Whereas, by the Constitution of the United States, there is no restriction or limitation to the term of office of President of the United States, provided the incumbent can procure his continued re-election;

And whereas, it is believed that the re-election of the same individual to the office is of dangerous tendency, by holding out improper inducements to the President to use the vast and hitherto increasing patronage of his office in such manner as will be most likely to secure his re-election, and in the hands of an ambitious, not to say unprincipled man, might, and probably would be, used greatly to the public injury, in sapping the very foundations of our Republican institutions;

And whereas, we believe in the doctrine of rotation in office as being most congenial to our Republican institutions, and best calculated to preserve them; therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Illinois, in General Assembly met, That our Senators in Congress be instructed, and our Representatives requested, to use their influence to procure such alteration or amendment of the Constitution of the United States as will render the same individual perpetually ineligible to the office of President after having once filled said office.

Resolved, That his Excellency, the Governor, be requested to forward to each of our Senators and Representatives in Congress, copies of this preamble and resolutions[.]