The Portland daily press., 1875-05-31
THE THIRD TERM.
Letter from President Grant.
he Says he Fever Sought Nomination
and would not Accept Another.

WASHINGTON, May 3O.-Presldent Grant has
written the following letter to General Harry
White, President of the recent Pennsylvania
Republican State Convention:
EXECUTIVE MANSION
Washington, d. g., May %, 1875.
Dear Sir: A short time subsequent to the
Presidential election of 1872 the press, portion
of it hostile to the Republican party and par
ticularly so to the administration, started the.
cry of Cesarism and the third term, calling
Justify for me to define my position on the lat
ter subject. 1 believed it to be beneath the
dignity of the Office which L have been twice
called upon to fill to answer such a question
before the subject should be presented by com
petent authority to make motion, or by body
of such dignity and authority as not to make
reply fair subject of ridicule In fact, have
been surprised tn 1t SO many sensible persons in
the Re publican party should permit their ene-
my to force upon them and their party an issue
which cannot add strength to the party, no mat
ter how met. But as a body of the dignity and
party authority of a convention to make nomi-
nations for the state officers of the second state
in the Union, have considered this question,
l deem it not improper that should now speak.
In the first place. never sought the Office
for second nor even for a first nomination.
To the first was called from life position,
one created by Congress especially for me for
supposed services rendered to the Republic.
The position vacated liked 1t would have
been most agreeable to me to have retained it
until suen time as Congress might have con-
sented to my retirement with the rank and
portion of the emolumentS which l so m UGH
needed, to home, where the balance of my
days might be spent IN peace and the enjoy
meut of domestic quiet, relieved from the cares
which have pressed me SO constantly for four
teen years. But was made to believe that
the public good called me to make the sacri-
fee.
Without seeking the office for the second
term, the nomination was rendered me by the
unanimous votes of the delegates of all the
states and territories selected 10y the Repubi-
cans of each to represent their whole number
for the purpose of making their nomination. l
cannot say that was not pleased at this and
at the overwhelming endorsement which their
action received at the election following, but it
must be remembered that all the sacrifices ex-
cept that of comfort had been made in accept
ing the first term" Then, too, such fire of
personal abuse and SANDER had been kept up
for four years, Notwithstanding the conscien-
tlous performance of my duties to the best of
my understanding, though admit in the light
of subsequent events many times subject to fair
criticism, that an endorsement from the people
who alone govern republics, was gratifica-
ton it is only human to have appreciated and
enjoyed:
more than did the first. L would not write or
utter word to change the will of the people in
expressing or having their choice. The ques-
ton of the number of terms allowed to any
one executive can only come up fairly in the |
shape of proposition to amend the Constitu-
tion-a shape in which all political parties can |
participate, fixing the length OF time or num- |
Der of terms for which any one person shall be |
eligible for the office of President. Until such |
an amendment is adopted the people cannot be |
restricted in their choice by resolution furth- |
er than they are now restricted as to age, ha"
tionality, SC 1t may happen in the future
history of the country that to change an exec
utive because he has been eight years in office
will prove unfortunate if not disastrous. The |
idea that any man could elect himself Presi-
dent or even renominate himself Is preposter
GUS 1t is a reflection upon the intelligence
and patriotism of the people TO suppose such
thing possible. Any man can destroy his
chances for the office, but no one can enforce
an election or even nomination.
To recapitulate: L am not nor have I ever |
been candidate for denomination. | would |
not accept q nomination if it were rendered,