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

Executive. And we have accord
ingly seen in all our past history,
since Washington, 10 general de-
sire manifested by the people for
the retention, beyond second term,
of a single Chief Magistrate, no
matter how pure his conduct, how
exalted his political virtues, or how
answering his integrity. Why
should we, therefore, fetter their
action? We all concede that politi-
cal power is an inherent right of the
people. They seldom err in con-
ferring it. When, therefore, any
officer, from town magistrate to a
President, SO acquits himself in his
position as not only to justify the
selection, but also to prompt the
desire for his retention, it is, and
ought to remain, the right and the
privilege of the people to re-elect
him to such Office.
Docs any one assert that those
Presidents who have held that po-
sition fer eight years gave to the
country administrations less pure,
less safe, less promotive Of peace
and prosperity than those whom the
people retired at the end ola single
term? Undeniably, think, history
establishes the reverse. Can it be
successfully disputed that the ad-
minislrations of the rechosen Exc
cutives were more acceptable dur
ing the second than during the first
term? Certainly not. Wisely and
we'll the people have hitherto dis
criminated in this matter. If they
have not reelected all the worthy
Presidents, they have, at least,
never rechoscn a bad one. l am
not of those who believe they are
deteriorating in intelligence, in po-
litical virtue, or in their ability to
judge Of the merits and dcmerits of
candidates, from the lowest to the
highest. During his term a Presi-
dent, from whatever political party
he comes, is fulsomely adulated by
some, sharply, if not unkindly,
criticised by others of his party
friends, vilified by his political enc.
mics, but his acts and administra-
tive policy are more fairly, yet
closely scrutinized by the people.
Be he wise as Jefferson, patriotic as
Jackson, or pure as Lincoln, he
shall not escape the abuse Of politi-
cans; but he may receive the plaud-
it of "well done, good and faithful
servant" from just and apprecia-
tive people.
LIMITATION EFFECTIVE IN WRONG
DIRECTION.
So long, therefore, and only so
long, as President commends him
self to the country in the faithful
performance of public duty and full
fillment of public trust, does the
probability remain of his being
rechosen for that position. The
proposed amendment would thus
affect, not those who have shown
themselves incompetent and un.
worthy, but would only raise con
stitutional barrier against those
Executives who during their first
term might so demonstrate their
capability for this high trust, and
their acceptability to the people, as
to produce \ manifest desire for
their continuance, and hence their
reelection probably. The amend
ment, if adopted, would be effective
in precisely the wrong direction.
PATRONAGE.
Again it was originally urged as
an argument in favor of this limita-
ton that it would be necessary to a
proper independence Of action on
the part of the executive branch of
Government. Hamilton assures us
in the Federalist, No. As, that
"Thc tendency of republican govern
ments is to an aggrandizement of the
legislative at the expense of the other
departments"
But just now the argument is all
reversed. We are assured that the
Executive is entirely too independ-
ent; that too much political power
is within his control; that through
improper use Of patronage a Presi-
dent may operate on the motives of
the other departments, may attain a
dangerous personal influence, may
compass his own reelection. Ac-
cordingly, to remove any ground of
suspicion in this regard, we have
recent enactments by which it is
intended the individual will of this
officer is to be suspended in the
matter of appointments, and recon-
mendations for positions by men,
bers Of Congress also rendered
nuyatory. Lest this may fail to be
completely effcctual, We have before
us proposed Legislation rendering
it an unlawful act for member of
either branch Of Congress to recon-
mend any person for appointment
to civil Office, and another PROPOSE.
tion by which the great mass of
Federal officers are to be wholly
withdrawn from any appointing
power and made elective by the
people. While it is hardly possi-
BILE that all improper use Of patron
age can or will be eliminated from
Government and from politics, vet
these means to which l have refer
red must remove any dangers, real
or supposed, in the method ofap-
pointment. If this be the argument
against reelection, and the objec-
ton is thus removed, why shall we
then decree that there shall bo no
reelection?
But, sir, has patronage, its proper
or improper use, been the cause or
means of reflections?
During the first forty years i'm.
mediately succeeding the adoption
OF the Constitution very little use
was made Of the appointing power
in partisan sense; yet during
thirty-two of those forty years the
executive Office was filed by Prcsi-
dents who were reelected. Ono
fifth of that period only was it filled
by the two Adamses, neither Of
whom were rechoscn. Then came
<lo noo,Dorat;o a.on',,,o ,rI,;ob -,