The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-10-24
JEFFERSON on ROTATION IN


JEFFERSON on ROTATION IN
OFFICE.
I l.has been a common assertion on INC
past OF Some OF oar contemporaries VINO
favor tbs four proposed amendments
ID the Virgins Constitution that the
theory of citation in office is un.
democratic and un-jcffersonian. No
more erroneous argument could have
been SET up, for those who are faiiiiiiar
with the writings which reveal the
rcIittcsl ideas OF the master-statesman
of Monticello know full we'll thai the
spirit of this theory is ereathed
throughout the length and breadth r.
tne thoughts OF MIR. jefferson, OF the
many principles which he wished I'M
aedded in the Constitution, there were
1 Jew upon which he was more insistent
than this principle OF rotation IN OF
nee. which he thus dehned: BY the
,erm rotation in Office. We mean an
obligation on the holder OF that once
TO go out at a certain period"
Always the champion Of popular
liberty. Mr. jefferson realized that
the long continuation in Office of an
officer entrusted with power affecting
the liberty of the people tended TO the
re-establishment of despotic and un-
democratic power In the gutse of dem
pcratic government. In letter after
letter he stresseu this fear, for with
him this fear was ever present. Trust
ting the people and defending their
rights as few men i'll the history OF
the world have done. he nevertheless
knew that there was a danger that
through the instrumentalities of gov
which the people had them
selves created, o. tice-holders might OBJ
tain undue power and influence.
In these days, when the danger
seems less apparent. the cry is: why
put a good man out of of1ceg Why
not let him serve as long as we wish
him te?' such a plea. on first thought,
seems sound. yet it is not MI. JEFF
ferson realized the danger that lies in
euehz condition. He believed that in
cases of this nature there should be
some limit to popular action based or
popular confidence. With all his trust
in the people. he knew that@in certain
contingencies they must be SO guarded
as not to injure themselves by TOT
liberal grant of power to a single ON
Ger. Mr.. Jefferson lived in the day;
when great. indeed. was the menac'
of the monarchicalg system. but will
that prophetic foresight that Away
characterized his thought, he realize
that there might cone a day -whel
there would seemsto be no dinicultie
and no dangers to Justify the continue
ton of the principle of rotation il
Office. In a letter to Colonel Caring.
ton, written on May 81, 1855. he said
THE natural progress of things is
for liberty to yield and government to
Jain ground. Our jealousy is only put
TO sleep by the,anliriited confidence we
all reposc."
Limited tenure of Office was one Of
the strong principles for which JEFF
ferson stood. In a letter written in
1901. he said: III a due participation
of Office is a matter of right, how are
vacancies to be obtained? Those by
death are few. by resignation. none
He did not believe in simply going
through the Formally of putting c
man out OF office n letting the people
re-elect him forthwith; he believed
that some other man had the right t.
hold the office, and III due time. like
wise give way to another.
The principle Of rotation in Office 4
as sound to-day as 1t was when MI
a jefferson fought for 1t. Urged by
popular demand to enter upon a thirt
term of the Presidency, at a time whel
his ability n experience would hav
been of great service to the nation Il
another term, he was emphatic in hi
de~clination, repeating therein his ad
herence TO his belief in rotation q
ONCE and in the prevention Of one
man p9wer.
Virginia today is the same as tina
whichSwas before the nation in the da
of Mr.. Jefferson. the difference
thatSit is a question OF lesser seal
The principle Is JUS as applicable a
1t ever was. No matter how FAR "
max he removed from the shadow {
the seepter, there's is always danger |
q democratic country and state the
l the ofhce-holder may obtain undt
power by undue continuation in one
The tendency is toward the central
cation Of power: in other words,
/. government as opposed TO the ind
vtdnal. Though generations ha,
,purneged 10 death since ne said
the words of MI. jefferson are as tn
and applicable to-day as they were
17ss:
1.-THE natural progress OF things
for liberty 10 yield and government
gain ground
These proposed amendments eiyil
unlimited tenure Of office 70 treasure
SaIA 49, y i, fEcinnar nf TIM reven,te IA