The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1878-08-30
Grant on "rhe Third Term. =



~ was never more delighted at any
thing said the general, ''than the clos,
of the war. | never liked service in Iii,
larmy not as a young officer. did no
want 10 90 to West Point. Ny appoint
ment was an accident, and my fathel
had to use his authority 10 make me go
never went into battle willingly o
with enthusiasm. ! was always gla(
when battle was over. l never wan
10 command another army. take NJ
interest in armies. When the Duke d
Cambridge asked me TO review his troop,
at Aldershott, told his royal highncs'
that the one thing never wanted to Sc,
again was military parade. When
resigned from the army and went TO q
farm was happy. When the rebellion
came returned 10 the service becaus,
IL was duty. | had no thought ol
rank; all did was to try and max,
myself useful. NV first commission
Icame on the unanimous Endorsement oI
the delegation from Illinois. | do moi
think ] knew any Of the members buI
Washburnc, and did not know him
very well. 1t was only after Donclson
that ] began 10 see how important was
the work that Providence devolvcd up
on me. And yet after Donelson was
in disgrace and under arrest, and practi-
calIy without command, because OF
some misunderstanding OH the part OF
llalleck. | do not know what would
have become of that had not the country
interfered You see Donelson was our
first clear victory, and you will remem-
Der the enthusiasm that come with II.
The country saved me from Haleck'> :
displeasurc. When other commands
came l always regretted them. When
the bill creating the grade Of Lieutenant
General was proposed, with my name as
the Lieutenant-Gencral, wrote Mr..
Washburne opposing it. did not want
il. found that the bill was right and |
was wrong, when | came TO command
the army of the Potomac-t that head
was needed to the army. I did not
want the presidency. and have never
quite forgiven myself for resigning
command Of the army to accept il; but
it could not be helped. l owed my
honors and opportunities to the repubIi-
can party, and If MY name could aid il !
was bound To accept. The second nomi-
nation was almost due 10 me-if l NAV
use the phrase because of the bitter.
ness Of political and personal opponents.
My reelection was a great qualification.
because 1t showed me how the country
felt. Then came oil the discussion about
the third term. I gave my views on
that in my letters 10 Senator White, OF
Pennsylvania. Ii is not known, how
ever, how strongly was pressed TO enter
the canvass as a candidate. Twas waited
upon formally BY distinguished man.
representing the influences that would
have controlled tho republicans in the
south. aud asked 10 allow my name tu
he used. This request was supported
by men in the northern states whose
position and character are unquestioncd
said then that under no circumstances
would become candidate. Even IL a
aud election were assured Il
would not run. The nomination IL 4
ii had been unanimous. The election, iii
1 should win, would be after struggle,
and the result would be far different
from what 1t was before. If succeeded
and tried to do my best, my very best, 1
should still have crippled administra-
ton. This was the public view. Per-
sonally, | was weary Of Office. ! never
10 get out Of place as much a.
did 10 get out of the presidency. For
sixteen years, from the opening Of the
war, IL had been constant strain upon
me. So when the third term was scri-
1usly presented to me, | pcremptorily
declined.