Mr. WADE. This resolution was drawn with no respect to any individual in the world. I brought this subject before the Senate because I think the Constitution as it stands is greatly defective in this particular. Without any disparagement to any gentleman who ever filled the Presidential chair, I believe the government has not been as well administered as it would have been had there been no hope of another term to the incumbent occupying the Presidential chair; and when I say that I need not disparage anybody. such temptations placed before men as to have a view to their continuance in so honorable and great a position as that of POTUS will warp the judgment of almost any man, whether he knows it or not. I believe that every statesman who has had his eye fixed upon the administration of our Government for years past has not failed to discover that measures have sometimes been adopted looking quite as much to the continuance of the incumbent in office as to the public good. This idea has not escaped the greatest and best men that we ever had in the office. They have all seen, and many of them have felt, that there were temptations that ought to be removed. Those who have been most revered who have occupied that high o been the 1st to warn us that those temptations should be removed. As to the objection made by the Senfrom Maine, I do not think the resolution ought to be amended to correspond with his view, because I think the reason of the limitation applies to the VEEP when he becomes President, and it touches nobody else. When a person becomes President by virtue of law, in case of the death or removal of the President and VEEP, he does not fall within the rule laid down in this proposition. It may be that a gentleman elected VEEP, on the death or removal of the President toward the end of the term, may fill the office for but a short period; but such occurrences will be very rare. They are possible, but not very probable. But when they do occur, the same temptations and the same evils which induce us to bring forward the amendment at all attach to those persons. A gentleman i.from the Vice Presidency into the presiential office. If there is anything in what I have already suggested, the temptation upon him applies with quite as much force as it does upon the man who was elected to the office 1st. Our experience of VEEPs has not been well calculated to favor this objection. We have had some 4 of them, from Aaron Burr to the Present, and I believe nobody would have regretted it if their office had been circumscribed to the period in which they did hold the office. The reason is that as quick as they reach this place they are within the reason of the rule. The Senator thinks it a great hardship that an individual who happens to fall into this office for a short period should be ineligible afterward. I do not think it is a very great hardship. No gentleman need submit to it unless he pleases. This resolution was not framed by me with a view to individual interests or ambitions. care but very little for the individual who shall happen to be the President or VEEP. This great office can honor but few. If there are emoluments attached to it they can reach but very few at best of all the American people; and it is hardly worth our while to rame the measure with a view to individual interests or ambitions. The effect that it will have upon the public is what we should look to. I certainly cannot commisserate very much the condition of the man who has had the good luck to be VEEP and then President for a short term, because he cannot be President for a full period. The Senator says that by this proposition we do such an individual great injustice. I do not think so. I think it better, inasmuch as he falls within the reasoning of these temptations, that he should be content with that portion of the Presidential office that may fall to him, although I am not very particular about it. If it can be so framed as to escape that, I should not think it very objectionable; but still I do not think it wants amending for that reason.