The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1875-06-08
THE THIRlb TERN.
A Letter From President Grant.


THE THIRlb TERN.
A Letter From President Grant.
WASHINGTON, MAY 3O.-Ptesident
Grant has written the following letter to-
Gen Harry White, President Of the re.
cent Pennsylvania Republican State Con-
vention:
ExEcUT1vEMANsIoN, w AsHISeroN, ,D.Cf
May 80, 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.
Administration. started the cry of Ce-
sarism and 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 / had been
twice called sppoa u 81 % answer saeh e s
question before the subject should be
presented by competent authority to-
make nomination, or by body of such
dignity and authority as not to make q
reply fair subject of ridicule. In fact,
| have been surprised that so many SEN
sible persons in the Republican, party
should permit their enmity to force upon
them and their party an issue which can
not add strength to the party, no matter
how met. But body Of the dignity and
party authority Of a Convention to make
nominations for the State offices of the
second State in the Union having consid-
cred this question, l deem it rot i'm
proper thai should now speak. 1871
In the first place, never sought the
office for second nor even for q first
nomination. To the first was called.
from life position-one created by
Congress expressly for me, for supposed
services rendered to the Republic. The
position vacated / liked, It would have
been most agreeable to me to have re-
tanned it until such time AS Congress
might have consented to my retirement,
with the rank and q portion Of the emol-
uments which are so much needed, to q
homo where the balance Of my days
might be spent in peace and the enjoy
ment of domestic quiet, retired from
cares which have oppressed me so con-
stantly now for fourteen years. But I
was made to believe that the public good
ont seek;na tho of,co for Tho ancond
term the nom;nat;on voc tendersd - mo
bv unanimous vote Of e tho .,elegates of
all the States and Territories selected bys
the Republicans of each to represent
maLina : nom;ns,;on cannat say ,bot
was not nleosed at ,h;e and at n ever
whelm;no endorsement which thor ss,..
ltion received at tho election folIow;nc.
hnt.;t mnst bo hored that oll The.
sacrifices aycent thot os comfort had.
been made ;n arcen,;ng tho .F;rst Term,
Then. too snch . fro of norsonal ahusa
and slandar has beon kant mn for four
wears notw;tlst nd;no IT. copsc;,neresa
of the rersnrmance ef m : dut; a. -, the
hest of INV NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. adj
| nit in tho liobt of snhseonant even,s
many times subject 10 fair cr;ticismr-thst
an Endorsement from the neonle. who.
1alone Govern rennblicsl was 3 yrntifica.
Ition that it was only human to have ap-
preciated and epioyed.
| Now for the ..tbird term.n / do not
want IT anv more than did the first.
wonld not write nor u,ter . word to
change the will Of the people in express
limo and having their choice. The ones.
ton of the number Of terms allowed to
any one Executive can only come aup.
fairly in the shane of proposition to
amend the Constitution. q shape in which
all political parties can participate. fixing
the lenoth of time or the number q
terms for which anv one nerson shall be-
slioible for the Office of President. sIJn.
lii such an amendment il adonted. thu
people cannot be restricted in their
/ choice hv resolution fur,her than thew
are now restricted as to aqe.nationality.
| DC. II NAV bappen in the future history
Tive because he has been eight years in.