Year: 1875

President Grant has written the fol-
lowing letter to General Harry White,
President # the recent Pennsylvania
Republican Safe Convention;


EXECUTIVE MANSION, |


WASHINGTON, b. c., May 20, 1875


DEAR SRA short time subsequent
to the Presidential election of 1872 the
press-a portion of it hostile to the Re-
publican party, and particularly SO to the
administration started the cry of Ces-
arsm' and "Third Term calling Justify
for me to define my position on the lat
ter subject. believe it to be beneath
the dignity of the office which | have
been twice called upon to fill to answer
such question before the subject should
be presented by competent authority to
make a nomination, or by a body ofsuch
dignity and authority as not to make re.
ply fair subject of ridicule. In fact l
have been surprised that so many sensi-
be person s. in the Republican party sho'd
permit their enmity to force upon them
and the party an issue which can not add
strength ito the party, no matter how
met. But body of the dignity and party
authority OF Convention to make nom
nations for the State officers of the sec
ond State in the Union. having consider
ell this question, deem it not improper
that sno I'D now speak.


"In the first place, never sought the
office for a second, nor even first nom
nation. Tothe first was called from
life postion-one created by Congress
expressly for me, Tor supposed services
rendered to the Republic. The position
| vacated | liked. 1t would have been
most agreeable to me to have retained it
until such time as Congress may have
consented to my retirement with the
rank and aportion of the emoluments
which | 50 much needed to a home
where the balance of my days might be
spent in peace and the enjoyment of do.
mestiC quiet, retired from the cares which
h I'VE oppressed me so constantly now for
fourteen years. But was made to be-
lieve that the public good called me to
make the sacrifice. Without seeking the
Office for the second term the nomination
was endered to me bya unanimous vote
of the delegates or all the States and Ter
ritor,s, selected by the Republicans
of each to represent their whole number
for the purpose OF making their nomina-
ton. can not say that | was not pleas
ed at this, and at the overwhelming en-
dOrsement which their action received
at the election following. But itmust be
remembered that all the sacrifices, ex.
cept thatof comfort, had been made in
accepting the first term. Then, too, such
fire of personal abuse and slander had
been kept up for four years, notwith-
standing the conscientious performance
of my duties to the best of my under
standing-though admit to the light of
subsequent events, many times subject to
fair Criticism-that an endorsement from
the people who alone govern Republics
was 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. /
would not write or utter word to change
the will of the people in expressing and
having their choice. The question ofthe
number of tarms allowed to any one Exc
cutive can only come up fairly in the
shape of a proposition to amend the
Constitution-a shape in which all politi-
cal parties can participate, fixing the
length of time or the number of terms
for which any one person shall be eligi
Bile for the office of President. Until
such an amendment is adopted the peo-
pie can not be restricted in their choice
by resolution further than they are now
restricted, as to age, nationality etc. 1t
may happen, in the future history of the
country, that to change an Executive be-
cause he has been eight years in office
will prove unfortunate, if not disasterous.
The idea that any man could elect him
self President, or even renOminate him
self, is preposterous. 1t is reflection
upon the intelligence and patriotism of
the eople to suppose such u thing possi
bic. ANY man can destroy his chances
for the Office, but no one can force an
e.ection or even nomination.


"To recapitnlate: l am not, nor have
ever been, candidate for denomination.
| would not accept nomination lift were
rendered, unless it should come under
such circumstances as to make it an inn
perative duty circumstances not likely
to arise. | congratulate the Convention
over which you presided for the harmony
which prevailed, and for the excellent
ticket put in the field, and which 1 hope
may be triumphantly elected. With
great.respect, your obedient servant,


Signed U. S. GRANT.


"1o General Harry White, President
PENNSYLVANIA Republican State Conven-