Litchfield enquirer., 1876-02-10
Presidential and congressIonaa
 Terms.


 was taken on the proposed constitutional amendment restricting the president of the United States to single term of of fee. The proposition failed, Yeas, IA i; Nays, 1O6-almost strict party vote. A substitute, extendiag tbe@Apresidential term to six years and making it's incum- bent ineligible to reelection, failed, 10S to IA, nearly party vote again, the Re- publicans this time taking the affirmative. This as, an old issne, and it is curious to see how parties veer about in their posi- tions regarding it. If our recollection serves us, when Jackson first assumed the leadership of the Young Dewocracy of his time, he was opposed to double terms. His popularity was such, however. as to make his renomination 6 party necessity, end then the Wings took up the one-term cry. Now it is the Democracy who voted almost solid against second terms.
 It is the evil luck of all propositions of- fered in presidential year that they are treated with entire disregard of their mer its, and only as moves on the political chess board. We are inclined to believe that single term would be, on the whole. best for the public good. The temptation to use official patronage is so great that an interruptions politician in the presidential office might often prolong his term of office against the wishes even of his own party. Nor do we believe that any republic. worthy the name, can ever find it's list of statesmen reduced to single name. r P The six years single term, however, is blunder of the late confederacy, for which we ought to be profoundly thankful and extremely careful not to initiate. It han dicapped the rebellion with an incompe- tent leader at the outset, and assured ''lost cause" Towards the last we have heard, indeed, that it vas seriously pro- posed among the confederate leaders to rid themselves of Davis and appoint Lee dictator. 4n time of peace we can stand much bad leadership, but, during serious war, four years of an incompetent presi- dent would be an awful misfortune six years simply uncomfortable. It must not be forgotten that the chief vice of our polity is it's tendency to dead locks. It's two years representative term it's four years presidential term and it's six years senatorial term make it very slowly re sponsive to the will of the people, and very subject to paralysis from divisions betw cen the respective branches of the government, In England the election of a House of Commons decides what party shall control the executive as we'll as the popular branch of the government; and, on all points of difference that may arise after an election, a Ministry always has its chance of an appeal from decision of the Commons to decision of the people by dissolution. Practically, therefore, the government of Great Britain responds much more readily than ours to the will of the electorate, and any increase of the rigijity of our political machinery by aL extension of the presidential term would be extremely unfortunate.
 Another and an entirely unnecessary de- lay in carrying the popular will into any thing like immediate effect results from the present arrangement of presidential and congressional terms. Presidential and congressional elections are held in November. The president then elected is not inaugurated till four months after wards, and the House, then chosen, does not assemble till thirteen months after it's election. In the meantime Congress, a large portion of which has, very possibly, been repudiated by the people, assemblies and legislates for those who have repudia- ted it. In the days of stage coaches and horseback travel these delays may have been necessary, but now the Presi- dent and Representatives chosen in No: vember should begin their official duties with the first of the January following. and the absurd spectacle of a repudiated legis- lature making laws for a free democracy should never be seen again amoug us. Representative Wilson, of Iowa, has of fered constitutional amendment to au. thorize such change of Congressional terms, and we do not see why the Presi. dential term should not also be arranged to correspond with so sensible plan.