The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1880-04-23


Ex-President Woolsey has delivered one OF
the most effective, and at the same time one OF
the most temperate utterances against posi-
bic departure from the American precedent
against third term. Hisletrer on this subject
is addressed 10 the reason OF its readers, ana
can hardly fail to make lasting impression
upon aEy one who studies it calmly and inteh-
gently. 1t will not reach those persons who
flippantly dismiss the subject as abstract and
as having no bearing upon practical, partisan
politics. The meu who are selhshly striving 10
limit the choice of the next Republican Conven-
ton to single candidate, with the sole purpose
OF advancing their own personal interests can
not DO induced to consider the uteilor enects
of breaking down National tradition. After
us, the deluge," IS their political motto. NO
true spirit OF patriotism governs their action.
Neither the endurance OF the Nation, nor the
life of the party with which they act, nor the
principles Of free government, nor the welfare
OF the American people, concerns them.
Presidential campaign means to such persons
now and always a struggle for the prestige ana
emoluments OF Office. The highest purpose
that actuaes them is to assure the triumph OF
the faction with which they make common cause
for the time being. They can rarely understand
the motives OF thinking and earnest man like
President Woolsey, or, understanding that some
men are guided by pure, unselfsh, patriotic
thoughts, they dismiss such motives as imprac
ticable, and give them no further consideration.
The intriguing politicians who take this con-
tracted view OF every election, whether for Al
derman or President FORM nevertheless, but
small proportion of the Nation, and IN every
event Of National Importance the voters, as
rule. give heed to mature and dispassionate
counsels and warnings.
Mr.. Woolseys declaration as ainst third term
appeals to the ruling masses whose pride and
interest in the maintenance OF American lnsti-
tutions greatly outweigh the admiration they
may feel for any transient actor on the politicai
stage. He does not consider the SUBJECT N
connection with Gen. Grant: he does not serl-
ousy apprehend military usurpation or impe-
riaiisln he does rot lmpugn the motives OF any
OF those who are pushing the third-term candi-
date to the front. But he deprecates the need
less and reckless sacrifice OF a strong National
habit He admits that circumstances may arse
III the HE Of a nation when some one OF more
OF the cherished convictions OF the people should
be sacrificed 10 overcome national misfortune or
avert national danger b9t insists that nothing
short OF such contingency can JUSTIFY me sac
rifice without endsngeriDg the solidity and
strength OF the National institutions. The
growth Of the American sentiment has been in
favor OF a strict limitation Of Executive terms.
Life tenure has naturally been associated with
imperialism IN the minds of a free people, and
it has always been feared accordingly. "If
some termination to the services OF the Chief
Magistrate be not fixed by the Constitution, OR
SUPPLIED BY PRACTICE" said Mr.. Jefferson, 4" his
office, pominaliy for years, Will become Tor life"
This was an acceptance and approval OF the
position Washington had taken in declining
third term. The precedent had the force OF law
heretofore Indeed, OF late years, the sentiment
in favor OF limiting the services OF the Cher
Magistrate has grown into very general belief
that a one-term rule ought to be established.
Both Horace Greeley and President Hayes laid
great stress in their campaigns upon the pledge
that they would not be candidates for reelection
even for a second term. and there we're abun-
dant evidences in both cases that the voluntary
remission OF future Presidential aspirations,
implying an assurance that the Administration
should not be prcstIiuted to personal lnuisues,
found favor at the hands OF the people 70 the
extent that the popular sentiment has come 10
indorse the one-term rule, the proposition for
a third term is a greater shock than 1t would
have been at time when two terms were almost
implied by the first election.
President Woolsey, OF course thoroughly I'M
derstands the Importance of national habit
the force Of unwritten law. Ii is this which
makes up the constitution Of England. An
English writer on this subject following the
ideas OF Freeman in his Growth Of the English
Constitution" says AS might be expected in |
living organism, the Constitution has not re-
NAMED stationary during period Of nearly
two Centuries, but its greatest changes have
been brought about NOT by legislative enact
ment. Whilst the legal code has remained
substantially unaltered, there has grown up by
IFS side o purely unwritten and conventional
code, which, firmly established as part OF the
Constitution though still unknown 10 the law,
has so completely modified the working OF the
legal code as to form a present Constitution
which would be scarcely recognizable, exceptin
its fundamental principles, by the authors OF
the Bill Of Rights TIE Queen OF England
would no more think OF summarily dismissing |
her Ministers, nor even OF vetoing law OF
Parliament, now, than she would think OF or
dering Gladstone confined to the Tower OF
London yet there is nothing In the written law
OF the Kingdom to prevent her from exercising
these former prerogatives of the Grown. Ma
tional habit is the Constitution, the supreme
law OF the English Government The compare
lively recent date Of the written Constitution OF
the United States, and the practice Of formally
amending it from time to time by votes
OF the States, have to some extent misdlrecied
the popular apprehension OF the force and
sanctity OF that unwritten law, involving the
aXioms OF liberty, which must be the final main
stay OF American institutions. But the lmita
ton OF the Executives terms, as determined by
Washington, observed by Madison, jefferson,
Monroe, and Jackson, and reaffirmed by resou-