The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1880-03-29

elected o third time, or ever sought or
consented to receive third election. Until
the late president came to have such
aspirations re.eigibility for third term
was unanimously regarded by the Ameri-
can people rs D thing not 10 be thought of.
and the part OF the constitution permitting
it was deemed dead letter. Il has here
tofore worked no mischief because it was
practically abrogated by uniform prece-
dents, by long usage and by the settled
public opinion of the country.
1t was objected to at the outset by some
of our ablest statesmen, and their objec-
tons we're urged with such force of argu-
ment that they have had controlling
effect on the practice of our institutions.
AS soon as Jefferson, then minister
at Paris. received a copy OF the
new constitution he wrote to
Washington. to Madison, TO John
Adams and several other correspondents
Directing most vehemently to the perpetual
re-eligibiIty of the President. He never
changed his opinion, When he refused TO
be a candidate beyond his second term he
nut it expressly on the ground of principle
and desire to emphasize the example of
Washington and add to the force of the
precedent His arguments and example
fixed the usage, and from that time for
ward there was never any talk of third
term for any President until within the
last few years Ii is ridiculous to say that
experience has proved the wisdom and
safety of that part of the constitution when
it has been uniformly treated by the
American people as nullity. A sword is
not dangerous weapon so long as it is left
to rest in its scabbsrd.
In the next generation, after the decisive
precedents were set limiting the Presi-
dency 20 two terms, there arose strong
public opinion against re-eligibility at all
President Jackson. the most idolized leader
of the Democratic party in that second
generation, recommended in his FIRST mes
sage an amendment to the constitution pro-
hibitinR any President to serve more than
one term, Clay, the equally idolized leader
of the whig partyin that generation, was the
strenuous and persistent advocate OF SIM
liar amendment. De Tocquevilie, whose
great work was written IN the same period
had chapter on re-eligibility, 10 which
he set forth with great clearness the ar
guments against re election-substautiall
the same arguments employed by Mr..
Clay,
In the generation which followed, the
subject had ceased to attract any notice,
For the long period of thirty two years
between the second election of Jackson in
1882 and the second election of Lincoln
in 1854 no President had been re elected
the people seeming to. have rendered "a
constitutional barrier unnecessary. Per
haps the question might never have
been revived if the ambition of the ex
President had not again forced it upon
public attention.
We do not recollect whether our third
term correspondent was a member of
the New York Republican State Conven-
ton of 1876 which passed a strong
resolution against the third term, If he vas
he probably voted for it. Similar resolutions
were passed by the republicans of other
States, all protesting to regard the prece~
dents which were early set and never
deviated from as binding authority, 1t
i'll becomes those who participated in
those declarations &c contend now that a
third term is salutary and necessary,