Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1872-04-05

gave proof Of their sincerity and
zeal, may also by reciprocal action
have essentially contributed to its
preservation.
These eminent and primitive
statesmen of our country were pro-
totypes Of individuals and of par
ties. The same apprehensions have
been entertained by earnest, patri-
otic men from that time to the pres
cnt. And although our more recent
history may, and in my judgment
must, logically compel the conclu-
sion that the greater danger to our
institutions lies largely in relaxa-
ton of necessary authority, and
consequent irretrievable confusion
and anarchy, yet l do not now
question that some of the diatribcs
with which the Halls of Congress
resounds against real or imaginary
accumulation Of patronage, concen-
tration of political power, centrali-
zation of government, and assump-
ton of dictatorial authority on. the
part of the Executive, may arise not
wholly from partisan acerbity or
from personal vindictiveness and
animosity, but at least partially, let
us hope largely, from apprehensions
of which l have spoken, and from a
laudible and earnest desire for the
best possible government.
The Constitution went into effect
on the 4th of March, 1889. There
was wisely placed among its provi-
sions an alternative method of Sc
curing amendments to that Consti-
tuition, namely:
"The Congress, whenever two-thirds
of both Houses shall deem it necessary,
shall propose amendments, or, on the ap
plication of the Legislatures Of two thirds
of the several States, shall call convcn-
tion for proposing amendments, which,
in either case, shall be valid as part of
this Constitution when ratified by the
Legislatures of threc-fourths of the sever
al States, &c"
Under this provision fifteen
amendments have been made, one of
which relates to the Executive
only, however, to the manner of his
election-which was added in 1904.
The term of service and rc-eligibil-
ity of the President have therefore
remained unchanged since the for
nation of the Government. That
the want Of the present limitation
has not been seriously or practically
felt in our past history appears evil
dent from the fact that l discover
but one proposition submitted which
reached final affirmative vote in
either House of Congress from the
time of the Federal Convention to
the assembling Of this Congress.
that in 1926, and the amendment
then proposed was that no person
should be elected President third
time.
ACTION OF FEDERAL CONVENTION.
If, however, this question of limi-
tation of the Executive to q single
term of Office is comparatively new
at this date, il is not by any means
unknown to our history. The or
ganization Of the executive depart
mcnt caused more agitation in the
Federal Convention, and in the con-
ventions in some Of the States call
ed to consider the adoption of the
proposed Constitution, than perhaps
any other subject that came before
them. The power to be conferred
upon that officer; the length of his
official term, with and without limi-
tation as to subsequent terms; his
election mediately or Immediately
by the people; and his appointment
by the national Legislature, were
fully argued and carefully consid-
cred. From the following abstracts
from theeproceedings it will be per-
ccived that sentiment ranged all the
way from an Executive appointed
by Congress for a period as brief as
three years, and not eligible there
after, to President elected by the
people, re-cligible for a reasonable
length of official term, or even, as
twice proposed, elected for life or
during good behavior.
On June /, 1887, Governor Ran
dolph introduced resolution that
the national Executive be chosen by
the Legislature for term Of
years,to be ineligible a second time,
&c. The term was fixed at seven
years, and the ineligibility clause
and the mode Of appointment were
adopted, and the consideration of
other clauses of the resolution were
postponed.
On the 18th of June Mr.. Patterson
submitted a similar proposition in
connection with several others,
which, on motion of Mr.. Madison,
were referred to a Committee of the
Whole House:
Three days later, Mr.. Hamilton
submitted a plan Of government
which included President to be
elected by electors chosen by the
people, to serve during good be-
havior, with functions similar to
those now dcvolved upon the Exec
utivc.
On the next day thereafter, Mr..
Gorham submitted Mr.. Randolph's
resolution, as altered and amended
in the Committee of the Whole
House. which report provided for
an Executive to consist Of single
person, to be chosen by the national
Legislature for tho term Of seven
years, ineligible second time
This resolution came up for consid-
Grafton on the 18th of July, when it
was moved to strike out tho words'na-
tional Legislature and insert "thc
citizens Of the United States," thus
rendering the Executive indepcn-
dent Of Congress and elective by
the people; but the motion was de.
featcd. 1t was then moved TO agree
to the words "to be ineligible a SEQ
ond times" which was carried by a
majority Of two, counting by States.
A motion was then made to strike
out the words "seven years." which
was defeated. 1t was then agreed
to reconsider the clause relating
a.