Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1875-06-04
The ThIrd-Term QuestiOn--LetteH
from PrcsIdent Grant.

WASHINGTON, May 80.
2 President Grant has written the follow
ing letter to Gen. Harry White, President
of the recent Pennsylvania Republican
State Convention:
EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, D. c.,
May 20, 1875 !
DEAR SIR. A short time subsequent to the
Presidential election of 1872, the press, por-
tion Of it hostile TO the Republican party, and
particularly so to the Administration, started
the cry of Cesarism" and 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 I have been
twice called upon to ill to answer such a ques-
ton before the subject should be presented by
competent authority to make nomination,
or by body of such dignity and authority
as not TO make reply fair subject Of ridicule.
In fact, l have been surprised that 20 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 tie dignity and party
authority of a convention to make nomina-
tions TO. the State officers of the second
State in the Union having considered this
question, l deem ii notimproper that | should
now speak.
In the first place, l never sought the Office
for a second, nor even for first nomination,
TO the first was called from lno position,
one createdby Congress expressly Tor me Tor
supposed services rendered to the Republic
The position vacated liked. 1t would have
been most agreeable to me to have retained
it 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 bal
ance of my days might he spent in
peace and the enjoyment of domestic
quiet, relieved from cares which have
oppressed me so constantly now for fourteen
years, but was made to believe that the pub
lie good called me to make the sacribce.
Without seeking the office for the second
term" the nomination was rendered to me by
a unanimous vote Of the delegation Of all the
States and Territories selected by the Repub.
licans of each to represent their whole num-
ber for the purpose of making their nomina-
ton. l cannot say that | was not pleased
at this and at the overwhelming in;
dorsement which their action received
at the election following But it must
be remembered that all the sacrifices
| except that Of comfort had been made
| in accepting the " first term" Then, too,
| such fire or 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
| Endorsement from the people, who alone gov
| ern republics, was a qualification that 1t IL
| only human to have appreciated and enjoyed
Now for the third term," l do not want il
any more than did the first. l would moi
| write or utter u 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 proposition to amend tht
| Constitutions shape in which all politica
parties can cipate--detining the length o
| time or the number of terms for which an,
one person shall be eligible for th'