe stage in
his much desired reform IS 20 the one-term .
principle, 70 the end that the president, who
exercises the appointing power, reaching into
n parts OF the country, and holding in sub
a mu~ltttudinous army OF office
FOLDERS, shall be absolutely without motive OF
10 employ it for any other pur-
than the public good and, I.
Whereas, The character of republican insti-
utlOns requires that the chief magistrate
OF which he is the Official head TO
promote his own personal aims; therefore be
Resslusd, etc, That the following article is
constitution Of the United States, and when
auned by the legislatures Of three-fourths OF
he several States shall be valid to all intents {
nd purposes IS a part Of the constitution, to- I
ARTICLE /. /
SECTION l. No person who has held once the {
flee OF president OF the United States shall ]
thereafter eligible 70 that Office.
Sec This amendment shall not take effect !
ntl after the ith Of March, 1873. {
Senator Sumner, in introducing the !
amendment, said: 81 shall content my !
ELF with q brief remark. This is an era /
z the civil service reform, and the Presi- 8
lent Of ths United States, in his message, !
Iss already called our attention to that !
subject, and made a recon- !
nendstion with reference 10 it. 1t msy {
70 remembered that / hailed that message
t once IS it was read from the desk, and I
hen TO state that ] missed one :
recommendations very i'm i
recOmmsndRtion-one without I
Thich all othsrs 1 fear msy be futile. 1 I
missed q recommendation of an amend {
1ent 20 the constitution in conformity !
nth the best presidents Of our history !
nd with the recommendation of illustri- /
men, limiting q person holding {
he Office of president TO u term. {
Ir, that is the initial point in !
be civil servics reform; that is the first /
In that great reform, the scheme of ]
be president is the play Of Hamlet with {
ut Hamlet. ! propose by the amendment !
hat I offer, to see that Hamlet be brought !
1to the play. [Lsnghter.l 5
Senator Shermsn-Does the Senator pro- q
ose TO postpone The. play Of civil service {
Storm until we adopt this amendment :
Senator Sumner-NO; but i propose to :
nj Hamlet into the play. 1t need not (
AXE long TO do it. ]
The Joint resolution wss laid over. :
Senator Sumner called attention to the :
yet that the amendment was not to 20 I
ITO effect until March 4, 1873; il there :
lre would not interfere with the prefer {
noes of senators for any particular can
idate next year. {