Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1875-06-03
THIRD TERM.
The President Declares he Does Nos
Want and Would Not Accept It.


WASHINGTON, May S0.-President
Grant has written the following letter |
to General Harry White, President of |
the recent Pennsylvania Republican
Convention:
EXECUTIVE MANSION,
WASHINGTON, D. c., May %, 1875.
DEAR SIR.-A short time subsequent |
to the Presidential election of 1872
the press, portion of it hostile to the
Republican party, and particularly SO
to the Administration, started the cry
of 50 'Cesarism'' and ssthird term," call
| ing Justify for me to define my posi-
ton on the latter subject. believed
it to be beneath the dignity of the Of
| fee which I have been twice called up-
on to I'LL to answer such question
before the subject should be presented
by competent authority to make a
nomination, or by body ofsuch dig
nifty and authority as not to make
reply fair subject of ridicule. In fact
I have been surprised that so many
sensible persons in the Republican
party should permit their enimies 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 author
ity of a convention to make nomina-
tions for the State officers of the Sec
ond State in the Union having consid-
cred this question, deem it not i'm
proper that should now speak.
In the first place never sought the
Office for second nor even for first
nomination. To the first was called
from a life position, one created by
Congress expressly for me for suppOs-
: ed services rendered to the republic.
J The position vacated, liked, and it
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 ftheemoluments which were so much
: needed, to home where the balance
: of my days might be spent in peace
; and the enjoyment of domestic quiet,
= retired from the cares which have op-
pressed me so constantly now for four
# teen years. But l was made to be
: lieve that the public good called me
4 to make the sacrifice.
Without seeking the Office for the
second term the nomination was tend
- cred to me by a unanimous vote BY
= the delegates of all the States and Ter
- ritories selected by the Republicans o
= each to represent their whole numbe
- for the purpose of making their nom
e ination. can not say that / was no
pleased at this, and at the oVerWhelm
ing Endorsement which their action re
q ceived at the election following, but
r must be remembered that all the sac
t. rifices except that of comfort had bee
nj made in accepting the first term. The
= too, such fire of personal abuse an
- slander had heen kept up for fou
tn wears, Notwithstanding the conscier
e. tious performance of my duties to th
best of my understanding, though
admit, in the light of subsequer
IN events, many times subject to fair cri
q. icism, that an Endorsement from tt
~ people who alone govern. republic
= was qualification it is only human
es have appreciated and enjoyed.
'st Now for the third term, I do NJ
Sc want it any more than did the frs
nj I would not write or utter a word {
- change the will of the people in e,
en pressing and having their choice. tt
tn question of the number of terms q
lowed to any one Executive can on
come up fairly in the shape of pro,
.te osition to amend the Constitution,
IL shape in which all political parties CT
av participate, fixing the length of tin
= = or the number. of times fer which al
ue one person shall be eligible for the O
y fee of President. Until such an amen
Id ment is adopted the people cannot
oh restricted in their choice by resoluti
further than they are now restricted
to age, nationality, etc. 1t may ha
Of pen in the future history of the cou
try that to change an Executive |
~ cause he has been eight years in off
the will prove unfortunate if not disastro
H., The idea that any man could ell
in himself President or even to renor
ION nate himself, is preposterous. It is
reflection upon the intelligence a
patriotism of the people to suppC
o+s such thing possible Any man {
destroy his chances for the Office,
1he no one can force an election or ey
and a nomination.
by To recapitulate, l am not nor hi
md ever been acandidate for a renoT
nation. would not accept a nomil
ton ifit were rendered, unless it shot
hv come under such circumstances as
make 1T an imperative duty, under C
ney cumstances not likely to arise.
of I congratulate the Convention O,
which you presided for the harmC
which prevailed, and for the excel
1ar ticket put in the field, and whic
lck- hope may be triumphantly elected.
res With great respect, your
Obedient servant,
q. S. GRANT
To Gen. Harry White, Presid
=. Pennsylvania Republican State G