Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1872-04-05
SPEECH OF
Hon. w. G. Oonnan.
OF IOWA,
In the House OF Representatives,
March 16, 1872.

In the House OF Representatives
March 16, 1872.
The House h0Uing met for debate as IL
Committee Of the Whole on the state o.
tile Union-
Mr.. DONNAN said:
Mr.. SPEAKER:-Since the organi
zation of the present Congress sew
eral propositions have been submit
ted in one or both Houses fol
additional amendments to the Con
stitution Of the United States. Tc
the one, favoring such changes as
will render the Executive ineligible
for a second term of Office, l desire
for a few minutes to call the atten
ton Of the House.
1t is not strange, Mr.. Speaker
that the ever-expanding area, the
ever-increasing population, the ev'
cr-progrcssing civilization, and the
ever-changing circumstances of a
Republic like our own, have, from
time to time, prompted her people
to ingraft amendments upon the
fundamental law of Government
suited to such changed circumstan
ccs and relations. 1t is not strange
that the complete overthrow of the
recent attempt to tear asunder oul
grand Union Of States, and to build
upon its ruins and within it's limits
another government with the avow.
cd object and for the especial pur'
pose of protecting and perpetuatlng
the odious system Of human bond
age, has resulted, through sense Of
justice and proper appreciation oi
the long g-since declared principles
OF American freedom, in promising,
yes, in impelling, the statesmen to
suggest, and the citizens of this
country to adopt, such constitution
al amendments as recognize the
universally Of human rights and
guaranty to those millions Of our
people thus uplifted from the dark
ness of serfdom into the sunlight OF
citizenship the full enjoyment Of all
those precious rights secured to us
in the formation of this Government,
and for the establishment and main
tenance Of which we justly do not
cease to revere the wisdom and to
laud the patriotic devotion of the
fathers of the Republic. 1t is not
strange if thoroughly earnest, think
ing men believe tina. still other pro-
visions of the Constitution may yet
be so amended as will render more
harmonious, more perfect, the work
ing Of our whole system Of govern
ment.
While we do not forget that re-
ligion, the most precious Of inter
csts, has more than once sought
proselytes by fire rather than by the
persuasive teachings Of the Saviour,
and that politics, next in value, as
embracing the temporal well being
and happiness OF man, is oftcntimes
nursed by prejudice and passion
rather than by appeals to the better
Judgment, and that particular meas
ures are not unfrequently urged
with sinister on selfish ends in view,
vet let us believe that the consider
alton of this amendment is pressed,
not at all because Of the present
peculiar juncture Of political at:
fairs; not at all because there are
those sufficiently i!libcral to sug-
gest that either of those zeal
Gus advocates of the "onc-term
principle" the philosopher of the
Senate, of the press, or of the ros-
trum, would not absolutely refuse to
serve for single term only, as
President, if the people should in
sist upon it! Rather let us infer that
it arises from the best of motives, a
sincere desire for the most iudicious
organization of the executive power
and that to prohibit the reelection
Of that officer would attain the pro
posed object.
QUESTION STATED.
The public mind is sensitive tc
proposed changes Of organic law
Eager to improve and adopt any
amendment which enlarges the
rights and privileges of the great
body of the people, it is equally
timid, jealous, and suspicious Of
any proposition an examination Of
which justifcs the belief that its
doctrine would practically result ir
the deprivation of any just right al
ready enjoyed by them, or in the
restriction of u privilege to which
through time and experience, the
people may havcbecome accustomed
and attached. To my mind this il
conclusively substantiated by the
action of the different States in the
various revisions of their respective
State constitutions, rs al 0 by THEN
action upon the amendments OF the
Federal Constitution which have
been heretofore submitted for ratifi
cation. TO such standard of libe
rality in thought, in speech and il
action have the citizens of this
country attained, however, in these
closing years of our first century o.
national existence, that any propo
sition put forth professedly as 8
means Of fortifying this editicc o.
liberty, reared and preserved al
such namelcss expense of treasure
blood and life, will receive ready
attention, and candid, if not favora
BILE, consideration. With this pro
fcssed purpose comes this proposed
amendment to place ban in the
Constitution against any retention
whatever, under any circumstances
Of the Executive beyond single
term of Office, which, as hope ir
some measure to elucidatc, is neither
in accord with the spirit of our pas
history, not advantageous to = more
steady and faithful administration
of public affairs, nor at all necessary
to the continued security Of consti
tutional government.
Probably the germ Of politica
parties in this country was dcvcl
opcd in Jefferson and Hamilton.
do not question that the cause o
free. government, to which they
alike had devoted so much of Their
labor and care, was equally dear t.
.l,,,,,. lx,t flo, oorly fnoE vidal