Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1880-02-20
THE THIRD TERN.

NotWlInstanulng the unWrltten law OF the
country as practically carried out by every
President since the adoption of the Consti-
tuition, we find many prominent men and
influential journals advocating the third term
system upon the alleged ground that Gen.
eral Washington, the presiding officer of the
convention that framed the National Con-
stitution, and the first Chief Magistrate of
the Union, had no where and at no time
condemned such doctrine in any of his
public or private correspondence.
In this illustrious body of distinguished
statesmen and patriots, which assembled in
convention at Philadelphia on May 25th,
1887 and over which General Washington
presided, we find, among others, the names
OF Mr.. Madison, of Virginia, the presiden.
tial successor of Thomas jefferson, Cover.
nor Clinton, Alexander Hamilton, Chancel.
lor Livingston, John Jay, and Luther Mar
tin. MIR. Martin was member from Mary
land, and in an address to the Legislature of
his State, spoke as follows upon the question
of re-eligibility of presidential incumbents
Many of the members were DESTROYS that
the President should be elected for seven
years, and not TO be eligible second term.
Others proposed that he should not be abso.
lutely ineligible, but that he should not be
capable OF being chosen second time, until
lne explTation OF a certain number of years.
The supporters of the above proposition
went upon the idea that the best security for
liberty was limited duration and a rotation
of office in the Chief Executive Depart.
ment.
There was party who attempted 10 have
the President appointed during good behay-
Tor, without any limitation as to time, and
not being able 70 succeed in that attempt
they then endeavored 10 have him re-eligible
without any restraint II was objected that
the choice OF President 10 continue in office
during good behavior would at once be rend-
erlng our system an elective monarchy and
that II the President was 10 be re-eligihie with
out any interval of disqualification, II would
amount nearly TO the same thing, since, from
the powers the President is 70 epioy. and
the interest and influence with which thew
viii be attended, he will be almost absolutely
certain o! being reelected from term 10 term
SIS long as he lives. As the propositions
were reported by the committee of the whole
House, the President was 70 be chosen for
seven years, and not 10 be eligible al any
term after In the same manner the promo.
Ation was agreed 10 in convention, aud go 4,
was reported by the committee Of detail. Al.
though variety Of attempts were made 10
alter that part Of the system by those who
were Of contrary opinion, Ia which thew
repeatedly failed, but, by never losing sight
of their object, and choosing a proper time
Tor their purpose, they succeeded, at length,
10 obtaining the alteration, which was not
reached until within the last twelve DAYS
oelore the convention adjourned
In the proceedings Of this famous convep.
ton we find that in June, 1877, resolution
was adopted declaring against the eligibility
OF the National Executive for second term
Although the vote by which the resolution
was adopted stood eight in the affirmative.
one In the negative, and one divided, still
the matter seems not TO have been sstisfac
tory. And on the 9Th OF August q report
was made favoring term of seven years
and ineligibility thereafter. It was not un.
I'll the last day but one Of the convention
when the presen, form was adopted.
Pending the deliberations Of this conyen.
ton, Mr.. Jefferson represented the United
States 1T Paris; and in his memories, in
speaking OF this subject, he says that the
President should be elected for seven years.
and be ineligible afterwards" but as adopted,
be thought, is better, allowing his continu.
anee Tor eight years, with a liability TO be
dropped at half way OF the second term.
making that period of probation"
IN the absence Of any authentic deciara.
lion from General Washington touching
Tins important question, II is q known fact
'bat II was his intention, as IL was his do.
sire, not TO accept the presidency for sec.
ond term, and that in May, l792, be con.
suited with Mr.. Madison upon his fare.
well address and made knoYn this determin-
alton, and only after much persuasion, and
impressed with tho idea that his services
might be valuable To his country, did he con.
sent 10 be a candidate for the second term.
With such historical facts as thee. gath.
cred in the infancy Of the Republic, and
from men OF enlarged wisdom and patriot.
ism, who have long since filled the measure
Of their lives and repoee in the soil they
have consecrated, II is not hard TO arrive al
the conclusion that the doctrine Of third
term would have been regarded by them a.
a steppiug-stone 10 that form Of Govern.
msnt from whose thraldom they had hui
80 recently escaped against that principle
"to which they had pledged their lives,
their fortunes, and their sacred honors."
The Maryland Editorial Association met
q. Annapolis on Wednesday and dined %