Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1876-07-15
Gov. Hayes Letter of Accep-
lance.

accepting the republican nomlna-
ton for the Presidency:
Columbus, July s.-Hon, Edward
Mcpherson, Hon. VIM. II. How
ard, Hon. Joseph III. Rainey, and
others of the committee of the Re-
publican National Convention.
Gentleman In reply to your of
fetal communication of June is,
by which | am informed of my
nomination for the Office of Presi-
dent of the United States by the
Republican National Convention
at Cincinnati, / accept the nomina-
ton with gratitude, hoping that
under Providence 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 it necessary to enter upon
any extended examination of the
declaration of principles made by
the convention. The resolutions
are in accord with my views, and
/ heartily concur in the principles
they announce. In several of the
resolutions, however, questions
are considered which are of such
importance that / deem it proper
to briefly express my convictions
in regard to them. The fifth res
olution adopted by the convention
is of paramount interest. More
than forty years ago a system of
making appointments to Office
grew up based upon the maxim,
ITO the victors 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 9TH
er claim gave place to the idea
that party services were to be
chiefly considered All parties
in practice have adopted this sys-
tenn. 1t has been essentially mod
fled since its first introduction. 1t
has not, however, been improved
At first the President, either di-
rectly or through the heads of de-
partments, made all the appoint
ments; but gradually the APP
pointing power, in many cases,
passed into the control of MEM
bers of Congress. The offices in many
cases have not become rewards for
party service, but rewards for SER
vices for party leaders. This sys-
tenn destroys the independence
of the separate departments of the
government, and it tends directly
to extravaganza and official inca
pacity. 1t is a temptation to dis
honesty ; it binders and impairs
that careful supervision and ac-
countability by which alone faith
full and efficient public service can
be secured. 1t Obstructs the
prompt removal and sure punish
ment of the unworthy. In every
way it degrades the civil service
and the character of the govern
ment. 1t is felt, / am confident,b by
a large majority of the members
of Congress to be an intolerable
burden, and an unwarrantable
hindrance 10 the proper discharge
ofthe legitimate duties. 1t ought
to be abolished. The reform should
be thorough, radical and complete.
We should return to the principles
and practice of the founders of
the government supplying by
legislation, when needed, that
which was formerly established by
custom. They neither expected or
desired from the public any parti-
zan service. They meant that the
public officer should owe their
whole service to the government
and to the people. They meant
that the officer should be secure
in his tenure as long as his person
al character remained untarnished
and the performance of his duty
satisfactory. Ifelected / shall con-
duct the administration of the
government upon these principles
and all constitutional powers vest
ed in the executive will be en-
ployed to establish this reform.
The declaration of principles by
the Cincinnati convention makes
no announcement in favor of a
single presidential term. l 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,
acan be best accomplished by an
kexecutive who is under no temp
Atation to use the patronage of his
office to promote his own re-elec.
gtion, / desire to perform what /
regard as a duty in stating now
my infiexible purpose, If elected,
not to be a candidate for election a
second term. On the currency
question / have frequently ex-
pressed my views in public, and l
Stand by my record on this sub
feet. / regard all the laws of the