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


titution may be accepted as a settled
principle in American political law.
Both poin,s-re. eligibility and limita
,ion-are stated in Mr.. Jefferson's let
ter to James Martin OF 7o,h Sept. 1873,
70 Works. sIs), in accord with his
views expressed FIVE years before in
replies to the legislatures Of Vermont,
New Jersey and North Carolina, who
had passed resolutions proposing his
election for presidency for a third
term. In his letter to Mr. Martin he
said: III am for responsibilities at
short periods, seeing neither reason
nor safety in making public function.
aries independent Of the nation for
life. or even long terms of years.
On this principle l prefer the
Presidential term, of four years, to
that OF seven years witch mvselt had at
fist suggested. anneNing to 1t, however,
ins.lgiOihiy forever after and | wish
j, were nov annexed 10 the I'd quad
rennial election OF President"
Upor this question the opinion OF
no one man living or dead is entitled
to greater weight than that OF the
author of this letter; he had reflected
of'en and profoundly upon it at Paris
where he was minister OF the United
States when the constitution was made,
in his library At Monticello and in
government service at Philadelphia
and Washington as Secretary OF State,
Vice President and finally as Presi-
dent. His original objection to the
constitution expressed in letters from
Paris, because the instrument contained
indefinite eligibility, and accompanied
BY the suggestion Of compromise upon
a seven wear term, had been succeed.
ed by mature and settled views found
ed upon observation and experience,
in favor of the four year term with
single re election, according to the
practice OF Washington and himself.
He deliberately and wisely rejected 4
prolonsa,ion of term and accepted the
term fixed by the constitution with
one re election.
The recently expressed view Of
Mr.. Bingham Of the House Of
R presentatives, contains in con-
densed form, the common sense
view OF this question, and at the
sam. time the reason for the Jefferson
Doctrine, viz: the enormous. though
necessary powers OF the presiden, in
Our foreign intercourse, in executive
patronage and upon legislation as too
unfi, and dangerous to be conferred
upon one man for longer period :han
four wears, without a vote OF con-
fidence and an extension OF his powers
by the people.
Ii is only necessary 10 add that such
extension OF power for limited time
ough, to be matter OF course, upon
fit occasion, TO be judged of by the
people. Tne people thought i; wise
to follow the policy OF the Virginia
presidents in re-electIng President
Jackson TO enable hun to sever all
government connection with corrupt
and dangerous bank. and they thought
wise and fitting also 10 re-elect Lin
coln TO conclude his work Of restoring
the Union OF the States. And It Is
the opinion OF the present writer thai
the Republican party did wisely
in renominatlng and re-eieciins
General Grant instead OF prefer
rin. to MIN another member of
the party; for ne WAS infinitely bet
ter fitted for president in MS second
term than in his first.
Tnus, during the century since the
organization OF the government N
1850. two term Presidents have oc-
cupied the executive chair Tor 5,
years, Excluding Mr. Lincoln's brief
sernce in his second term prior TO his
assassination,) or for one-half that en-
tire period OF tine and the names
OF those Presidents 50 serving are the
mos, illusirlous in our annals.
Ot the remaining terms there a,e
four, covering period OF 10 years,
when Vice Presidents served out the
terms to which Presidents had been
elected, namely Tyler in place OF
Harrison, Fillmore in place Of Taylor,
Johnson in place OF Lincoln, and Ar.
thur in place OF Garfield. Setting
aside these cases o. Vice Presidential
succession as no, involving the ques-
tion of two terms, We arrive at cases
OF defeats for re election, comprising
the elder and younger Adams, Van
Buren,, Cleveland ard Harrison, cover
ing period OF 20 years OF first term
service. Why were second terms re-
fused to these Presidents by the peo-
pie ? Was it because OF popular op.
position to a second term for Presi-
dent' Not a, all. II was very dis
tinctly, in four cases out OF the FIVE
exclusively due to change OF party
strength in the country aud not to one
term sentiment, those changes beng