There was much question as to the term for which the President should be elected and whether by the People or by Congress.

Some were for one, two, three, four, ten, and even fifteen years.

Rufus King, grown sarcastic, said: "Better call it twenty--it's the average reign of princes." Alexander Hamilton and Gouverneur Morris stood for a life service with provision for the President's removal in case of malfeasance.

These gentlemen, in spite of their influence in the Convention, stirred up a deep-seated enmity to their plan.

Few instincts were more general than that which drew back from any arrangement which might embolden the monarchists to make a man President for a ten or fifteen years' term or for life.