The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1873-08-28
oMsAR1sM


- s'.ss.
From Harper.s Weekly, August 16.
The discussion that is going on in the
newspapers on the subject Of General Grants
second reelection is at lease premature
Barely six months of his second term have
. elapsed. 1t viii be extraordinary, if, during
the next three years, mems minds dc
not drift into new channels and popular fancy
does not craye new idols Few, indeed, OF
our Presidents have retained their popularity
throughout their first term Of office But
two Of the six. who, before Grant, were re-
elected were ever thought of for third term
If Mr.. Lincoln had lived and carried into sue
cessful effect his scheme Of pacifcation the
question might perhaps have arisen IN his
case. But no one thought of pressing the
name of either Madison, or Monroe, or Jack
son for a third nomination. Indeed: it has
come to be almost an axiom in party politics
that, inthe absence ofsuch extraordinary yqual-
i6cations as we're possessed by Lincoln and
Grant, the weakest nomination that can be
made is that Of the President in Office. He
has not only to- contend against the public
belief in the principle Of rotation in office,
80 -. L ..1 rr;sn
wnicn may q May my Do SUM aau .oo.a5 ,
Du. - ceiealn;y w,eestneau a"a I s.a.aJ h;s
oae' however NC rsay na,s s.t'.lA. c.
fsssional politicians for one he has gratlhed,
and he is thus certain TO encounter a luke
warmness, is not an active hostility, among
the chiefs Of his party, which more than
than counterpaiances' sne support ne can a,
command nom the custom house. tue ros'
Of6ce and the Internal Revenue department
On general principles, then, 1T is not worth
while, at present, at least, 70 regard what
the newspapers call ssG@sarism asa practlcal
question. But 1t may not be wholly frivolous
to look at it TOR q moment as matter OF
curious speculation ~
Nothing in the constitution precludes the
reelection Of the same man TO the Presiden-
cy for an indefinite number of terms. In
the original DRAFT OF the constitution the
President was elected by congress Tor . term
of seven years, and was not re-eligible. In
the constitution rs amended by the Grand
Committee, and finally adopted, the President
is elected by Presidential. electors tor four
years, and his rights, as to reelection are the
same as those okother citizens. washington
at the close Of his second term appfised his
fellow citizens that he 'declined to be con-
sidered snong the number OF those out OF,
whom the choice OF a President was 70 De
made md 1aded that "the acceptance g
xnd contfnuance u the naaa -hAl,A- h>e'.-s >. a.
uniform sacrifice OF Inclination 60 'he OPINION
Of duty he evidently considered n'%Sell n
eligible, ana had MS ihciina.lon oeen
different Wouia nave seen 10 op,eo'lo" ~
third term. NOT o'a MI oetei'o III Nj
urged 10 become oahSiua.e ... ioi .ae " III
tune py various UooieS VI o,.leh' v. anu y M w
legislatures OF fermon., I'VE" AoIn. -.e"
Jersy, fennsy.yanm' Mary'anu 'u.a ~
ana ueorgia. ne aeoiineu Pa,sy y" .ns
grou"ooi GROWING '"n'e' an w ~.os
qeisfence u " ,ae cAauPe ..on 90 - haa so,na
In iact' MI HiAulson Sae.eso,o" .n na' d.:
time before oeen seI'iea DeT%een NV .n' t IL
dent ana ms supporter iue,e = nv'n,ns
IN tine writings u oenersoh or ms oo..e"PC
raries 70 snow tnas ei'her he VI 'noy tnousn'
q third term would nave inVoiVed a aVio'a''oh
OF the principles OF democracy OF mena'o :"
republican institutions. 90 ih ss 'he oo''.
stitutlon ana the opinions 0i '.: iraaeis Aie
concerned tnen, tni!o rfeS'usn''a' 'e'"'
seems Tree from oc!ection.
The bugbaar called "CesaTism Is ra,ne.
a sneer than an argument II tne fres'1eh.
can be elected thrice, it Is saia oy tne araen,
patriots who see coming Cesar In Generai
Grant, why not four, hve, or SIX times, OF
for life Why not, indeed, II the people
say SO! II clear majority OF the people
vote to abolish the Republic and set up an
empire who shall hinder them! Shall we,
then, 60 into Mysteries in advance If the
people choose tomorrow to establish Nor
monism or human sacrifices we don't see who
could say them nay. Yet our wives and
children need not distress themselves quite