Wilmington daily commercial., 1876-07-10
FIRST EDITION.
The Letter of Acceptance.
GOV, HAYEs's RESPONSE TO THE NOTICE OF HIS
NOMINATION AS PRECEDENT.

COLUMBUS, Ohio, July ., lofo.-Hofs' hd-
aoard Mel Phersoa, Hon. Wna. A. HoaoGrd, |
Hon. Jos. H. Rdiney and others, ConenleI'ee
of Me Republican National Convention
GENTTEMEN In reply to your official COM
munication of June II, by which am IN.
formed of my nomination for the othce OF
President of the United States by the he-
nublican National Convention at Clnclnnatl,
+ accent the nomination with gratitude,
hoping that under Providence l shall be
able. If elected, to execute the duties OF the
high Office as a trust for the benefit OF all
the people. do not deem 1t necessary 10
enter upon any extended examination OF
the declaration OF the principles made
hv the convention. The resolutions are
in accord with my views, and l heartily
concur in the principles they announce.
In several of the resolutions, however,
nuestions are considered which are OF sucn
lmnortance that deem it proper to briefly
exnress nv convictions in regard to them
The fifth resolution adopted by the conVeh-
tion is of paramount interest. More than
forty years ago system of making appoint
ments to office grew up, based upon the
maxim "to the victors belong the spolls'
The rule. the true rule that honesty capao-
itv and fidelity constitute the only real quail
ifcations for office, and that there is no
other claim, gave place to the idea that
nartv services were to be chiefly considered
! An parties in practice have adopted tins
system. 1t has been essentially modined
since its first introduction. 1t has not how
ever been improved.
CIVIL SERVICE.
At first the President either directly or
through the heads of departments, made
all the appointments, but gradually the ap-
pointing power in many cases passed III ln1o
the control of members Of Congress. Inc
how hnNOmA
merely rewards for party services, 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 ON
| cial incapacity. 1t is temptation 10 ols-
honesty. It hinders and impairs that care
full supervision and strict accountability py
which alone faithful and et1clent pupilc
service can be secured. 1t obstructs the
nrompt removal and sure punishment of
the unworthy. In every way IL oegrades
the civil service and the character OF
the government. 1t is felt, l am
confident, by large majority OF the
members of Congress to be an lntolerable
burden and an unwarrantable hind
rance to the proper discharge OF Their leglG-
innate duties. It ought to be abohshed
The reform should be thorough, radical ana
complete. We should return to the prlncl-
nles and practice of the founders of the
government, supplying by legislation when
needed that which WAS formerly an estab
lished custom. They neither expected nor
desired from the public ofhcer any partlsau
service. They meant that public otHoerS
sLould owe tlleir whole service 20 tne gov.
erument and to the people; they meant
that the officer should be secure In his ten
ure as long as his personal character re-
NAMED untarnished and dtheperformance OF
his duties satisfactory. II elected shall
conduct the administration of the govern
ment upon these principles, and all constl.
tutionai powers vested in the executive Will
be employed to establish this reform
The declaration of principles by the Gin
, cinnati Convention makes no announce
ment in favor of single Presidential term.
do not assume to add to that declaration,
but believing that the restoration OF the
civil service to the system established by
Washington and followed by the early
Presidents can be best accomplished by an
Executive who is under no temptation &c
use the patronage of his office to promote
his own reelection, / desire to perform
what regard as a duty IN stating now my
; infIexible purpose. if elected, not to be 6
candidate for election to q second term.
THE CURRENCY QUESTION.
On the currency question 1 have fre
! ouently expressed my views in public, anc
/ stand by my record on this subject. re-
gard all the laws of the United States relat
ing to the payment of the public indebted
ness, the legal-tender notes included, al
constituting pledge of moral obligation Of
the government, which must in good fulfil
Z be kept. 1t is my conviction that the feel
b ing of uncertainty, inseparable from an ir
redeemable paper currency, with its huctua
u u ton of values, is one of the great obstacles
to a revival of confidence and business ant
e hat iFatx
can be ended in but one way, the resump
ton of specie payment; but the longer th'
It instability connected with our presen
i money system is permitted to continue thu
Is greater will be the injury inflicted upon ou
economical interests and all classes o
1t society. If elected / shall approve ever
appropriate measure to accomplish the de
y sired end and shall oppose any step back
f ward.
The resolution with respect to the publ
q school system is one which should receiy
r the hearty support of the American people
g Agitation upon this subject is to be appre
{. hended until by constitutional amendmen
st the schools are placed beyond all danger O
!, sectarian control or interference. The Re
publican party is pledged to secure such a
amendment. The resolution of the conver
ID tion on the subject of the permanent pacif
TX cation of the country and the complete pre-
10 lection of all its citizens in free enjoymer
of all their constitutional rights, is timel
o and of great Importance.
W CONDITION OF THE SOUTH.
m The condition of the Southern States a
] tracts the attention and commands til
sympathy of the people of the whole Unio
* in their progressive recovery from th
effects of the war. Their first necessity
I'd an intelligent and honest administration {
v, government, which will protect all classe
of citizens in all their political and privat
1s rights. What the South most needs
re "peace," and peace depends upon the 81
premacy of law. There can be no eI
t. during peace if the constitutional rights {
any portion of the people are habitually di
b, regarded. Adivision of political parties res
ing merely upon distinctions of race or upo
TO sectional lines, is alwsys unfortunate, an
may be disastrous. The welfare OF the Sout
Or alike with that of every other part of I'll
country depends upon the attractions it ca
offer to labor, to immigration and to cap
0. tai, but laborers will not go and capital wi
Of not be ventured where the constitution an
r the laws are set at defiance and distraction
u apprehension and alarm take the place
peace-loyinR and laW-abiding social life A