The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1893-02-10

the ABB. plot and other circumstances
which transferred the Crawford vote
of 1874 almost entirely tohis opponent.
The election Of Polk in 1874 and
OF Pierce in ISs, resulted from com
promises in the national conventions,
none of the popular candidates pre-
senied for nomination being able to
secure the two.thirds vote required by
convention rule, it became necessary
to resort to dark horse nomination.
1t followed naturally enough that Gen.
Cass in IS4S and Mr.. Buchanan in
1886 were placed in nomination.
Their nominations had been deferred
but not really determined against by
their party, and they wete eventually
nominated without reference to or
consideration Of any general rule as 10
one or two terms for president. Gen.
eral HAYES was not re nominated in
1870 for the plain reason that the
circumstances attendant upon his
election four years before. rcndereI 1t
lnexpedient TO present him as can
didaie the second time; II was simply
a question OF party policy in the par.
ticuiar case and constitutes no prece.
dent for or against any general rule or
usage relating to presidential sue
cesslon.
Adding together the fifty two years
OF tSo term presidents, tbs sixteen
years OF vice presidents, 20 years OF
presidents defeated for re election, IL
years of presidents not nominated.
We Aave total OF 100 years, out OF the
Io4, from Washington's accession in
March 1850, to the expiration Of Har-
rison's term in 1895, and it ma, be as
serted with confidence as the result OF
this review that neither the practice
of political parties nor the action of
the people in presidential elections
during this long period OF time, affords
any sanction TO 4 ore term rule as the
fixed law Of election in our Country,
bu, on the CONTRARY is opposed 10
the establishment Of such rule. 1t
is to De noted in this connection, that,
$50 far as the writer is aware.) no
national Convention Of either of our
great political parties has ever declared
BY resolution in favor Of the one term
rule. while halt dozen Of them have
pronounced against 1t by the nomina
tlons they have made.
But one presidential term remains
to be mentioned, that Of Mr.. Bucha-
nan following his election Of 1886.
He accepted the nomination given
hun in that year with an express de
clarauon that he would no, be can
dldate Tor re election, although such
declaration had not ben required by
the nominating Convention nor by the
people. The explanation OF his pledge
is, however, furnished by the record
OF his age. He was sixty-six years OF
age. LACKING only 20 days, at his &C
cession TO Office on 4th March 1887,
and was doubtless conscious or ap
prehrnsiy; tina. falling powers would
unf, him for second term, the duties
OF which would be performed after the
age OF seventy years.
HIS case, therefore. falls very clear
ly within a class OF cases, of which
tina; OF the elder Harrison Is 4 notable
example. Harrison came 10 the pre-
sidency, 4th March ISiI, at the al
vanced age o; 6S under j one term
uleL.r. the Dr0Dr.ety Of which was
shown b. the fact thar he broke down
AZ once under the strain Of his Office,
joined w..l exposure At MS lnaUgurl-
yion and died Within one month.
WHAT IS coatended Tor is not the
re nomination OF all Presidents, bu,
for the liberty Of the people, upon Il;
occasion, to re nominate and re elec;
any one OF them. This IS their reason
able right and ought never to be sur
rendered.