The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-02-16

OF this city for generous beneyolence 10
the afflicted.
Senator Howe and the Third Term.
Some time since we called attention to a
paper contributed to the February mum.
Der Of the North American and advocating
the third term project, as being more Of an
argument for President Hayes reelection
than the selection of General Grant,
which latter 1t was intended To support. It
endeavored to show, first, that the Constitu-
tional Convention Of 'S7 expressly and in.
tentionally left open the eligibility Of a
President to reelection after first and
succeeding terms; second that Washing.
toms refusal Of a third term was due TO q
personal distaste for the continued exer-
else Of power, and third that Jefferson
only declined a third term when he found
that an election was impossible.
The Springfield Republican has taken the
trouble to resurrect the discussions Of the
FedTaliH, which make it clear enough that
Hamilton and his friends hoped to con.
tinue the election Of the same man to the
Presidency indefinitely, Just as Hamilton
and his friends hoped to continue many
things which made up their idea Of a
strong government; but there is no part
OF ofthefederal constitution where the theory
Of its original organizers more completely
broke down than in the provisions for the
choice Of president.
Before fifteen years were out they had
to be altered by an elaborate amendment,
before fifteen years more were over, Ham.
ilton's cumbrous body Of electors had
ceased to do anything but register the
voice Of congressional caucus OF the
party to which they belonged, as they
now register the decision Of party conyen-
tions. Byexplicit amendment, by settled
political practice and the written consti-
tutional enactment Of the people the orig
inal provisions for the election OF presi-
dent made by the Philadelphia conyen-
ton have been wholly altered, and every
time in the direction Of popular power.
Washington was unquestionably infiu.
enced in his decision not to run at the end
Of his second term by q strong personal
objection to public life, but he resolutely
refused third term when Hamilton and
the men around him were urging that he
shouldrun ito save the country" The
worst charge which the Awma could
make against Washington was that he was
ready TO prolong his power for third
term in his ambition to rule. To-day such
an accusation remains one Of the most se-
rious charges which can be made against
an American citizen. Washington de-
clined third term and proved the charge
false.
jefferson reached the end Of his first
term iburdened. by his own personal
pledge and that Of his party that he would
not be reelected. His reputation for
public sincerity, never over strong, was
aadly strained when he announced that
''the unbounded calumnies Of the Federal
party have obliged me to throw myself on
the verdict Of the country for trial, "
which sounds like quotation from Grant.
Jefferson as he drew near the end OF his
second term was under the strongest per-
sonal pledgesto the head OF his own ad-
ministration, James Madison, to retire.
II he waited for more than q year before
answering the demand OF Vermont and
other States that he would run again, ii
may have been, as Senator Howe says,
because he found that he could not be re-
elected, q circumstance which shows that
1t was not Jefferson but the people who
made the precedent which Senator Howe
would override.
In JefIerson's ease, however, the decla-
ration that he would not run again
brought with II the necessity OF taking
part In the struggle over his successor, o
struggle in which he was extremely 10th
to engage. His personal relations 70 both
Madison and Monroe, the rival candidates,
made his position yery,difiicult one, and
in q letter to one Of them he dwells upon
the subject in q way which shows his
anxiety to postpone TO the last possible
moment the canvass for the succession.
AS for Jefferson's settled opinion on this
subject one cannot do better than quote
his utterance five years after he had left
the Presidency, an utterance OF which, as
well rs his consistent declaration years be-
fore. Senator Howe makes no mention.
UI preiern wrote Jefferson, September
%. 1878, f'the Presidential term OF four
wears 10 that Of seven, annexing to II, how
ever, ineligibility forever after, and Iwish
It were now annexed TO the second quad
rennidl election OF President"
History has italicized the utterance Of
Jefferson, as It has erected the example OF
Washington into the constitutional prac-
tice OF the nation. Against this usage Sem
ator Howe arrays the right OF the people
TO choose It's agents at Its own good pleas
ure. There Is school OF politicians who
are in the habit OF exalting the moment
ary wish Of the people, simulated, stimu-
lated Il may be, by demsgogues, as the ir-
resistible viii Of the nation; but constitu-
tions are established to the end that thus
may not be government Of blooms, but
Of law. The free action Of the people Is
bounded at hundred points by the writ
ten constitution aud no less BY the un-
broken pfecedsnt OF q century. The con-
stitution can be amended, but I'LL It y
amended Il restricts the will Of the soyei'
eign people. Precedents may be altered,
but TIL they are changed the iaot thAtthey
| limit the popular choice Is no argument
against them, Rather does this fact stand
as full proof that no man hath done this
thing, but the people have willed 1t
steamboat Damaged.