7673. ROTATION IN OFFICE, Approval of.—
I am for responsibilities at short
periods, seeing neither reason nor safety in
making the public functionaries independent
of the nation for life, or even for a long term
of years. On this principle I prefer the Presidential
term of four years to that of seven
years which I myself had at first suggested,
annexing to it, however, ineligibility to it
forever after; and I wish it were now annexed
to the second quadrennial election of
President.—
To James Martin. Washington ed. vi, 213.
Ford ed., ix, 420.
(M.
1813)
See Third Term.