The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1875-06-01
President Grant Speaks--He is
Opposed to a Third Term.

President Grant has written the follow.
ing letter TO General Harry White, pres
ldent Of the recent Pennsylvania Repub.
licrn State Convention. Its fairness and
good sense are conspicuous, and the mat
ter and the manner of his speaking will
command general respect.
EXECUTIVE MANSION,
WASHINGTON, d. G., May,20,lS75. {
Dear Sa "A short time subsequent
to the Presidential election of 1872, the
press, a portion OF 1t hostile 10 the ne-
publican party and particularly SO to the
administration, started the cry Of Caesar.
ism and "thc 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 | have been
twice called upon to Gil to answer such a
question before the subject should be pre-
scented by competent authority to make 4
nomination, or by a body of such dignity
as not to make a reply u subject of ridi.
Guile. In fact ] have been surprised that
SO many sensible persons in the Republi.
can party should permit their enemy to
force upon them, another party, an issue
which cannot add strength to the party,
no matter how met. Blu. a body of the
dignity and authority of q convention to
make nominations for the state officers of
the second State in the Union, having con-
sidered this question, | deem it not i'm.
proper that | should now speak. In the
first place, | never sought the office for a
second nor even for a first nomination. To
the first l was called from a life position,
one created by Congress expressly for me
for supposed services rendered the Re-
public. The position vacated | liked. 1t
would have been most agreeable to me to
have retained it until such time as Con-
gress might have consented to my retire.
ment with the rank and a portion Of the
emoluments which | so much needed, to
a home, where the balance Of my days
might be spent in peace and the enjoy
ment Of domestic quiet, relieved from the
cares which have oppressed me so con-
stantly now for fourteen years, but | was
made to believe that the public good
called me to mako the sacrifice without
seeking the office, For the second term
the nomination was rendered to me by o
unanimous vote of the delegates OF all the
States and Territories, selected by the
Republicans Of each to represent their
whole number for the purpose Of making
their nomination. | cannot say that |
was not pleased at this. ami at the over
whelminh endorsement which their action
received at the election following, but it
must be remembered that all the sacri-
fees except that Of comfort had been
made in accepting the i.st term. Then,
too, such a fire of personal abuse and
SANDER had been kept up for four
years, Notwithstanding the conscientious
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 endorse.
ment from the people, who alone govern
republics, was u qualification that is only
human to have appreciated and enjoyed.
Now Tor the third term | do not w.nt
it any more than | did the first. | would
not write a word to change the will Of the
people in expressing and having their
choice. The question Of the number of
terms allowed to any one executive can
only come up fairly in the shape of a
proposition to amend the constitution, 4
shape in which all political parties can
participate, fixing the length Of tune or
the number Of terms for which any one
person shall be eligible for the office OF
President. Until such an amendment is
adopted, the people can not be restricted
i'll this choice by resolution further than
they are now resIl icted as to age, nation.
ality, etc, 1t may happen in the future
history Of the country, but to change an
executive because he has beeu eight years
in office will prove unfortunate il mol
disastrous. The idea that any man could
elect himself President, or even renom
mate himself, is preposterous. 1t is q
reflection upon the intelligence aud patri'
otism Of the people to suppose such Q
! thing possible. Any mau can destroy