Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1880-12-02
THE PROPOSED CONSTITUTION
AT, CHI NGE

THE PROPOSED CONSTITUTION
AL CHANGE.
The proposition Of the Hon. Thad.
.. Pound, Representative in Congress
from the Eighth Congressional District
of this State, for an amendment of
the Constitution of the United States,
is clicting good deal of press com
ment, with various degrees of assent
and dissent thereto. The proposed
amendment is to provide, first, that
the Presidential term shall be six
years, instead of four, and that the
incumbent shall be Ineligible for the
next succeeding term; and second,
that the term of Representatives in
Congress shall be three years instead
Of two, as now. 1t is no new propo-
sition, particularly so far as it relates
to the term of the President, that sub
iect having been under discussion for
some years past, and the expressed in
tention Of Mr.. Pound to urge the con-
sideration and passage of the measure
at the coming session cannot be OBJ
jected to on that score. The members
ought to be prepared to act for or
against without any very extended de-
bate upon it, though its details, in the
event Of its adoption, ought to be duly
and carefully considered. That there
are great evils attending the frequen-
cy of Presidential elections is a self
evident proposition, but it is not so
self-evident that Mr.. Pounds method
will prove a specific for the cure of
these evils. The bitterness, turmoil
and party-spirit exhibited in the late
canvass which constitute the chief OBJ
jections were not confined to the pc
Rod of time transporting between the
nomination of the candidates and the
day of election, but they prevailed to
a large extent throughout the whole of
the last Presidential term, and if the
term had been six years instead of
four these hurtful conditions might
have been only the more extended and
embittered by such an extension of
time. Discussion and even recrimina-
ton we're not exhibited only, as be-
tween the two principal parties, but
each party had spirited and bitter
contest over the question of who
should be its own nominees; a contest
fairly livaling in acrimony that which
took place between the parties after
the nominations were submitted to the
public. 1t is hardly likely that a
lengthening Of the term would have
mitigated any of the evils attendant
upon this state of things: it is evident
that they are of a nature not to be
reached or entirely cured by such an
Something which should
lessen the inordinate spirit of Office,
would be much more direct
and effectual
The proposition for ineligibility for
two or more consecutive terms would
certainly in part obviate one great evil
that Of President devoting his en-
ergies aud the whole machinery Of
government mostly to the procurement
Of reelection, but that also is not
without its Objectionable side, in that
it might and would often result in ex-
changing man cminently fitted for
the position, with the added qualifca-
ton of experience, for one wanting in
both, and whose administration would
be such that six years Of it would be
next to intolerable
Though, as we have said, the sub
ject is not new, but is one upon which
men have had an opportunity to think
and form conclusions, it very palpably
has two sides, and the advantages to
be gained by a change should be well
weighed against the disadvantages.
But Mr.. Pound possesses energy
and is instigated by honest convic-
tions, and his resolution to press this
matter upon the consideration Of Con-
gress at the coming session, if it shall
tend to divert the attention of the
members from the embittered partisan
quarrels which have characterized the
late sessions, and lead them to the
contemplation of measures for the real
good and advancement of the country,
will prove most benefcient and praise
worthy, and may be the beginning for
most extensive and desirable reforms
in the matter Of the the tenure of of
fee of all cur principal oficers.-Stafe
Journal.