Mr. WADE. The proposition is to restrict the office to one term of 4 years. My motion will be to refer it to the ComJudiciary, not to consider it now. I only wish to say on this occasion that I believe it is the most favorable opportunity to make this amendment that there has been since the formation of the Constitution of the U.S. It has been the opinion of some of the wisest statesmen, or those who were deemed the wisest, at almost every period, during the existence of this Government, that it was a defect in that instrument that it failed to limit the occupancy of the office to only one term. I have no doubt that the reason which superinduced this was that General Washington was contemplated universally as the 1st Chief Magistrate, and in him such confidence was reposed that it seemed to throw the statesmen of that day off the ordinary caution that they exercised in almost every other portion of the Constitution. Nobody can fail to see that in the vast and growing patronage and power of the presidential office there are temptations to the incum bent, all the time weighing upon his mind like gravity, to wield the concentrated powers of the Government in such a way as he believes will conduce to his reelection. I believe every one who has watched with vigilance the administration of our Government during all its periods will admit that this has been so. I do not wish now invidiously to point out the peculiar action of any particular Administration, but anyone acquainted with the action of the human mind and the motives which govern it knows that it is not safe to leave in the hands of any man such temptations as arise from the fact that he can use these vast powers to promote his own ambition. There has rarely been a time, however, when such a proposition could be moved and not seem to be invidious. I believe, in the prog ress of this nation from one Administration to another, that this idea, which shrewd statesmen saw early, has been growing, till now everybody seems to understand that there is an evil which needs correction. Without going into the argument, merely suggesting the great importance of the measure, I simply say that all parties for several years seem to have been of the opinion that this defect should be remedied. President Washington thought so. President Jackson and almost all our eminent statesmen from that time to this have seen this defect and wished it might be corrected. They did not, however, find an opportunity when it was probable that they could get the necessary vote to effect it. such has been the condition of parties generally in this Government that it was almost a hopeless task toingraft this amendment upon the Constitution. There now is an opportunity, and I believe every man is sensible that the correction ought to be promptly applied. I hope, therefore, that the ComJudiciary will take up this great subject, consider the resolution that I send to them, and if it is not correct in their judgment, if it wants amendment, I hope they will apply the amendment, and at an early period report it back that congress may act upon it.