New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-09-04

20 promote the personal ends OF the froSiuo' 70 '
GREAT disturbing Influence in our oiyl service oio
is the comprehensive abuse which enveiopS al one
ooico r t5e country. making them tributary to one
man. and subordinate TO his desires. Let this De
cbanl and YOU have the first stage of reform with
ont which all other measures dilatory II not feo-
10 o,,l inoeiclent How futile TO recommend, as Is
1ono Inv tbe Commissioners Civil Service IAN
boos+ cor,pct;tive examination" while the rules for
+bi svst, are left 10 the discretion of President
soaking reelection LEAD US not into temptation
is part of The brief prayer we are all taught 20 to
neat nor are Presidents above the necessity OF TINS
PRAYER The misuse of the appointing power TO adj
vance ambitious aims is temptation TO which
President must not be exposed. For his sake aud
for the sake Of the country, this must not be.
In attrbutng perl TO this Influence. / speak not
only from my own careful observation, but from the
testimony of others whose words are authoritative.
You do not forget how Andrew jackson declared
that the limitation Of the Office to one term was re-
ouired in order to place the President beyond tho
reach of any improper influence, and uncommitted
70 any Other course than tho strict line of constu-
tional duty;" how William Henry Harrison an
| Donnced that with the adoption of this principle
" the incumbent would devote all his time to the
public interest and there would be no cause to mis-
! rule the country; )" how Henry Clay was satisfied
| after much observation and reflection, that TOO
much Of the time the thoughts and the exertlons OIL
the incumbent are occupied during the first term III
securing his reflection and how my senatorial
associate of many years, Benjamin +. Wade aiter
denouncing the reGligbilty of the President, said :
There are defects in the Constitution, and these
are among the most elarng." According TO tins ex-
perienced Senator the reGlgibily of the President
is not only defect in the Constitution but one OF
the most glazing.
A., : IL ! mil If he Dvps
ent incumbent before his election and the tempta-
tion of second term. 1t has been stated by one
who conferred with him at the time, that immedi-
ately before his nomination Gen. Grant sad IN tho
sprit of Andrew jackson: THE liberties OF the
country cannot be maintained without One Term
amendment Of the Constitution" and another
writes II o that while on q walk between the NMte
House and the Treasury, just at the head OF the
steps near the fountain, he paused moment ana
said; am in favor of restricting the President 10
a single term and Of abolishing the ONCE Oh VICE
President" BY the authority of this declaration me
1loroo Chronicle the organ Of the Republican party 40
Washington proclaimed of its Presidential candidate
He is moreover in favor OF the one Term principle as
conducting toward the proper administrations OF the aW
and then at later date after calling for tho Adoption
of this principle, the Republican organ SAID CEN
Grant is in favor Of it." Ulquesuonaby a1 uat ue'
while the canvass was proceeding he allowed him5eH 10
be commended as supporter of ths principle That he
sbonld now disregard gives for the prayer
G LEAD us not into temptation"
E NECESSITY FOR THE AMENDMENT.
Never before was the necessity for this Oenehcent
amendment more apparent; for never before was the
widespread abuse the reGgbty Of the President
more grieyouy conspicuous. De To'Gueville the Illus
trous FrencGman who our institutions with vision
quckened by genius and chastened by friendly regard
L dscerned the peril when he said:
"Intrigue and corruption the natural vices Of cleo
tive government pat wae Inc f III IIe mi T 90
mise the very existence OF the country. When simple
be limited to a very narrow sphere but when the Chet
Magistrate enters the List he ror0ws the stengE OF the
r Government for his own purposes II the repre-
sentative Of the Executive desconds into the combat te
Of government d~lnde Tor nun mo sec0nuatt
6 concern. Id mocTacy in America, vol L. chap WIZ p
, l72J
: Nothing more true than these remarkable words,
which are completely verified what we now behold
The whole diversified machinery Of the national Govern
ment all its parts, operating in State district tOwn
aud village is now at work to secure the reelection OF
the President for time before 1t worked 10 Sc
cure his renomlnatonthe whole being obedent TO the
G | central touch
Look for moment at this machinery, or II you please,
at this political hierarchy, beginning with Cabinet Off
GERS and reaching TO the pettes postmaster every one
dgent to the single end of serving Presidential aspra
ton The JefersOnian rule was, els he hOnestP us
he capabeg" rs he faithful TO the Constitution 2" But
election2" This falling, all merit fails Every office
holder from the highest lowest according TO his nu
Q ence becomes prOp1gandst, fugleman, whipper IN.
Members OF the Cabinet set the example and perambu
late the country, nsructng the people to vote for
election Heads Of bureaus do likewise. Then in their
respective localities officers of the Customs officers OF
the internal Revenue, marshals with their deputies
and postmasters each and ALL inspired from the
national capital all calling for reelection. This or
ganized power varously estimated at from 10000 TO
$4,000 in number all paid by the Government and over
spreading the whole country in minute network.
has unprecedented control at this moment partly from
increased facilities of communication, and partly from
fbe military drill which still survives war, but more,
PERHAPS from the determined will of the President, To
which all these multitudnous wills are sujugated.
This simple picture which nobody question: reveals
tyranny second only TO that of the slave power itself
which Jefferson to have oreseen when after por-
traying the legislature most TO be feared in his day
he said: "The tyranny Of the Executive power will
come in its turn but at distant period" Even his
prophetc vision did not enable him TO fOresee the
mournful condition depore with the One Man
Power lording itself through all the offices of the
country
THE LESSON FROM NORTH CAROLINA
The recent election in North Carolina made this prac-
tically manifest Even without telescope all could
discern the operations OF the field. Postmasters and
officers of Internal Revenue hand each in his
Mace Then came the marshal with files of deputies eX
temporzed for OCCASION while ranging over the eX-
tensve circuit the supervisor OF the revenue the
whole instructed and animated by members OF the Cab-
net who abandoned their responsible duties TO help
election which for the time above all departments
of government and all exgencies Of the public service
In the same way the chief houses OF the coun try
have been enlisted. Each has become political center
whose special object is reelection Authentic evidence
before a Congress Committee shows that Thomas
Murphy, while Collector of New-York, acting as Lieu