The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1880-02-21
The Third Term.

,
The prospective nomination of Gen
Grant for a third term recalls some
facts of history. To accept the nomi-
nation he must deny The sincerity OF
his own positive declaration. On May
Goth, 1875, he wrote to the Pennsyl-
vania Republican convention: III
would not accept a nomination if it
were rendered, unless it were to come
, under circumstances as to make it an
imperative duty-circumstances not
likely to arise" No man could say
more or less. The manipulaions and
intriguing Of partisans cannot be
honestly construed into the "circum-
stances" making acceptance "an i'm
perative duty"
The conventions of several States
notably Pennsylvania, the battle
ground of ring-master Don Cameron
have pronounced against third term.
On the second of June, 1875, the Ohio
convention which nominated Ruther-
ford B. Hayes for Governor, passed the
following by formal vote:
"The observance of Washington's
example in retiring at the close of Il
second presidential term will be in the
future, as fundamental rule in the
unwritten law of the Republic"
The Pennsylvania Republican con-
vention May Goth, 1875, passed the
following resolution Ia resolution Don
Cameron must have forgotten the
other day:
"Resolved, That we declare firm
unqualified adherence to the unwritten
law of the republic which wisely and
under the sanction of the most veneer
able of examples limits the presiden-
tial service of any citizen to two terms;
and we, the Republicans of Pennsyl- !
vania, in recognition of this law, are
unalterably opposed to the election to
the presidency of any person for a
third term"
On the 9th, of September, 1875 New
York, the State of Roscoe COnkling,
august in her political majesty and
stately in her statesmanahip, in Re-
publican convention thus sOlemnly
her "unalterable" opinion
on the third term:
Recognizing as conclusive the pres
ident's public declaration that he is
not candidate for denomination, and
with the sincerest gratitude for his
patriot services, we declare our unal-
terable opposition to the election Of
any president for third term"
In the same year Iowa spoke out in
language not to be mIsundersto cd, but
possibly forgotten in this year of can
lidates and presidential possibilities: /
"The Republican party of Iowa OPP
pose a third term, and believes that ,
President Grants letter to Gen. White .
.sirly removes that issue from our
politics."
Thus spoke Wisconsin, by solemn ;
,esOlu!i ion:
THAT we accept with appreciation I
he letter of President Grant, discour- {
aging the continuance i'm Office of any {
Of the nation for a longer I
period than two terms"
And asst, but not least, spoke Massa- !
,husetts, the home Of statesmen, the !
and of patriotic memories and of UNI c
unadulterated Republican
SIN. In convention she resolved:
THAT sound reason, as well as the
wise ard unbrOken usage Of the re- C
public, illustrated by the example Of a
requires that the term Of t
.he chief magistrate Of the United v
States should not exceed a second q
term"
Now after this history the question
arises what are they going tedo about
1t? Isn't the example Of Washing :
ton" as dear and "the unwritten laws \
as authoritative in 1880 as in ls75s J
To nominate Grant will involve his G
party in most humiliating self-eOntra-
dictinn.