Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1875-06-03
THIRD TERM.
President Grant Administers a
Quietus to the Third
Term Clamor. MI
A Distinct Declaration That
He Would Not Accept
a denomination.
Letter to the President of the Penn
sylvania Republican State
Convention.

WAsHIGToN, May 30.-President
Grant has written the following lstter
to General Harvey White, president
Of the recent Pennsylvania Republ-
can State Convention:
ExEcUryE MANSION. WASHINGTON, D. c.,
May 29, lS75.-DEAR Sra: A short time sub,
sequent to the presidential election of 1872
the press, portion of it hostile to the Repub-
ean party, and particularly so to the Admin
stration, started the cry of Cnsarism and the
third term calling Justify for me to define my
position on the latter subject believed tito be
beneath the dignity of the Office which have
been twice called upon to fill to answer such
question before the subject should be present
ed by competent authority to make nomina-
ton, or by body of such dignity and authors
ty as not to make the reply fair subject OF
ridicule. In fact, 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 body of dignity and party authority,
convention to make nominations for State
officers of the second State in the Union, hav.
ing considered the question, deem it not i'm
proper tudt L DuOuiu uOh SpCdh
In the first place, never sought the office
for second, nor even first, nomination. To
the first was called from life position, one
created by Congress expressly for me- for sup.
posed services rendered to the Republic The
position vacated | liked, and it would have
been most agreeable to me to have retained
il until such time as Congress might have con-
scented to my retirement, with the rank, and a
portion of the emoluments which | so much
neeGed, to a home where the balance of my
days might be spent in peace and the enjoys
ment of domestic quiet, relieved from the
cares which have oppressed me so constantly
now for fourteen years. But was made to
believe that the public good called on me to
TO make the sacrifice. Without seeking the
office for the second term, the nomination was
rendered to me by unanimous vote of the
delegates Of all the States and Territories
selected by the Republicans of each to repre-
sent their whole number for the purpose of
making their nomination. l cannot say that
| was not pleased at this and at the over
wbelming Endorsement which their action re-
ceived 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 of personal
abuse and SANDER had been kept up for four
years, Notwithstanding the considerations per-
Torrance of my duties to the best of my under>
standing, though, | admit, in the light of SUBJ
sequent events many times subject to fair crit
lclsm, that an endorsement from the people,
who alone govern republics, was a gratifca-
ton that is only human to have appreciated
and enjoyed. For the third term, / do not
want it any more than did the first. | would
not write or utter word to change the will
of the people in expressing and having their
choice.
The question of the number of terms allow
ed any one Executive can only come up fairly
in the shape of a proposition to amend the
constitutional shape in which all political
parties can participate in fixing the length of
time or the number of terms for which any
one person shall be eligible for the office of
President. Until such an amendment is adopt
ed the people cannot be restricted in their
choice by IA resolution further than they are
now RESTRICTED as to aSe. .aati9n8itBrF 81 the
country that, to change an executive because
lie has been eight years in office will prove I'M
fortunate, if not disastrous. The idea that
any man could elect himself President or even
renominate himself, is preposterous. 1t is a
reflection on the intelligence and patriotism
of the people to suppose such thing possible
Any man can destroy his chance for office, but
no one can force an election, or even a nom-
nation.
To recapitulate: am not, nor have ever been
u candidate for denomination. | would not
accept nomination if it were rendered, unless
it should come under such circumstances as to
make it an imperitiye duty-circumstances
not likely to arise.
| congratulate the Convention over which
you presided for the harmony which prevailed
and for the excellent ticket put in the field,
and which hope may be triumphantly elected.
With great respect, your obedient servant,
U S. GRANT.