The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1873-12-09
ONE TER M.

occupant ineligible lot re-eleCtlOn. we
trust that prompt action may be taken Oh
this proposition, that, whether Congress
that is the present members thereof-ap-
prove of it or not, it may be submitted to
the several states for their action, so that
this yeXed question may be put at rest for
ever. We doubt not that the vast majority
of the American people are in favor of
single term, although they may differ upon
the length thereof. Whether the term
shall be four, six or eight years, can be de-
termined by the committee who are to CON
slider the proposal, and an expression of
the popular will can be obtained by sub
mission thereof in the alternative. The
trouble heretofore, has been that the de-
mand for a single term" has been, with
single exception and that can hardly be
called an exception made for party pur-
poses. As the constitution was, it was a
necessity for the democratic party TO sup
port General Jackson for reelection. In
der the same circumstances the Union
would have committed suicide If Abraham
Lincoln had not been reelected So one
year ago, we deemed it our duty to sup
port General Grant. At that time six pre-
sidenis had been continued III Office for
second term, their choice being understood
rs II popular endorsement of their course
| three presidents failed of reelection, and
others had sought for, but failed in obtain
ing candidacy. each defeat being intended
as a rchuke to their administration. The
general course of politics, so tar as the
presidency was concerned, has been such
that a failure to obtain denomination or
reelection has been considered an emphatic
disapproval of the President, and was in
tended to he such. Taking the 'consttu-
| ton rs ii was we could not understand,
and we fill to understand now. how a
supporter OF the principle of a single
term could 30 counter to his convictions
in advocating the reelection of General
| Grant.
But whether they were liable To this
charge, or not. makes no difference now.
Neither does it make any difference that
some one may say that We stultiiy oursclf
by saying that we have always been in fa-
vor of one term, and yet we heartily sup
ported Abraham Lincoln and General
Grant for a second term The objection
cannot now be made that the argument in
favor of one term is not sincere but that il
isa covert attack against the incumbent.
Now, if eyer, Is the time to consider this
proposition, dispassionately and without
regard TO individuals. A single term fol
the President is a Vermont principle 1t is
true that the constitution of the United
States, us originally reported and agreed tC
by the convention, provided that he should
"be chosen for seven years, and not eligi-
- bic at any time thereafter" This pro-
position, however, was defeated, but how
and by whom If we can rely upon the
statement of Luther Martin, member OF
the convention. and if any idea can bt
drawn from the speeches of the DIRECTORS
their idea, at the outset, was to establish al
elective monarchy They SO far sue
| Ittbttl. tIlstt IL W 10 II III DOMCl "
the people to retain man in the prcsden
tial office forever The sterling patriotism
of Washington, in the first instance, an(
the intelligence Of the people thereafte
has prevented any such contingency.
may. also, be true that it will always b
safe to rely on the people We admit it
in nine cases out of ten-but the tenth
there is the rub. Since the foundation o
the government down to the present da,
there has hardly been a time when such
proposition could be entertained without
carrying with it, some personal or pOlitca
reflection. Now it is altogether different
stitution, has prevented the seeking of
third term in the presidency. Genera
I Grant has been reelected almost unani
c mously, and it is not reasonable or proba
bic to presume that he will be again car
, didatc. Now is the time. therefore, to cor
slider this one term principle, because II
man can tell what individual or party
may affect.
n We have said that this is Vernon
principle, and we believe it to be 80. Al
ter the defeat OF the proyiso in the fir
i, Congress, there were more or less propos
o tions, or arguments. put forward, lookin
# in this direction, but no steps were taken |
n place the stamp of authority thereon
Horace Greeley, both in the Neo York.
and in the Tribune was an earnest adv,
cate OF this doctrine, and urged upon Il
wings, in 1910, to make this a cardinal pa
of their declaration Of principles. We ms
e be mistaken, but if our memory serves u
y the wing party went into that campaig
3 and elected General Harrison witho
adopting what is now called platform
y The wings of Vermont, however, the san
= year, declared themselves in favor of limi
Il ing the President to a single election. III
= wings were not alone in this. At the sc
=. sion of the general assembly of Vernon
in October 1910, our Senators in Congre
= were ''instructed' and our Represcntativ
" requested " 10 use their best endeayo
- 10 procure such an amendment to Il
" constitution Of the United States as W
" restrict the eligibility Of the President
~ I" the United States to single term
70 This resolution passed the house witho
opposition, and there was but one vo
against il in the senate. Nothwithstandi
-. Van Buren, was candidate for rc-electio
m almost the entire democratic party of VI
II mont favored this amendment, while t
IN wings gave an unanimous vote in its fave
,o The arguments in favor of single tel
az were the same then as now, with one d
40 ference. The force of the argument,
~ 1910, against executive patronage is inten
~. fed, hundred fold, in 1873. Now is "A
vOrable time. Let us. therefor have