The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1875-06-02
THE THIRD TERM.


ident of the recent Pennsylvania
Republican State Convention:
ssExECUTIvE MANSION,
WASHINGTON, d. c., May 30, 1875.
ssDEAR SIR-A short time suisse
quent to the Presidential election
of 1872, the press, a portion of it,
hostile to the Republican party,
and particularly SO to the Admin
istration, started the cry of Caesar
ism and third term, calling Justify
for me to define my position on the
latter subject. I believed it to be
beneath the dignity of the Office
which have been twice called upon
to I'LL to answer such a question
before the subject should be pre-
sented by competent authority to
make nomination, or by body of
such dignity and authority as not
to make a reply fair subject of
ridicule. In fact, I have been sur
prised that SO many sensible per
sons in 1.-THE Republican party should
permit their enmity to force upon
them and their party an issue which
cannot 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 officers of the second
State in the Union having consid.
cred this question, I 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 o life position
one created by Congress expressly
for me, for supposed services rem
dered to the Republic. The position
vacated l liked 1t would have been
most agreeable to me to have re-
tanned it until such time as Con-
gress might have consented to my
retirement, with the rank and q
portion of the emoluments which
are SO much needed, to home
where the balance of my days might
be spent Id peace and the enjoy
nent OF domestic quiet, retired
from cares which have oppressed
me SO constantly now for fourteen
years. But [ was made to believe
that the public good called me to
make the sacrifice. Without seek
ing the Office for the second term,
the nomination was rendered to me
by unanimous vote of The dele
gates of all the States and Terrific
ries selected by the Republicans of
each to represent their whole mum
Der for the purpose of making o
nomination. l can not say that /
was not pleased at this, and at the
overwhelming Endorsement which
their action received at the election
following; but it must be remenn-
bered that ali the sacrifices, except
that of comfort, had been made in
accepting the First Term Then,
too, such a fire of personal abuse
and SANDER had been kept up for
four years, Notwithstanding the
consciousness of the performance
of the duties to the best of my TN
derstanding- Though. I admit, in
the light of subsequent events,
many times subject to fair criticism
that an Endorsement from the
people, who alone govern repub-
lies, was q qualification that it is
only human to have appreciated
and enjoyed
.sNow for the third term e I do
not want it any more than [ did the
first. I would not write or utter a
word to change the will of the
people in expressing and having
then 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, shape
in which all political parties can
participate, fixing the length of
time or the number of Terms for
which any one person shall be eli
gible for the. Office of President
Until such an amendment is adopt
Ell, the people cannot be restricted
IN their cEoice by resolutionfurthe r
than they are now restricted as to
age, nationality, &c. It may hap-
pen in the future history of the
country that to change an Execu-
tive because he has been eight years
IN office will prove unfortunate, ii
not disastrous. The idea that any
man could elect himself President,
or even to renominate himself. is
preposterous. It is reflection
upon the intelligence and patriot
ism of the people to suppose such
a thing possible. Any man can
destroy his chance for the office,
but no one can force an election or
even a nomination.
$50 recapitulate, a.n not, MOI
have ever been a candidate for a
denomination. would not accept
a nomination If it were rendered,
unless it should come under such
circumstances as to make it an inn
perative duty-circumsta not
likely to arise. I congratulate the
Convention over which you pre-
sided, for the harmony which pre-
vailed, and for the excellent ticket
put in the field, and which I hope
may be triumphantly elected.
with great respect, your ODE
dent servant, Z. S. GRANT.
$50 General HARRY WHITE, Pres
id't Pennsylvania Republican State
Convention"
''Mr Tilton's derelictions, what
ever they may have been, have
nothing whatever to do with Mr.
Beecher's innocence or guilt; and
the extraordinary efforts of the