The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1872-02-15
Alexander Hamilton On tho One
Term Principle.
From the independent,

i Alexander Hamilton, one of the bright
est stars Of the Revolutionary age, was a
| member of the Convention that drafted
| lhe Constitution of the United States -
| He was one Of the writer's of those mem
orable letters published soon after the ad-
IjourDment OF tbs Convention, and design
ed to explain the provisions Of the Con-
stltution and commend it to the conf
dence of the people. Number seventy
TWO OF the Federalist, written by Alexan-
der Hamilton, contains his views ''in re
gard to the re-eligi5ility Of the President
| The conclusion to which he came, after
canyassing the whole question, is express
| ID IN the following Wulds: There is an
excess of refinement In the idea Of disab-
| ling the people to continue IN their opin-
ion, to Appreciation and confidence, the
advantages of which are at best specula-
| tive and equirocal, and are overbalanced
by disadvantages far more certain and
9ecisive.'
For this opinion he gives FIVE reasons,
which we state as follows, without their
| aGphGcatlon by the author:
l. One i'll effect Of he exclusion (name
| ". from re-elixibilityl would DC dimiDu-
ton of the inducements to good behavior
2. Another i'll effect Of the exclusion
would be the temptation to sordid views,
to peculation, and in some instances to
usurpation.
8. A third i'll effect of the exclusion
would be the depTiving the community of
the advantage Of the experience gained
by the chief magistrate In the exercise of
his effice.
4. A fourth i'll effect of the exclusion
would be the banishIng men from stations
IN which, in certain emergencies Of the
State, their presence might be of the
greatest moment to the interest or safety.
5. A fifth i'll effect Of the exclusion
would be that it would operate as con-
stitutional interdiction.
These points are expanded and brought
out in their full force with the mastery
ability aud statesmanlike logic for which
Alexander Hamilton was so distinguished.
Those of our readers who feel an inter-
estin this question. and can conveniently
turn to the Federalist, will receive no
harm by perusing this letter from the pen
of one Of the profoundest thinkers of any
age.u
We are permitted to publish the fol-
lowing interesting letter from DR.. Har
vey Lindsly, of Washington, to Senator
Conkling:
DEAR SIR: [ have read with much in
terest your speech on the proposed
amendment of the constitution, in rela
ton to the eligibility Of the President for
re election. | observe that Mr.. Sumner
in his reply gives good deal of promi-
nence Tor rather it seems his only afgu-
ment) to the supposed fact that most of
our eminent statesmen have been III ia
vor of the restriction proposed by him.
Now. it happens that there is one very
DISTINGUISHED exception to this rule,
known to me personally. l was the ply
sician of Mr.. Webster for many years
and, Of course, in the habit of seeing him
f:equently-and | recoIiect distinctly on
one occasion in speaking of this subject,
he remarked emphaticaly (nearly in the
words of Gouverneur Morris, quoted by
you,) that the idea was an absurdity, as
it took away from the President one
grand inducement TO the performance OF
bis duty. 1t occurred to Inc, that under
the circumstances, this little incident
might interest you.
Very respectfully,