The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-06-21
THE Proposed THIRD TERN FOR
GEN. GRANT.
from Mr.. Bouner's New York Ledger ]

From Mr. Bouner's New York Ledger
Without being particularly demOnstrative
in politics, this journal favored Gen. Grant
for President. He is now serving his second
term. No President has ever served more
than two terms. George Washington, the
vas the first to set the example of declining
even to be a candidate for third term. This
voluntary REIMBURSEMENT of power has been
regarded by many as the GROWING glory OF
his most illustriOus character.
John Adams, the second President, was
not reelected, and consequently served but
single term
Thomas Jefferson, our third President and
author of the Declaration of Independence,
followed the example of Washington. So
did James Madison, than whom no man act
ed a more important part in the formation
and establishment of our Constitution. So
did James Monroe.
John Quincy Adams, like his father, was
elected only once.
This brought us to the time of Andrew
Jackson. The opposition to him was very
violent, but the support of him was still
more powerful. He had been military
man, and possessed an iron will. 1t began
to be reported, and soon became pretty gen
crafty believed, that he would seek third
term But the old hero took an early oc-
casiOn, in a message to Congress, to dis
claim any such intention, and thus promptly
to silence what he evidently regarded as
scandal.
Van Buren, was elected but once
Harrison and Taylor both died soon after
entering upon their respective terms.
Tyler and Fillmore were never elected
President, but succeeded as Vice President,
the former to Harrison, the latter to Taylor.
franklin Pierce was not SO much as nOmi
mated for reelection. Neither was Blu.
chanan.
Lincoln was assassinate6 after entering
upon his second term; and johnson, who
succeeded him, barely squeezed through,
after impeachment, singh term.
Thus we see that in the long line of Presi-
dents there is no precedent to be found for
even so much as an attempt to be elected
third term. To be sure, there is no provi-
sion in our written constitution against a
third term. But the tradition which limits
the office of President to eight years has be-
come 50 fixed and sanctified in the minds of
the p ople by the uniform example of our
greatest men, that it possesses all the
force of a constitutional provision. Any at
tempt to depart from it now would be looked
upon with well-grOunded suspicion as the
first treacherous step toward the overthrow
OF liberty and the foundation Of empire.
We do not doubt that such a movement
would be met by a most crushing defeat.
But this would not be all. The popular re-
probation would blacken and brand the
name of him who should seek to be satiated
by longer lease of power than that which
and jefferson and Madison and
Monroe and Jackson found sufficient to fill
the measure of their ambition. No reputa-
ton is SO high that it cannot be sacrificed.
Arnold was unquestionably one of the
greatest generals of the Revolution, but be-
meath the obloquy and infamy which cover
him, even his military genius is lost to view.
At the end of eight years General Grant
will quietly walk out of the White House,
Or he will forever place himself outside Of
the esteem of the American people.