New-York tribune., 1876-08-05
THE LETTER OF GOV. TILDEN.

nersonal delivery of your letter OH poii"il VI ~
nemocratic National Convention held OIL 'he ~o'h
Of Jupe az St. Louis, advising me ot my nomination
a. ibe candidate of the constituency represented py
that body for the Office OF President OF t'e ,n'o
st,tes I answered that at my earliest convenience,
and IN conformity with usage, would prepare anu
transmit 10 you formal acceptance. now aVaii
,vsolf of the first interval in unavoidable occupa-
uons to fulfill that engagement
Tho Convention before making Its NOMINATIONS
oaopted n Declaration of Principles which, "a
whole seems to me wise exposition oi the heces-
st,es of ouT country and of the reforms needed TO
b,iup hack the Government to Its true functons 10
restore purty of administration, and TO renew the
nrosperty of the people But some OF these reforms
are so urgent that they claim more than passing
approval. -.
Tho necessity Of a reform in the scale of public
eynepse-FedeTal State, and muncipal" l"-and III
tine modes of Federal taxation" justiies all the
nronneuce given to il in the declaration OF the 81
Louis Convention.
NATIONAL EXPENSES TOO GhEAT.
The present depression in all the business and
industries of the people, which is deprvng labor OF
its employment and carrying want into so many
homes has its principal cause in excessive govern
mental consumption. Under the illusions OF spc-
eous nrosperity engendcred by the false policies of
going on ever since the peace of 1850, which
could only end in universal disaster. The Federal
taxes of the last eleven years reach the gigantic sum
of 81 500 COO 600. Local taxation has amounted
10 twc-thirCs as much more. The vast aggregate Is
not less than 81 900 900 900. This enormous taxa
ton followed civil conflict that had greatly I'M
paired our aggregate wealth, and had made prompt
reduction of expenses indispensable.
Ii was aggravated by most unscentihc and lll-ad-
iusted methods of taxation that increased the sac-
fees Of the people far beyond the receipts OF the
Treasury. 1t was aggravated, moreover, by imam
cial policy which tended TO diminish the energy,
skill and economy of production and the fIugality
of private consumption, and induced miscalculaton
in business and an unremuneratiye use OF capital
and labor.
Even in prosperous times the daily wants OF ndus-
trious communities press closely upon their daily
earnings. The margin of possible national savings
is at best small percentage of national earnings
Yet now for these eleven years governmental con-
sumption has been larger portion Of the national
earnings than the whole people can possibly save
even in prosperous times for all new investments.
The consequences Of these errors now present
public calamity. But they were never doubtful,
never invisible They were necessary and lneyl-
table and were forcseen and depicted when the
waves of that fictitious prosperity ran highest. In
speech made by ne OF the oath of September, 1868
1t was said of these taxes:
They bear heavily upon every mans income upon
every industry and every business IN the country,
and year by year they are destined TO press SIM
more heavily unless arrest the system that gives
rise to them. 1t comparatively easy Whcl
values were doubling under repeated issues OF legal
tender paper money, 10 pay out Of the froth OF our
growing and apparent wealth these taxes, but when
values recede and sink toward their natural scale,
the tax-catheTer takes from us not only our income,
nu on q q
tai , - ] do not wish to eXaggerate or alarm;
/ SIMPLY say that We cannot afford the costly ana
ruinous policy of the Radical majority of Congress
We cannot afford that policy toward the south.
We cannot afford the magnificent and oppressive
centrasm into which our Government is BENZ con
yerted We not afford the present magnificent
scale of taxation.
10 the Secretary of the Treasury said, early in
1865:
There is no royal road for government, more
than for an Individual or a corporation. What You
want to DO now is 20 cut down your expenses and
live within your income. would give all the Icccr-
deman Of finance and iinanceringz-l would give the
whole Of IT for the Old, hOmely maxim, Live within
your income
REFORM IN APPROPRIATIONS.
This reform will be resisted at every step, bnt
il must be pressed persstently. We see to-day
the immediate representatives of the people
in one branch of Congress, while struggling to
reduce expenditures, compelled TO confront
the menace of the Senate and the Executive
that unless the Objectionable appropriations be con-
sented to- the operations of the Government there
under shall suffer detriment cease. In my jndg-
ment, an amendment of the Constitution ought to
be devised separating in distinct bills the appropIa-
u0ns for the various departments of the public
service and excluding from each bill all appyopria-
tons for other objects and all independent lcgsla
pon. In that way alone can the rcvsoIy power Of
each Of the two Houses and of the Executive be pre-
e. tod fy.,re f,o Nyli oh
Often eompeS assent nabeappropriatiOns,
'ather than stop the wheels Of the Government.
MsGOvEENMEST IN THE SOUTH.
An accessory cause enhancing the distress 10 bust
ness Is to be foand in the systematic and insupport
aoie nisgoyernment imposed the States Of the
so1h' Besides the ordinary effects OF ignorant and
"iSnohest administration. 1t has inflicted Gpon them
enormous issues Of fraudulent bonds the scanty
"'als OF winch were wasted or stolcn and The cX-
lstenee OF which is public discrcdt, tending TO
oMiAruptey or Reputation. Taxes, generally OPP
preSSive, IN some instances have confscatId the
ehfe income Of property, and totally destroyed lis
marketable value. IL is impossible that thcsc evils
SHOULD not react upon the prosperity of the whole
country.
Inc nobler motives Of humanity concur with the
material interests Of all in requiring that every OBJ
saoie oe removed 70 a complete aud durable recon-
clia'ioh between kindred populations once unnatu-
'ii! eSudheed' OH the basis recognized by the st.
LOUIS platform, Of the Constitution Of the United
''"'es WIN l's Amendments universally accepted
as hna settlement Of the controversies which cn-
gendered civil war;
but' III and OF result 80 benefcent, the moral in
nnence OF every good citizen, as well as every gov
trhmenta authority, ought to he exerted, not alone
W ma'ntaih their Just equality before the law but
likewise TO establish cordial fraternity and good