The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-09-06
READ 1T AGAIN
GovernorIIqyes'Lct of Ac-
cebtancc.
A plain Honest Document that
Everybody can Understand.
CoLuMDUs, O, JnIy 8, I81U.

CoIuMDus, o., July s, 1875.
Hon. Edward Mcpherson, Hon. VIM.
A. Howard, Hon. Joseph H. Rainey, and
others, Committee OF the Republican Ma
lional Convention.
GENTLEMEN: In reply to your official
communication OF June II, by which
am informed Of my nomination for the
office Of President Of the United States by
the Republican National Convention at
Cincinnati, accept the nomination with
gratitude, hoping that, under Providence,
fshall be able, il elected, TO execute the
duties Of the high office as trust for the
benefit Of all the people.
do not deem 1t necessary TO enter up
on any extended examination Of the dec
laration OF principles made by the con-
yention. The resolutions are in accord
with my views, and l heartily concur in
the principles they announce. In sever,
al Of the resolutions, however, questions
are considered which are Of such import
afee that / deem it proper to briefly ex-
press my convictions in regard 10 them.
The fifth resolution adopted by the con-
vention Is ofparamount interest. More
than forty years ago, q system oil making
appointments 10 Office grew up, based up
on the maxim ITO the yictors belong the
spoils." The old rule-the true rule
that honesty, capacity, and fidelity con-
stitute the only real qualifications for
office, and that there is no other claim,
gave place to. the idea that party ser-
vices we're TO be chiefly considered. All
parties, in practice, have adopted this
system. II has been essentially modified
since its first introduction. 1t has not,
however, been improved.
At first the President, either personally
or through the heads Of departments,
made all the appointments. But grad
,uaIly 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 par-
ty seryices, but rewards for services TO
party leaders. This system destroys the
independence OF the separate departments
Of the Government; il tends directly to
extravagance and official incapacity;'it ia
temptation to dishonesty; 1t binders and
impairs that careful supervision and
strict accountability by which alone
faithful and efficient public service can
be secured; il obstructs the prompt re-
moyal and sure punishment OF the
unworthy. In everyday il degrades the
civil service and the character Of thegov-
eminent. Il is felt, l am confident by a
large majority Of the members of Conf
greSs. to Be an iutolerable burden, and an
understandable hindrance TO the proper
discharge Of their legitimate duties. ~
ought 10 be abolished. The reform should
be thorough, radical and complete.
We should return TO the principles
and practice OF the founders OF the gov;
eminent, supplying by legislation, when
needed, that which was formerly estab-
lished custom. They neither expected nor
desired from The public officer any parti1
zan service. They meant that public Of
feers should owe their whole service to
the government and to the people. They
meant that tho officer should DO secure in
his tenure as long as his personal charac-
Ter remained ,untarnished, and the per-
fotmance Of his duties satisfactory. If
elected, l shall. conduct the administra-
ton OF the government upon these prin-
ciplcs; 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 an
pouncemeut in favor Of o single prCsiden-
tiart do not assume TO add to that
declaration; but believing that the reStor-,
alton Of theciRil service TO the system es-
stablished by Washington and followed by
the early presidents can DO best nc
complished by an executive who
is under no temptation to use the
patronage Of his Office to promote his
own reelection, I desire to perform what
regard as q duty, in stating non ny IN
lsrible purpose, u eleeted, not 10 Be candidate
for eleliO1 tO.d second term.:
On The. currency question, l have ire
quenllS expressed my views in public,
and. stand BY my RECORD on this subject.
Iregard all the laws Of the United States
relating TO the payment Of the public in-
debtedness, the legal tender notes includ-
ed, as constituting pledge and moral
obligation otthe government, which must
In good faith beFkept. Il Is my conyic-
uon that the feeling OF uncertainty in
Separable from an irredeemable paper
currency, with Its fluctuations Of values,