Charles Sumner

And this meaningless juggle of words, entirely worthy of the days of Slavery, is all that is vouchsafed by a Republican President for the equal rights of his colored fellow-citizens.

Nor has he ever exhibited to the colored people any true sympathy.

Had the President put into the protection of the colored people at the South half the effort and earnest will with which he maintained his San Domingo contrivance, the murderous Ku-Klux would have been driven from the field and peace…

But instead he has organized discord, operating through a succession of rings, and for laurels we find only weeds and thistles.

And again, let the War Department recall the disappearance of important archives bearing on an important event of the war, so that empty boxes remain like a coffin without a corpse.

But here the initial point is the limitation of the President to one term, so that he may be placed above temptation; yet this he opposes.

When before in our history have we reached any such bathos as that to which we have been carried in our questions with England?

In every direction is muddle,--muddle with Spain, muddle with Cuba, muddle with the Black Republic, muddle with distant Corea, muddle with Venezuela, muddle with Russia, muddle with England,--on all sides one diversified muddle.

Here the President touches nothing which he does not muddle.

With so much pretension and so little knowledge, how could it be otherwise?

Knowing something of these from careful study and years of practical acquaintance, I am bound to say that never before has their management been so wanting in ability and so absolutely without character.

Nor can we afford to perpetuate power in a ruler who errs so much from ignorance.

In the name of the One-Term principle, once recognized by him, and which needs no other evidence of its necessity than his own Presidency, I protest against his attempt to obtain another lease of power.

Therefore, in opposing the prolonged power of the present incumbent, I begin by insisting, that, for the good of the country, and without reference to any personal failure, no President should be a candidate for reëlection; and it is our…

If the President is sincere for reform, it will be easy for him to set the example by declaring again his adhesion to the One-Term principle.

Beyond all question Civil-Service Reform must begin by a limitation of the President to one term, so that the temptation to use the appointing power for personal ends may disappear from our system, and this great disturbing force cease to…

But in this excellent work, well worthy the best efforts of all, nothing is more important than the limitation to one term.

And precisely on this ground, but also with specific proofs, do I insist that the influence of the President has increased, is increasing, and ought to be diminished.

The party which supports General Grant demands it; and above all else public morality calls for it.

All parties are in favor of it.… General Grant is in favor of it.

Let not Congress adjourn without passing the One-Term Amendment to the Constitution.

He is, moreover, an advocate of the One-Term principle, as conducing toward the proper administration of the law,--a principle with which so many prominent Republicans have identified themselves that it may be accepted as an article of…

The attempt to change the character of the Republican Party begins by assault on the principle of One Term for President.

For myself, I say openly, I am no man’s man, nor do I belong to any personal party.

It is no longer a political party, but a personal party.