Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1874-07-14
Communicated.
A THIRD TERM.

The two principles, that are in an
tagonism are simply, one term and
more than one. Two, violates the for
mer of these, as completely, and it
may he, las we have seen,) as perni-
cfously, as could three. 1t is not less
clear that three, under Washington,
for instance, mad been better for the
country than two, under many of his
successors. Yet, dpriori,-and yet
more convincingly dpOsteriOri,-One
term only, and a longer one than the
present, say six years, commends it
self to my best judgment as, and
when, Incorporated into the Constitu-
ton a reelection becomes impossible.
For you may talk as you will about
the un1Vritten Constitution, .fTed 6y
practice, but where it is so difficult to
keep practice within the limits of the
aCritten, it is sheer folly to expect re-
gard to the 1t1aO1itten, whensoever the
ambition of the President, Oh the one
hand, or the good of the country in
the opinion of the people, on the
other, shall choose to disregard it.
Advocate as / am, earnest aud sincere,
of a one term provision in the. Consti-
tution--opposed to Grant as between
him and Seymour, opposed to him as
between him and Greeley opposed
to him for much and grievous mall
administration Of the Government, in
general, and especially for the coun
tenance and shelter he has afforded to
so many of the great and petty tyrants,
and thieves, who have oppressed and
plundered, so cruelty and so eXteu-
sively, the helpless people of the South
ern States-yet, for one suffragan OF
the Union, will l not consent to i'm
pair my right and duty TO choose and
decide, when the issues are made up
and the candidates presented, accord
ing to my best judgment, between them
for the public good. And hope that
every man who holds as his sole uiti-
mate principle of action, the greatest
dttdindbLe good for his country undeT
the constitution, will refuse to allow
his free action, under that principle,
to be hampered by any tests or consid-
erations of inferior Importance, it
whi, b may be sought TO commit him
to.
And not to deal in mere "glittering
geueralities." | wish distinctly to say
that l would unhesitatingly prefer,
and vote for Grant for third term,
before | would for Morton or Butler or
Wade, or even any hopeless third CAN
didate whose support might probably
result in the election of either; or of
any such for, then instead of outrages
and wrongs through the South, found
ed on, and limited by, (as believe to
be the case, now,) the faulty of
Grants personal favoritism to his
friends, then they would be founded on,
b. aggravated--and only limited, by all
unbounded and malignant hate of the
whole Southern people-Yet. never
theless, sincerely pray that no such
deplorable contina ency may ever arrive,
as might entail the necessity on me,
TO avoid worse to prefer Grant.
But still l repeat let US of the South
ern States keep our eyes steadily fixed
on escaping, first Of all from the quasi
erai-PrOtectorate, which still eX-
lists, into full and equal State Inde-
pendence with that enjoyed by the
Northern-Commit ourselves to moth
iug-eXcept to vote for that candidate
through whom we may best reach il
that foremost and paramount object.
That effected, we can address our
selves to the many great, tho not
minor, reforms, demanded to bring
back our Government to its prestine
simplicity, integrity, and good repute.
CARLYLE.