Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-01-04
Governor Hnl's Message.

The Inaugural address OF Governor HILL,
Of New York, delivered at Albany last Tues
dAy. was IN some respects a peculiar one. lie
touched upon many important subjects, and
recognized the possibility, rot 10 say tho pro-
liability, that but few years will have elapsed
before new issues NAV divide the voters In
many OF the States, and men who are now
Democrats and men who ere now Repnbli-
cans nay find themselves iuri0usy fighting
eide by nde for OF against prohibition or
some other measure not now thought OF as
likely 20 cause the voters to lose sight OF the
iuternal.reyeuue system. the BLAIR bill, and
the question Of protection TO American in
dustrits
One Of the questions discussed by Cover.
nor HILL is the question Of high or low IL
cense, and he expresses his opinions on the
subject a. csndidy as II ho never expected
nor cared TO be a candidate Tor President OF
the United States.
Another subject discussed by him Is the
best method Of securing the free exercise OF
the RIGHT Of sulfrsge, and OF preventing
crimes or wrongs upon The elective franchise.
His views on this question were presented
20 the Legislature Of New York a year ago
ip message yet0ing a bill th1t had been
passed by the Republican Legislature. BY
the way, Il is asort Of burlesque upon free
government that New York State, which
elected Governor HILL by large majority,
should be 20 districted as 10 secure to the
Republicans year after year q large majority
IN the General Assembly.
Governor HILL proposes that the Legis!a-
lure OF his State shall initiate measures
looking 20 an agreement among all the
States TO enact uniform divorce law. As
Congress has no power TO pass such law,
there IL no better method Of improving
our divorce laws than the one suggested
by Governor HUI, as II is not ST all likely
that three fourths Of the State legislatures
would rahiy an amendment conferring that
power upon Congress. Nor is 10 likely
that all Of the States could now agree upon
q divorcelaw. II. however, one half OF them
agree now upon q better divorce law, n
good deal NAV be at once gained, and the
working OF the new law may gradually
bring up TO Us support neatly all the StateSs
Governor HILL advocates such amend
inenis to the Federal Constitution as will So
cure the following results:
1. That the term Of office OF the President
and Vice. President be six years.
2. That the President shall be ineligible
for rec ectlOn.
3. That the President shall Immediately
upon the expiration OF his term become u
member OF the United States Senate for life
and receive an appropriate salary. The
amendment shall apply to all living ex'Presi'
dents.
Like Mr.. UM.sTEAD. we have heretofore
declared ia favor Of reducing the Presidents
term OF Office TO two years rather than OF
extending IL TO SIX years. To do the latter
would be 10 pour oil unon fire TO put ii
out. To do the former would be TO deIuge
the fire with water The mOnOpOists aud
capitalists could not afford TO open their
purses once in every two years. The office
seekers could not afford TO waste time and
money for two.years' term. There would
perhaps not be so many stump-speakers
ready to instruct the voters at the expense of
UNCLE SAM. but We would be able to make
M for this loss In some way.
II seems to be generally conceded tina. the
President ought to be rendered ineligible
fer TCGechou.
The third suggestion namely, that the
tx presidents be made senators for life
would Introduce n highly conservative ee-
,ncnt into The Senate. These lifelong sem
ators would be as independent rs the jus
ces OF the Supreme Court Of the United
States. Nay, they would be more so; for
Congress gbt legislste so as to render the
justices uncomfortable, but could not touch
the men whom the Constitution should make
senators for life. But bill proposing such
ia amendment could not get through the
Senate as now constituted. The present
senators would brook no rivals near the
throne. They are the nobility Of the United
States, and would never consent 10 surreu-
der their patents or to introduce into the
senAte class superior in dignity 10 them'
selves.