Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1875-06-03
GEN. GRANT SPEAKS.
His Views On the Third Term.
Neither Seeks Nor Would Accept
a denomination.

WASHINGTON, May 30.-President
Grant has written the following letter
TO Gen. Harry White, President of the
recent Pennsylvania Republican Con-
vention:
EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, D. Co.
May 30, 1875.
DEAR SIR "A short time subsequent
to the Presidential election of 1872 the
press-a portion of it hostile to the Re-
publican party, and particularly so to
the Observation-Disclosures the cry of
C8sarism ard the third term, calling
Justify for me to define my position on
the latter subject. / believed it TO be
beneath the dignity of the office which
L have been called upon to fill to an
swer such question before the subject
should be presented by a competent
authority to make nomination, of
body of such dignity and authority as
not to make reply fair subject of
ridicule. In fact L have been surprised
that so many sensible persons in the
Republican party should permit their
enemy to force upon them and their
party an issue which cannot add
strength to the party no matter how
met. But a body of the dignity and
party authority of a Convention to
make nominations for State officers Of
the second State in the Union having
considered this question, deem it not
improper that should speak. In the
first place never sought the place for .
second or even first nomination. To
the first was called from a life posi-
tion, one created by Congress express
ly CIR me for supposed services render
eG - the Rebublic. The position va
Gated q liked it) would have been
most agreeable to me to have retained
until such time as Congress might have
consented to my retirement with the
rank and portion of the emoluments
which l so much needed, to a home
where the balance of my days might
be spent in peace and the enjoyment of
domestic quiet, relieved from the cares
which have oppressed me constantly
now for fourteen years. l was made to
believe that the public good called me
TO make ssthe sacrifice for the second
term. The nomination was rendered
to me by an unanimous vote of the del
egates of all the States, selected by the
Republicans of each TO represent their
whole number for the purpose of max
ing their nomination. l can not say
that was not pleased at this and at the
overwhelming endorsement which
their action received at the election fol-
lowing; but it must be remembered |
that all the sacrifices except that of
comfort had already been made in ac-
eepting the first term. Then, too, such |
a fire of personal abuse and sIander had
been kept up for four years, notwith-
standing the conscientious performance
of my duties to the best of my under
though L admit, i'm the light
of subsequent events, oftener subject to
fair criticism than endorsement from
the people, who alone govern the Re-
public, was qualification that it is only
human to have appreciated and enjoy
ed. Now, for the third term l do not
want it any more than l did the first.
would not write or utter word to
change the will of the people in ex
pressing and having their choice. The
question of the number of terms allow
ed to any one Executive can only come
up fairly in the shape of a proposition
10 amend the Constitution-a shape in