Year: 1874

Thus it appears:


FIRST: That the limitation of Presidents service
to not exceeding two is sanctioned by the un-
broken usage of almost entire century


Second That the moral authority of this usage has
not been weakened by single exception.


Third: That every President who has been tempted
with the prospect of third term has distinctly ro-
cognized the binding force and wisdom Of it.


Fourth: That the Presidents thus tempted, who
have had opportunities of observing for the longest
period the operation of our Government, have been
most tenacious of the WashingtOnian limitation
and finally


Filth: That no President. however popular, how
ever important his services to his country and
whatever his prospects of reelection, has ever per-
mtted his name to be used in a canvass for third
term, or failed publicly and officially TO denounce
any attempt to proong the term OF Presidential ser
vice beyond eight years. as an offense against the
spirit of our Constitution and fatal to the principle
of popular sovereignty.


In face of all the facts above recited are we Ia
abandon the principles of rotation in the Chief
Magistracyf


And if So for what reasoni Has any one man
become necessity to the administration of this
Government


Are we trayersing crisis requiring greater states
manship. or larger measures of public confidence,
than ever enjoyed by any previous President
by Washington, by Jefferson, by Jacksonf Are
our obligations TO the present incumbent greater
than to any of his predecessors Has our states
manship become so impoverished, and has the race
of our public men so degenerated that he is the only
one left equal to the duties of the Presidency Or
are we as nation becoming weary of tho eternal
vigilance which is the price of liberty and like the
elders of Israel in the days of Samuel are ready
"to add unto all sins this evil, to ask for us
kingF


These are precisely the questions presented by
whatever President may presume to offer himself
now hereafter for third election to the Presi-
dency of the United States.


The usage is SO consecrated by the authority of 50
many and such great names, and now by such
tquity that it has come to acquire all the force Of
a constitutional provision


No one will pretend that we are in one of those
grave exigencies which have sometimes in other
countries rendered change of Executive hazardous.
On the contrary there probably was never an epoch
in our history when such a change would beget less
anxiety than the present.


1t is the general impression that we have enough
men in every State who possess quite great famil
iarty with the principles and policy of the Federal
Government as was possessed by Gen. Grant when
chosen President, that majority of the number have
as uublemlshed characters and as gentle manners:
are as fastidous in their associations; gifted Of
speech and as competent do justice to their views
with the pen, conceding to the President whatever
distinction would be claimed for him in all OF any Of
these particulars by his most chvalrous admirers.


II is one of the merits Of Republican institutions
that they impose no duty and require service for
which the average intelligence and morality Of its
people is not equal. The Presidency of the United
States does not yet and we trust may never resem-
BILE those craggy mountain peaks which are only ac-
cessibe TO the eagle and the serpent. 1t is quite
secondary question whether Gen. Grant has been or
would contue TO be, if reelected. good President
II he were Washington or a Lincoln, the objection
to his reelection would be equally fatal The people
of the United States very deliberately framed their
Government with the view OF remaining the masters
of it, and not of being mastered by it, and they ara
not yet willing to abdicae in favor of the most au-
daclous consprator against their sovereignty. lt
prerogatves with which reelection would clothe
him, but who could insure against his successorf
Let the Rubcon beside which he is now encamped
DO once passed, let there be no recog


The Hon John Spencer In the owns note 20 the rsnsr d
b oSs the precedent s.tsbshe b. waSSg,on had come 70
be regarded as the Law " the lAnd =,


There shls question which should
be With IT, Pnsieb Washington established tho
OF declining hin election and every one Of bis ueeeo
public opinion, has followed h example No hat has become As
Of the Consultation that bn become third tine


Chancellor Kea, has lent the weight Of more
doctrine a his commentaries The Consultation be t
has psyss consented De candidate for third election ~
usage indirectly eaohed By the far pabs opinion sAaiA


See Y,eA pass,