Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1880-03-04
Judge Black on the Third Term.

An artiCle Dy Judge FOREMAN
Black upon the Third Term ques-
ton appears in the North american
Review for March. The article 10
written in reply to Elk Senator
Howe's defence of the thlrd.term
principle, which was published in
the February number of the Reuieso.
After quoting the resolution upon
the subject passed by the House of
Representations in 1875, Judge
Black says: 'This is resolution
passed by the House Of Representa-.
tives on the 18th day of December,
1875. 1t was offered by Mr.. Spring
er of Illinois, after consultation with
leading friends Of the principle. and
was carried Immediately and almost
unanimously, being opposed by the
votes of only eighteen members out
|oftwo hundred and fifty. one. 1t re-
ceived the support aud appreciation
of all parties. Men who quarrelled
bitterly upon all other political sub
jects were of one heart and one
mind, when it came to be q question
whether the custom established by
Washington and other Presidents,
of retiring after their second term,
ought to be respected or could be
safely departed from"
Judge Black next takes up and
refutes the arguments made by
Howe. Hs quotes Thomas Jeffer.
sons opinions upon the .wo-ter m
rule: Jefferson 10 letters addressed
to the legislature of Vermont, New
Jersey. and Pennsylvania, dated on
the 10Th day of December, 1907,
said
"That I should lay down my
charge ct proper period is as much
q duty as to have borne it faithfully.
If some termination to the services
of the Chief Magistrate be not fixed
by the Constitution, or ssnppied by,
practice, his Office nominally for
years, will in fact become for life
and history shows bow easily that
degenerates into an inheritance. Be-
lieving that representative govern
ment responsible at short periods of
election is that which produces the
greatest sum Of happiness to man.
kind, feel it duty to do no act
which shall essentially impair that
principle, and should unwlIlingly be
the person who, disregarding the
sound precedent set by an illustrious
predecessor, should furnish the first
example of proiongation beyond the
second term of Office" rsemark
b Judge Black shows that Madison,
Monroe, Jackson, and other presi.
dents, fully concurred in the opinions
expressed by Jefferson upon this
subject. ,ax
+ "ln the matter before u.s." says
Judge Black, "it shall be made plain
to every creature, that q long con.
tinuanse of supreme executive pow
er in one hand is not only perilous
to free institutions, but perfectly
certain to destroy them.
"Where the Chief Mag.
istrate is vested, as ours is; with
great over, liable to gross abuse.
if there is no law or practice which
forbids him to be reelected, he can
remain in Office for life. He has the
appointment of al officers, the max.
ing Of all public contracts, and a
veto upon all legislation. besides a
command OF the army and navy.
By an interruptions use of these
means he can coerce not only his
horde of immediate dependents, but
he can control the corporations and
become the master of all the rings,
but the Business of ell classes under
bis feet, corrupt the venal, frighten
the timid, and check all ambitions
but bis own" - k$Eks
Judge Black says: "What is the
remedy How shall we avert the
dire calamities with which we are
threatened !? Tn. answer comes
from the graves OF our fathers: BY
the frequent election OF new men.
Other help CT hope for the salvation
Of freq government there is none
under heaven"
"A free democratic republican
system of government, honestly ad.
ministered by agents Of the peoples
true choice; q government suoh as
ours was intended to be, with the
powers OF the federal government,
the rights of the States, and the
liabilities Of the people go harmo-
niously adjusted. that each may
check the exceeses Of the other
such government scrupulously
administered within its constitu.
tional limits. is without doubt the
choicest blessing that God in bis
loving kindness every vouohsafed to