Life of James Buchanan, Fifteenth President of the United States. v. 2 (of 2)Curtis, George Ticknor
History
Life of James Buchanan, Fifteenth President of the United States. v. 2 (of 2)
Curtis, George Ticknor
Buchanan, James, 1791-1868
“One Presidential Term,” is the subject which he next discusses. Here
he boggles at one Presidential term. He seems reluctant to surrender
the most elevated and the most lucrative office, next to that of
President, and this, too, an office for life, for the sake of only
four years in the White House. He again, therefore, for the third
time, in the same letter, proposes to amend the Constitution, just as
if this were as easy as to wheel a division of his army on a parade
day, so as to extend the Presidential term to six years. Four years
are too short a term for General Scott. It must be prolonged. The
people must be deprived of the power of choosing their President at
the end of so brief a period as four years. But such an amendment of
the Constitution, he ought to have known, was all moonshine. The
General, then, declines to pledge himself to serve but for one term,
and this for the most extraordinary reason. I shall quote his own
words; he says:—“But I do not consider it respectful to the people,
nor otherwise proper, in a candidate to solicit favor on a pledge
that, if elected, he will not accept a second nomination. It looks too
much like a bargain tendered to other aspirants—yield to me now; I
shall soon be out of your way; too much like the interest that
sometimes governs the cardinals in the choice of a Pope, many voting
for themselves first, and, if without success, finally for the most
superannuated, in order that the election may sooner come round
again.”
He was, then, you may be sure, still a Native American.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account