The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1876-07-15
Gov. Hayes Letter Of Acceptance.

ro'HHajUS, a., July 8, lSaG.-llon. Ed
ward Mcpherson, Hon. VIM. A. Howard,
Hon. Joseph II. Rainey and others, com
mittee of the Republican National Conven
ton Cientlcmcn: In reply to your official
communication of June l1rh, by which
am informed of my nomination for the
office of President of the nited States by
the Republican National Convention at
Cincinnati, ! accept the nomination with
gratitude, hoping that under Providence
! shall he able if elected to execute the
duties of the high office as trust for the
benefit OF all the people.
do not deem it necessary to enter upon
any extended examination of the declara-
ti0n of principles made by the convention.
The resolutions are in accord with my
views, and heartily concur in the princi-
pies they announce. In several Of the
resolutions, however, questions are con-
sidered which are of such Importance that
| deem it proper to briefly express my con-
victions in regard to them. The fifth res
olutiou adopted by the convention is of
paramount interest More than forty years
ago 4 system of appointments to office
grew up based upon the maxim, "To the
vctors belong the spoils.' The old rule,
the true rule, that honesty, capacity and
fidelity constitute the only real qualitica-
tons for office, and that there is no other
claims gave place to the idea that
party services were to be chiefly considered.
All parties, in practice, have adopted this
system. 1t has been essentially modified
since its first introduction. 1t has not,
however, been improved
At first the President, either directly or
through the heads of departments, made
all the appointments, but gradually the
appointing power in many cases passed
into the control of members of Congress.
The offices in these cases have become not
merely rewards for party service, but re-
wards for services to party leaders. This
system destroys the Independence of the
separate departments of the Government.
1t tends directly to extravaganza and Off.
cial incapacity. 1t is temptation to dis
honesty; it binders and impairs that care
full supervision and strict accountability
by which alone faithful and efficient public
service can be secured. 1t obstructs the
prompt removal and sure punishment of
the unworthy. In every way it degrades
the civil service ana the character Of the
government. 1t is felt, | am confident, by
a large majority Of the members OF Con
eress to be an intolerable burden and an
unwarrantable Lindrance to the proper
discharge of thier legitimate duties. 1t
ought 10 De 3OcllSncd.
The reform should be thorough, and
radical and complete. We should return
to the principles and practice of the foun-
dcls of the government, supplying by
legislation, when needed, that which
was formerly established custom. They
neither expected nor desired from the pub
lie any partisan service. They meant that
public officers should owe their whole ser
vice TO the government and to the people.
They meant that the officer should be
secure in his tenure as long as his personal
character remained untarniShed and the
performance of his duties satisfactory. If
elected | shall conduct the administration
of the government upon these principles,
and all constitutional powers vested in the
executive will be employed to establish
this reform.
The declaration of principles by the
Cincinnati convention makes no announce
ment in favor of single presidential
term. ! do not assume to add to that
declaration, but BELIEVING that the restora-
ton of the civil service TO the system es-
tablished by Washington and followed by
the early Presidents can bc best accom-
pished by an executive who is under no
temptation to use the patronage of his
office to promote his own reelection, |
in stating now my intiexble purpose, if
elected not to be a candidate for election
to a second term.
On the currency question | have fire.
quently expressed my views in public and
| stand by my record on this subject. !
regard all the laws of the United States
relating to the payment of the public in
deptednes>, The legal tender notes included,
as constituting pledge and moral obliga-
ton Of the government which must in
good faith bc kept 1t is my conviction
that the feeling of uncertainty INSOFAR
able from an irrcdeemable paper currency,
with its fluctuations Of values, is one of
the great obstacles to revival of con-
tidence and business and to a return
of prosperity. that uncertainty can be
ended in but one way, 1.-The resumption of
specie payment" But the longer the
instability connected with our present
money system is permitted to continue the
greater will be the injury inflicted upon
our economical interests and all classes of
society. If elected | shall approve every
appropriate measure to accomplish the
desired end, and shall oppose any step back
ward.
The resolution with respect to the public
school system is one which should receive
the hearty support of the American people
Agitation upon this subject is to be encOur-
aged until by constitutional amendment the
schools are placed beyond all danger of
Scctariau control or interference. The
Republican party is pledged to such an
amendment.
The resolution Of the convention on the
subject of the permanent pacitication of
the country ana the complete protection of
all its citizens in the free enjoyment of all
their constitutional rights, is timely and of
great importance. The condition of the
Southern States attracts attention and
commands the sympathy of The people Of
the whole Union in their progressive re.
covery from the effects of the war. Their
first necessity is an intelligent and honest
administration of the government, which
will protect all classes of citizens in all their
political and private rights. What the
South most needs is peace, and peace
depends upon the supremacy of the law
There can lie no enduring peace if the
constitutional rights of any portion of the
people are habitually disregarded. \ di-
vision of political parties, resting merely
upon distinctions of race or upon sectional
lines, is always unfortunate and may be
disastrous The welfare of the South,
alike with that of every other part Of the
country, depends upon the attraction, it
can offer to labor, to immigration, and to
capital: but laborers will not 90 and capital
will not be ventured where the constitution
and the laws arc set at defiance, and dis
traction, apprehension and alarm take the
place of peace loving and peace abiding
social life.
parts of the constitution are sacred
and must be sacredly observed-the pats
that are new no less than the PARTS that