Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1908-03-19
THE LATE SENATOR PROCTOR
ON REELECTION TO THE
PRESIDENCY.


ing the presidential candidacy of his sec
rotary of war, it would have been only in
accord with the senator's longtime con-
viction that the chief magistrate of this
nation cannot interest himself either in
his own continuance in that Office, or i'll
behalf of another whom he desires to sue
coed him, without departing somewhat
from the high dignity of his office and
bartering it's powers and prerogatives in
return for political support, which con-
stitutes deplorable prostitution of the
office.
As far back as Jan. II, 1897, the Senate
having under consideration proposed
amendment to the federal constitution
providing for presidential term of six
years and making the president ineligible
for reelection. Senator Proctor spoke in
behalf CT the proposition, using an array
of facts and argument that show how
clearly his mind worked along lines that
signify sound common sense and high
patriotism. In view not only of the in
terest even now pertaining to the subject
matter, but also as bearing upon a ques-
ton at present much discussed--the pro-
priety of presidents booming his own
cabinet officer as his successor, we take
the liberty of quoting from Senator Proc
tors speech of eleven years ago.
In giving his reasons seriatim for fav-
oring the amendment, Senator Proctor
included
ssThird. Re-eligibility is wrong in
theory and vicious in practice, for it re-
suits in the use of the patronage of his
office by the president for the promotion
of his chances of reelection, or else sub
jects him to the imputation of such use.
"Fourth. The change will more thor
oughly divorce the legislative and execu-
tive branches of the government, an end
most strongly desired by the constitu-
tional convention"
Further on, in his argument the sena-
tor said:-
"The very basis of the constitution is
the complete separation of the legislative
and executive powers"
Discussing the constitutional aspect,
Senator Proctor said:-
at was contemplated that the people
would simply delegate their elective pow
ers to presidential electors, and-sNo sem
ator or representative, or person holding
an Office of trust or profit under the Unit
ed States'-says the constitution--'sha
be appointed an elector.'
members of Congress and federal
office holders were to be excluded from
the electoral college. Thus they expected
that the president would neither be de-
pendent upon Congress nor upon his own
appointees for reelection.
"How different is it all in practicel
The position of presidential elector,
though still regarded as one of dignity. is
purely clerical. In honor he is excluded
from the exercise of any choice. Ma
tionaI elections are simply contests of the
candidates of the political parties before
the people. A president ambitious to
succeed himself must secure the nomina-
ton from his party, and the most potent
elements in national conventions are the
very persons whom the constitution in
tended to exclude from taking any part
in the election of the president. Senators
and Representatives in Congress and fed
eral Office holders may not constitute the
majority of representation by actual
count in national conventions, but their
influence is the most potent in their con-
stitution. The very dependence, there
fore, upon Congress aud npou federal
officeholders for election to second
term which the constitution intended TO
prevent in fact exists"
Here is ponderous blow dealt to presi-
Dental interference by quotation made
by the senator from DeTocqueville
"when a simple candidate seeks to rise
. I hxyi ntr his or
rily be limited to narrow sphere; but
when the chief magistrate enters the lists
he borrows the strength of the govern
inent for his own purposes. The private
citizen who employs the most immoral
practices to acquire power can only act in
manner indirectly prejudicial to the
public prosperity. But if the representa-
tive of the executive descends into the
list, the cares of government dwindle into
second-rate importance, and the success
of his election is his first concern. All
laws and negotiations are then to him
nothing more than electioneering
schemes; places become the reward of
services rendered, not to the nation. but
to its chief, and the influence of the
government, if not injurious to the coun-
try, is at least no longer beneficial to the
community for W hich it was created.
SIT is impossible to consider the ordin-
airy course of affairs in the United States
without perceiving that the desire of be-
ing reelected is the chief aim of the pres
ident; that his whole administration, and
even his most indifferent measures, tend
to this object; and that, as the crisis APP
proaches, his personal interest takes the
place of his interest in the public good.
The principle of re-eligibility renders the
corrupt influence of elective governments
still more extensive and pernicious. 1t
tends to degrade the political morality of
the people and to substitute adroitness
for patriotism"
Following this out, the senator OBJ
served
eff president aspires to second term
and the best presidents usually have so
aspired-his acts and his appointments, if
not his policy, are necessarily influenced
and colored by that fact. And il per-
chance he does not aspire to reelection,
he is still hampered by the fact of the
constitutional possibility of such re-elec-