The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1892-05-12
PRESIDENTIAL TERMS.
Views Upon the Subject by the Two
Distinguished Chief Magistrates.

Views Upon the Subject by the Tw
distinguished Chief Magistrates.
President H0rrisoaa's Inaugural MeI
sage, March 4, 1871: There were in
1.-The Federal Constitution feature
which appeared not to be in harmon
I with the ideas of simple Representative
democracy or republic And knowin
the tendency of power to increase itself
particularly when exercised by singh
individual, predictions were made tina
at no very remote period, the Govern
ment would terminate in virtual mon
arehy. It would not become me to say
that the fears of these patriots have beer
already realized. But as l sincerely be
lieve that the tendency of measures ant
OF mems opinions for some years past
has been in that direction, it is, I con
ceive, strictly proper that l should take
this occasion to repeat the assurances
have heretofore given, of my determine
ton to arrest the progress of that ten
dency if it really exists, and restore the
Government to its pristine health and
vigor as far as this can be effected by
any legitimate exercises of the power
placed in my hands.
Iproceed to state, in as summary a
manner as l can, my opinion of the sour
ces of the evils which have been so ex-
tensively complained of, and the cor>
receives which may be applied. Some of
the former are unqu estionably to be
found in the defects of the Constitution;
others, in my judgment, are attributable
to misconstruction of some of its pro-
visions. OF the former, is the eligibility
of the same Individual to second term
of the Presidency. The sagacious mind
of Mr.. Jefferson early saw and lamented
this error, and attempts have been made,
hitherto without success, to apply the
amendatory power of the States to its
correction. AS, however, one mode of
correction is in the power of every Presi-
dent, and consequently in mine, it would
be useless and, perhaps, invidious, to
enumerate the evils of which, in the
opinion of many of our fellow-citizens,
this error of the sages who framed the
Constitution may have been the source,
and the bitter fruits which we are still
to gather from it if it continues to dis
figure our system. It may be observed,
however, as a general remark, that re-
publics can commit no greater error than
to adopt or continue any feature in their
cuctNmc Of WI iaf, ho
calculated to create or increase the love
of power in the bosoms of those to whom
necessity obliges them to commit the
of their affairs. And, sure
ly, nothing is more likely to produce
such a state of mind than the long con>
tinuance in an office of high trust. Moth
ing can be more corruptiug. Nothing
more destructive of those noble feelings
which belong to the character of a de-
voted Republican patriot,
When this corrupting passion once
takes possession of the human mind,
like the love of gold, it becomes insatia-
bic. 1t is the Hever-dying worm in his
bosom, grows with his growth, and
tiOAiS tliClio WIN tliO StCCAlIillS yCdIO vi
its victim. If this is true, it is the part
of wisdom for a republic to limit the
service of that officer, at least. to whom
she has intrusted the management of
foreign relations, the execution of her
laws, and the command of her armies
and navies to period so short as to pre-
vent his forgetting that he is the ac-
countable agent, not the principal-the
not the master. Until an
of the Constitution can be
public opinion may secure the
desired object. 1 give my aid to it by
renewing the pledge heretofore given,
that, under no circumstances, will con-
sent to serve a second term.
Hon. Grocer C1egezand's Letter of Ac>
august IS, 1881: When an cleo
ton to Office shall be the selection by
the voters of one of their number to as
sumo for time public trust, instead
of his dedication to the profession of
politics; when the holders of the ballot.
quickened by a sense of duty, shall
avenge truth betrayed and pledges
broken, and when the suffrage shall be
free and interrupted, the
full realization of q Government by the
people will be at hand And of the
means to this end not one would, in my
Judgment, be more affective than an
to the Constitution disqual-
flying the President from re election.
When we consider the patronage of this
great office, the alurements of power,
the temptation to retain public place
once gained, and, more than all, the
a party finds in an incum
bent whom a horde of Office holders,
with a zeal of benefits received and fos-
tered by the hope of favors yet to come,
stand ready to aid with money and
trained political service, we recognize in
the eligibility of the President for re-
election a most serious danger to that
calm, deliberate, and intelligent politi-
cal action which must characterize
government by the people.