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

ism is sapped by election Of Prcsi-
dent without compulsory rotation
attached; that tho inevitable ten
dency Of rc-eligiblc Executives
would lead to an elective monarchy,
and thence to an hereditary one
1t was said, if rotation is not abso-
lutely required, the President once
elected will be re elected time after
time, and will be continued in Office
for life. But what has been our ex-
perience in this respect? Have
these apprehensions been confirm
ed? Have they not rather been
shown wholly groundlcss? With
seventeen years of the future still
requisite to complets our first cen
tury under the Constitution, we have
seen not one, or two, but eighteen
different Presidents in occupancy
Of the executive chair. Six Of those
have filled that high station a Sec
ond time. Others of them have
sought reelection with all the po-
litical appliances known to their
times and parties; but the people in
their absolute right, and sovereign
choice, have preferred a change of
men or measures. None Of the
whole list of Presidents have been
elected third time, nor has one of
them ever sought for such election.
Nor do I believe that danger to
our tree institutions, if come it ever
does, from the executive department,
will be FASTENED or induced by the
maintenance of the principle Of
re-election at the hands of the peo-
pie. know not but somewhere,
far down the vista Of coming ages,
stands a future Cato to mourn the
loss of liberty to America. If that
sad event is in store for our posteri-
ty, and is to be accomplished by
some individual who shall use the
influence, the patronage, and the
political power of the presidential
Office to overturn our governmental
fabric and establish beneath this
Liberty-surmounted dome a royal
throne and scepter, l ask gentlemen
to consider, from past experience
and from their knowledge Of the in
centivcs to human action, whether
we shall be likely to find that exc
cradle parsonage in one who is per-
mitted to preside over the grandest
nation on the face of the earth, so
long AS he merits and maintains the
support and confidence of its pco-
pie? Or whether we should not be
much more likely to find him in an
ambitious President, who, having
been crowned with his country's
highest honors, and because of con-
stitutional inhibition, seeing before
him only inevitable descent from
the high eminence, and considering
that no measure of desert past or
present, no confidence on the part
of the people, however well and
largely bestowed, could save him
from unwclcome reverse, would be
extremely tempted to seize an op-
perfume juncturc of affairs to sub
serve his ambition at every per-
sonal risk, and the sacrifice of the
Government we so greatly love and
SO justly revere?
ADVANTAGES OF EXPERIENCE.
Again, sir, it will be readily ad-
lnitted that the duties OF the presi-
dental Office are equally ifn more
difficult than those Of any other
Office in the country.
1t follows that the samo advant-
ages are to be reaped from ability
and experience in this as in any
other position Of public response
bility. There is no position of trust
in which the occupant may not
prove taithless; no position ofpower
which may not be misused; no place
of emolument which may not be
made source ofcorruption. There
is in my Judgment, therefore, no
logical reason why if it be wise to
apply this limitation to one Office,
it should not be made to apply to all.
Yet who now or ever has proposed
such bar to reflections for posi-
tions less difficult and less impor-
tant? Who OF the people propose
that they shall be denied the bcnc-
fit Of ability and experience gained
by prior occupancy in places Of
public trust? Or what legislator,
in state or nation, proposes it for
them? Let me. illustrate from my
present surroundings.
There have been and there still
are men whose voices have echoed
from the walls of this Capitol who
have made their services of incal-
culable value to the country as leg
islators. How was this attained?
All will admit by continued service.
Suppose limitation for the congress
sional Office had been obtained, flor
it was also submitted by Mr.. Ran
dolph in the Federal Convention as
one ofthe resolutions accompanying
the one have before referred to
that members of the national Legis-
lature should be ineligible for a
number Of years. should we ever
have had our Webstcrs and Clays
and Bentons and Crittendcns, whose
words Of wisdom so brightly illu-
mine the pages of our legislative
history2 Or to speak of time pres
cnt, lot gentlemen look around them
here and tell me who most leave
their impress upon the Legislation
of the country to-day? Whose
counsel is sought? Whose judg-
mcnt is relied on in these questions,
at once so intricate and so import
ant, which you here encounter? The
men just from private stations? All,
no, sir. They, like he who now for
the first time addresses this House,
arc only too well pleased to sit at
the feet of our legislative Gamaliels
and learn Of them the difficult les
sons of practical and prudent legis-
lation, which. they have largely at
taincd by long experience.
Imagine this House, from Speak
or to Delegate, to have been organi-
zcd without single member of the
last or of any preceding Congress
among the number; tho next and all
succeeding Congresses composed