Year: 1875




Grant has written the following let
ter toGeneral Harry White, Presi-
dent Of the recent Pennsylvania Re-
| publican State Convention.


-- EXECUTIVE MANSION,


WASHINGTON, d. c.. May 30 1875.
ADed1. Sir: A short time subsequent
to the Presidential. election of 1872,
the press. a portion of it hostile TO
the Republican party and particular
ly so to the Administration. started
the cry of C@sarism and Third
Term calling Justify for me to de-
fne my position on the latter sub
! ject. / believed it to be beneath
the dignity of the Office which have
been twice called upon to fill. to an
swer such question before the sub
ject should be presented by compe-
tent authority to make nomination,
or by a body of such dignity and au-
thority as not to make a reply a fair
subject Of ridicule in fact. have
been surprised that so many sensi-
he persons in the Republican party
should permit their enemy to force
upon them and their party an issue
which cannot add strength to the
party no matter how met. But a
body of the dignity and party au-
thority of convention to make par
ty nominations for the State officers
of the second State in the Union
having considered this question, /
deem it not improper that l should
now speak.


In the first place, l never sought
the Office for a second nor even for
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 va
Gated I liked. 1t would haze been
most agreeable to me to have retain
ed it until such time as Congress
might have consented to my retire
ment. with the rank and a portion
of the emoluments which / so much
needed. to home where the balance
of my days might be spent in peace.
and the enjoyment of domestic quiet,
relieved from the 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
seeking the office for the second
term the nomination was rendered
to me by unanimous vote of the
dele gates of all the States and Ter.
ritories, selected by the Republicans
of each, to represent their whole
number for the purpose of making
their nomination. l cannot say that
| was not pleased at this, and at the
overwhelming endorsement which
their action received a. the election
following. But it must be remem-
bered that all the sacrifice except
that of comfort had been made in
accepting the ''first term Then,
too, such a fire of personal abuse
and slander had been kept up for
four years, Notwithstanding the con-
scientious performances of my duties
to the best of my understanding
though l admit IN the light of subse-
quent events many times subject to
fair criticism-that an Endorsement
from the people, who alone govern
republics, was a qualification that it
is only human to have appreciated
| and enjoyed.


Now for the ''third term" l do
not want it any more than / did the
first. l would not write or utter
word to change the will of the peo-
pie in expressing and having their
choices The questioned the number
of terms allowed to any one Exeeu-
tive can only come up fairly in the
shape of a proposition to amend the
Constitution. a shape in which all
political parties can participate, fix
ing the length Of time or the number
of terms for which any one person
shall be eligible for the Office of
/ President. Until such an amend
ment is adopted the people cannot
be restricted in their choice by res
olution further than they are now re-
Iastrieted as to age, nativity, &c. Tt
may Happen in the future history of
che country that to change an Exc
ecufve because he has been eight



years in Office will prove unfortunate,
ifnot disastrous. The idea that any
man could elect himself President.
or even to renominate himself, is
preposterous. It's a reflection upon
the intelligence and patriotism of
the people to suppose such a thing
possible. Any man can destroy his
chances for the Office, but no one
can force an election. or even nom-
ination.


To recapitulate I am not, nor
hayeI ever been. q candidate for a
denomination. would not accept
q nomination if it were rendered,
unless it should come under such
circumstances as TO make it an inn
perative duty, circumstances not
likely to arise. I congratulate the
Convention over which you presided
for the harmony which prevailed.
aud for the excellent ticket put in
the field, and which I hope may be
triumphantly elected. With great
respect, your ohedient servant.


IL. S. GRANT.


To Gen. Harry White, President
Pennsylvania Republican State Con-
vention.


{. Observation-Disclosures is
tho name f1f q town In tho Tefa of