The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-02-09
ECHOING 4 VOICE FROM NIR-
GINIA'S PAST.

GINIA'S PAST.
In the course of the debate in the
senate on the proposed amendment to
the Constitution against presidential
reel gibility and for extending the
term 10 SIX years. Senator c. wford
said hc saw no use for the amendment.
sine, we have no fear Of despot.'
r, ,h:s senator Williams retorted;
No we are not afraid Of despot;
neither was any other fool nation
urti il got one'-a retort emphasized
Dr., the interjectory remark OF Senator
owen that there are many people. even
i. these days Of modern intelligence
who have great liking for the So
called strong man" II did not re-
main for men OF these days OF modern
Intelligence TO discredit the danger OF
9,spotis1n that Iurked in perpetual re-
elieibilitv If the President. The
Giants OF the older days OF Intelligence
recognized 1t. notably some of the Vir-
ginia giants.
As we have pointed out in previous
discussions Of the subject. it was Sc
riously debated in the convention that
framed the Constitution. and Mr.. Jei-
fs-son.s CORRESPONDENCE is replete with
expressions Of fear as TO what per
petual re-eligibility might portend- II
was also seriously debated in the VIZ
r~infa convention of I7ss. that ratihed
Tho Constitution. and in which the
presidential article Of that instrument
had many earnest opponents. a tai''
and 10 Virginians exceedingly peril
uent exposition of the attitude and
apprehenslcns of the opposition VIII
ho found in the subjoined extract from
d.. Hugh Blair Grigsoy's History Of
me Virginia Federal Convention
Mason said that there was not
r,ore important article in the Const-
,utiop than this The great funda-
mental principle Of republicanism -
baro ssppcd. The President is elected
without rotation. It is said that you
NAV remove him by new electloh'
but is there single instance OF
r-eat man not being reelected? our
Governor is obliged TO return after
given period 10 private station hooi
President is in Office for life me
great mowers OF Europe VIII NOT allow
N-ou to change him. The people u
Poland have a right 70 dispiace theii
King. but will Russia and frussia
alloy. them? He may receive pension
I'm, ruropean powers. One II these
,,o,.,ars aince the Revolution. offered
Condiments to persons holding onioes
~ontented that he might be elected TOT
e;gbt years. AS il now stands. ne MAY
he elected for life. Your government
u,;l he an elective monarchy ne
gentleman randolph. my colleague III
tho late convention. says not = worn
hon, those parts of the Constitute"
mich ne denounced. He viii excuse
me for repeating his own arguments
against this dangerous clause.
Virginia ratified the instrument az
=, anne from, the hands Of its fiamers'
TO- the reason that the convention was
under the conviction that whatsoe'e'
,-,ner,ections may exist in the CON
..:,ution ought rather to Re examined
ID, The mode prescribed therein than
10 bring the + MON .lnto danger OF de-
Inv with the hope. Of obtaining amend
,,en+s oreytous T. its ratification Al
the same time the convention sought
- throw out safeguards in ahticipa-
ton. in so doing making. among other
things. a concession to the opponents
~ the presidential article and these
fears. as will be seen from this ex-
,-ac- from a letter from Mr.. Jefferson
n William short: THE convention OF
Virginia annexed TO their ratification
of the new Constitution propo-
sit.ors fog specific alterations Of the
Constitution. Among these was one
for rendering the President incapable
Of serving more than eight years in
q term Of sixteen" Nj jefferson then
goes on 10 say that - would Ike bet
.sr that the President should b- elect
I'd Tor seven years and be Incapable
over Afterwards.
The ratification Of the present pro
posed amendment would be sins llar
and most interesting vindication z the
position and foresight Of her states
men who figured in o.. older DAYS a.
isteiliSence The proposed alteration
and the arguments ID support thereof
but echo the voice = the siatesnsn-
ship q virginia past
LONGER FARW LEASES.