Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-07-29

amending of their state constitution that executives of
and shall be ineligible for reelection. States now eeetins
governors for tours years Alabama, California ea-
hnd Mississpp C Montana Nevada New Mexico North
Carolina, Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania, Utah Virginia,
Washington, West Virginia and Wyoming. MASSACHUSETTS,
elects it's governors year New Jersey for three
The remaining twentyhree States elect governors
for terms of two years.
far as States are is stronger than
statute and unwren constitutions more unchangable
pie accept dare Vermont has restriction in her State
constitution as to the number of terms governor may De
vided that governor shall not be reelected.
The claim for the single term tenure of office is that 1T
tends to prevent executive from using his position TO Sc
denomination and reelection and thus leaves him free
in respect to act his best judgment may dictate
denomination and reelection urged incentive to good
service well preventive of acts that might tend to
prevent popular endorsement in the shape of retention in
office.
The lenghening of the executive term is project that
usually accompanies in the popular mind any to make
executive ineligible for second term The first thought
that presents itself in this connection is that the material
tnty departure from the precedents established by the
fathers of republican form of government and written
by them into most constitutions although the latest new
States have taken the increased gubenatoral term
The federal convention which formulated our nations
organic law contemplated the election Of President
United by Congress. The idea prevalent at
that time to enable him to become Independent of Con-
When the convention different occasions voted for
the choice of president of the United States by Congress
for second term 1t also worthy of note in this connec
the propositions stated accompanied by
still third providing that the nations chief magistrate
should hold his position for long term Of years.
We are thus enabled to comprehend the way in which
these propositions combined as well as to understand
that the presidential tenure of office and the question of in
eligibility for second term all considered by the great
formulated the original Constitution of the United
States Let glance at of the arguments made
in different connections at that time.
Thomas jefferson in letter to Madison which by the
way from Paris in 1887 made this striking
ment:
abandonment instance, the
in office, and most particularly in the of President
always be reelected if he may be reelected He is then
officer for life A Gaoman Angloman will be sup
ported by he befrends If elected and at
second third election ouvoed by two votes he will
pretend false votes foul play hold possession of the rens
of government supported by the States voting for him.
On the other hand, readily understand how some
of the federas might favor life tenure in the pres
Dental office the James Madison tells
u.s. "a would have preferred during good be-
havor considerable number would have done in
easy and eecua removal by impeachment could be set
tied"
third class represented by Delegate Wilson who
that nelgbty infringement of the right
Alexander HamtSn in Letter to coonf Pickering g
understood that with view to free invesga
ton experimental propositions might be made which were to
received merely suggestions for considerations Ac
cordingly, it fact that my final opinion against an
executive during good behavior account of the increased
danger to the public tranquility incident to the election OF
magistrate of this degree of permanency
As matter Of fact members of the convention became
change had to be made in the plans formulated to ensure
strong Having partially removed the fear of de-
pendence upon the legislative power by the adoption of
sempopuar mode of election the electoral college chosen
by the people the convention enabled to act conserva
lively and safely upon the question of presidential tenure
of office. Motions aiming at terms of six or seven years
rejected while term of four years with an implied
approval of re-egbty accepted as fair compromise
is thus evident that the term issue our democratic
friends made conspicuous three years about this time
at Baltimore had been debated and settled century
previous The great of the people OF this nation long
believed problem Of the presidential tenure of office was
settled right.
Whether national conditions have changed so
gumens then applicable to the question longer
conclusive matter with which not deal
this time although the danger Of reelection to the
ency the United States for second term has apparently
failed yet to impress majority of the American people
To great degree the arguments applicable to the ten
Of office of the national chief magistrate are gerane to
the problem to the executive term in a State.
The question of reelection of governor is one that
very safely be left to solve itself In event the
pie rule not likely to reeect governor too many
times They liable to in not reeectng good
than in pepetuatng the regime Of objection
able executive.
The length of executive term is far important
than the question Of second term additional terms not
only in consideration Of the important fact that the
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