The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1874-06-17
THE THIRD TERM QUESTION.
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lnP leauluS JOufndlS Vi lile COuAuS
are discussing this question under the
two-fold aspect} first, whether President
Grant desires and can secure thlrt
nomination; and second, whether his
nomination and election would be dan
gerous to Republican institutions. The
note of alarm was sounded in series O
articles in the NcU York Herald more
than a year ago, and other journals have
given utterance to the same views
Prominent among these is the Courier
Journal, which finds in the recent ap
pointment of Gen. Bristow as Secretar!
of the Treasury, evidence of the Presi
dents wishes in the matter, and that HI
relies upon the courage and brains of th'
able Kentuckian to furnish valuable
aid in attaining the object of his ambi
ton. That backed as he is by the colos
sal patronage of the Government, thu
President could easily secure a majority
of the delegates to the National Conven
ton, and thus make sure of his nomina
ton, seems to be conceded by the Hcrclc
the Cincinnati Commercial, and othel
leading journals, though there is
difference of opinion amoung them a:
to the significance 'of such an event
The Herald regards it as fraught will
extreme peril to the 'country, and cite
the authority of leading American
statesmen, rs opposing the third tern
principle, quoting the words of the il
lustrious Jefferson, who, when solicited
before the expiration of his second tern
to be again candidate, replied as fol
lows
"If some termination to the services
of the Chief Magistrate be not fixed by
the constitution, or supplied by practice
the office, nominally for years, will in fac
become for life; and history shows how
easily that degenerates into an inner
itance. Believing that representative
government, responsible at short periods
of election, is that which produces the
greatest sum of happiness to mankind
| feel it a duty to do no act which shal!
essentially impair that principle. and
should unwillingiy be the person who,
disregarding the sound precedent set by
an ilIustrious predecessor, should fur.
nish the first example of prolongation
beyond the second term of office"
De Tocqueville, the celebrated author
of Democracy in America" urges in
his work various strong reasons against
the reelection of the chief magistrate,
and in this view was sustained by
Henry Clay and Gen. Jackson, who
found similar reasons against re-elec-
ton, which are now urged against a
third term. Says the Herald:-
"De Tocqueville cannot be regarded
as mere theoretical speculator OH our
institutions when his judgment is thus
corroborated by the formally declared
opinions of the two most illustrious and
experienced American statesmen of that
period. But if one reelection of Pres
ident is contrary to sound policy, what
ought to be said Of two or an indefinite
number? 1t is notorious that President
during his first term spends his time in
for 4 second, whereas if he
were limited to single term he would
have no motive but to promote the. good
of the country. If it be once conceded
that President may be perpetually re.
elected, without any limitation. every
second term becomes as bad as first,
and every administration is debaseI into
an electioneering intrigue for the success
sion. When the Southern States Sc
ceded it was for their obvious interest to
court public appreciation by such ap-
proved changes as general experience
sanctioned. They, accordingly, extend
ed the Presidential term to seven years,
and forbade reelection. There can be
no reasonable doubt that that was wise
provision, introduced with q view to
reconcile doubtful supporters to secession
by connecting it with real and unde-
niable Improvement. 1t must be !appa-
rent to readers who attend to even the
few authorities which our space has
allowed us to cite, that the Herald, in its
warming protest against the advent OF
Casarism was only repeating the ma
ture, settled convictions Of the greatest
statesmen and most philosophic writer's
who have deliberately examined this
subject
To us Of the South, the anticipated
evils growing out of third term are
shadowy, compared with the actual evils
under which we are actually suffering,
and we would even hail a military des-
potism as furnishing safeguard for the
protection of person and property at the
South, which we have sought in vain in
the respective State Governments. If
we are to have Republican President,
we do not know that we could select a
better man than President Grant, or
that the strengthening of the hands of
the executive, so rs to make him indie
pendent of sectional feeling and party
interests, would not enure to our'benefit.
If he is to be President, let him have all
the power of Caesar. We of the South,
however, are looking forward hopefully
to disintegration of old parties, and
their reconstruction upon new issues, in
which we shall once more assume our
proper part in the government of the
country, and as we share the burdens, SO
we shall all participate in the privileges
of American freeman. And this can
only be secured by change of rulers at
Washington.
THE Poor HOUSE FARM, with its six
teen paupers, two mules and farming
was put up on Monday last,
at public auction, and Knocked down
to our enterprising townsman, Mr.. ia