Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1872-01-25
He One Term Resolutions.

He One Term Resolutions.
There was q mechanical toy, for
merly mach in use among children,
called the Thaumatropc, the peculi-
arity OF which consisted in the tact
that, when it was rapidly revolved, it
assumed the appearance Of . shape
entirely different from its own. Mr..
Conkling's treatment of the one-tevm
resolution, in the Senate on Thurs,
day, may be described as purely shau-
matropical. BY attaching the one
term resolution to the strings of talk,
and twirling it rapidly for two hours,
he succeeded in exhibiting it to his
audience. not - one-term resolu.
tion q all, but - an electioneering
document. Near-sighted people were
undoubtedly derived; but those
who were not victims OF optical illu
sson-among them Mr.. Sumner-in
two minutes exposed the trick which
it had taken Mr.. Conkling two hours
to exhibit. In attacking tho resolution
he neither entered Into its merits
nor demerits. Whatever may be
said for it. he did not examine; what.
ever may be said against it, he did
not state. It did not rise to the dig-
nifty OF argument,or even to the mer-
it OF assault; and the only reason
why a formal answer could not be
made to 1t, was because nothing was
said, although much had been talk
ed.
Mr.. Conkling has become accus-
toned to using the party whip that
he now carries it about with him
and uses it on every occasion, even
If he has nothing to do with 1t but to
beat the empty an, as iu this case
The solemn impudence with which
he brought out his whip and inform
ed Mr.. Sumner that the Senate was
not the place where Presidential can
didates were engendercd or aspir-
ants nourlshed, becomes fairly sub
lime when it is considered that he
himself was striving to "engender"
candidate. The only object of the
ore.term resolution, which ho could
see, was an intent to defeat General
Grants nomination tor the second
term,-a conspiracy "to petrlfy the
opposition through the medium Of
Constitutional amendment" AS
General Grant is specially exempted
from the operation OF the resolution,
which cannot have force until 1873,
it is difficult to see how the process
Of petritaction is to take place, unless
it is to operate against the third
term, and the fourth term, and so on
ad infaitum, which the present Ad-
ministration seems disposed to ac-
cept without murmuring. Even the
Administration organ OF this city de-
clares itself satisfied, as the resolu-
ton cannot go into effect until the
Administration has supplied it with
sustenance through another term
Perhaps Mr.. Conkling, although he
did not so specify, fears s6t the,
adoption OF this resolution may work
prcjudiciaily in the National G Con-
ventlon, next June, against the re
nomination of General Grant, and
|thns spctrify the opposition" Is
this IN argument against the resolu
ton? Must = wise and beneficial
measure be rejected because 1t is
supposed to be prejudiciaI to some
individuals tenure of office !? Will
there ever be a time when its adop
ton will not be supposed to inter-
fere with the second term Of somebo-
dy who happens to occupy the Pres
idential char when 1t is introduced !?
II this objection Of Mr. Conkling's
be valid one now, il is always avail
id one, and that combination OF cir
cumstances can never occur iD which
ITS adoption would be possible. The
only single point which Mr.. Conk-
ling attempts to make falls to the
ground, and .the real shape OF the
thaumatrope IS seen at once. Such
special pleading as this cannot lie
against the resolution. |: aims to
correct u radical defect in our system
of government, and ONE which, with
every succeeding Administration, en-
gratis itself more firmly upon that
system, and increases its opportunl-
ties for mischief. It must be argued
upon it's intrinsic merits. II cannot
be put down by any attempt to make
it appear other than il Is, or by any
shallow TRADE Of abuse; and the on
" effect which Mr.. Conkling's de-
Of Il can have, will be to
strengthen the opinion Of sensible
mon that its adoption Is necessary
I: the administrator has no more
skilful champion to send into the
field, Il had better xlthdraw, and let
the reselntio. psss. { Chicago T'sbsxs.
The ce-Prestdcncy.