National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-06-24

favored re-eligibility commended that with
out 1t the President would be deprived o
powerful motives to good conduct. h,
would be tempted to make out of his tern
all he could, without regard to the future O
the Government 1t was maintained tina
In crises Of danger the country might los,
the services of patriot whom it preferred
and be compelled to take for his successor
some inferior citizen. And, finally, 1t wa.
held that the people should have the right
of choosing whether they would continue
in Office an approved public servant.
In prescribing and denouncing the cleo
ton of President to third term do W.
not impeach the wisdom of the great men
who framed the Constitution De we MOI
say substantially that they were wrong in
comforting on the people the privilege of re.
electing President as often as they SEX
proper, and that the people are undeseryine
Of the trust reposed in themi
Is 1t right that precedents should abro-
gate the Constitution or any part of it Pre-
cedents are of great value to judicial tribu
mails. But they are not always absolutely
bound by them, or else erroneous decisions
could never be reversed. ...-.,
Where is the advantage of q written con
stitution If we permit it to be modified by
precedent as our British ancestors have
done with their constitution
This generation is competent to make 1t:
own precedents, as others will be. without
being fettered irrevocably by those set in
the beginning of the century. .----
At loss for reasons why the Constitu'
ton should be sbrogated so far as it regards
eligibility to third term the advocates o.
abrogation say that third term will lead
to tenure for life; the usurpation by the
President of imperial power, and tile sub
version Of liberty,
These are the absurd and ridiculous chi.
meras with which ambitious aspirants seek
to cajole the people. Until the people be-
come utterly corrupt aad fit for master nc
President could take with impunity the
first step towards the infringement of our
liberties. One act on his part of that char,
acter, like the first gun fired at Fort Sum-
ter. would rouse the whole people to tram
pie down the insolent usurper.
Second. But 1t is not the sanctity of pre-
cedents which inspires the vindictive oppo-
sition to third term. Impatient candi,
dates for the Presidency thus disguise their
vsulting ambition. No precedent set by
Washington and his contemporaries is con-
sidered sacred and inviolable by them ex-
cept that of declining reelection after the
second term. This precedent the modern
aspirant to the Presidency feels a profound
interest in respecting. He wants to give it
the force and efficacy Of constitutional
law. He wants to disqualify the people to
choose the man they prefer for President.
He wants to save the people from them
selves-the old pretence of demagogues
who fear to trust the people and are skep-
teal oftheir intelligence and integrity.
Some years ago the friends of distin-
guished gentlemen who hoped for nomina-
tons to the Presidency invented and
strongly urged the doctrine that no one
should serve as President more than for sin
gle term. From Jackson to Lincoln-.s period
Of twenty -four years-the multiplication of
importunate candidates gave US Presidents
for but one term. These one-term Presi-
dents-not the best we have had-ceased
with the civil war, and should the interests
and welfare of the people require itthey will
set aside also the precedents furnished In
the beginning of the century.
Unless misled by faction and the machina-
tons of ambitious demagogues the people
will always in the choice of President
consider, not the precedents of remote
age, not the qualification of the hopes of a
swarm of greedy politicians. but their own
welfare and the substantial interests of the
country.
Frequent changes in the Executive have
a tendency to make the policy of the coun-
try, both foreign and domestic, fluctu sting
and unstable. The magnitude of the in
terests now dependent on the conduct Of
the Government makes constancy to a set
tied policy of the greatest importance.
In the seventy second number of the
FsderGlist General Hamilton, with his &C
customed felicity and power, discusses the
subject of re-eligibility, as will be seen by
the following extract:
"With positive duration of considerable
extent, connect :he circumstance Of re-eligi-
bility. The first is necessary to give the officer
himself the inclination and the resolution to
act his part well, and to the community time
and leisure TO observe the tendency of his
measures, and thence to form an experimental
estimate of their merits. The last is necessary
TO enable the people, when they see reason TO
approve of his conduct, to continue him in the
station, In order to prolong the utility of his
talents and virtues, and to secure to the Gov
eminent the advantage of permsnency in q
wise system of administration.
'Nothing appears more plausible at first
sight, nor more ill-founded upon close inspec-
ton, than a scheme which, in relation to the
present point, has had some respectable advo-
Gates. mean that of continuing the Chief
Magistrate in Office certain time and then ex-
Guiding him from 1t for limited period or for
ever after. This exclusion, whether tempo
rary or perpetual, would hsye nearly the same
effect and these effects would be for the most
= H. 1.Wka.