The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1876-07-20
Governor Hayes's Letter Of Acceptance.

COLUMBUS, ONO, July 8, ls76.
Hon. Edward MePherson, Hon. VIM. A. How
ard, Hon. Joseph II. Rainey, and Others
Committee OF the Republican National Con-
vention.
GENTLEMEN In reply to your official
communication of June l7th 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 Prov
idence, ] shall be able, il elected to exc.
cute 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
declaration OF principles made by the
Convention. The resolutions are in &C.
cord with my views. and heartily con.
cur in the principles they announce In
several Of the resolutions, however, ques-
tions are considered, which are Of such
Importance, that / deem 1t proper TO
briefly express my convictions in regard
to them.
The fifth resolution 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 victor
belong the spoils" The old rule-the
true rule-that honesty. capacity and f.
deity constitute the only real qualifica-
tions for office, and that there is no other
claim, 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. IL has not,
however, been improved.
At first the President, either directly,
or through the heads of Departments,
made all the appointments. But gradu-
ally 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 SER
vices, but rewards for services to party
leaders. This system destroys the indie
pendence of the separate Departments Of
the Government; il tends directly to ex-
travagance and official incapacity; it is
temptation to dishonesty: il hinders and
impairs that careful supervision and
strict accountability, by which alone
faithful and efficient public service can
be secured; it obstructs the prompt re-
moval and sure punishment Of the un-
worthy. In every way il degrades the
civil service and the character of the
Government. Ii is felt, | am confident,
by large majority of the members Of
Congress, to be an intolerable burden,
and an unwarrantable hindrance to the
proper discharge of their legitimate du-
ties. 1t ought to be abolished. The re-
form should be thorough. radical and
complete.
We should return to the principles and
practice'of the founders Of the Govern
ment. supplying by legislation when
needed, that which was formerly estab-
lished custom. They neither expected
nor desired from the public officer any
partisan service. They meant that pub
lie officers should owe their whole ser
vice TO the Government and to the peo-
pie. They meant that the officer should
be secure in his tenure as long as his per-
sonal character remained untarnished,
and the performance OF his duties salts
factory. 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 an
nouncement in favor of a single Presi-
dental 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 to use the pat
ronage of his office. to promote his own
reelection, / desire to perform what re-
gard as a duty, in stating now, my infiex-
| ible purpose, il elected, not to be a candi-
date for election to a second term.
On the currency question i 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
| debtedness, the legal tender notes includ.
/ ed, as constituting a pledge and moral
4 obligation of the Government, which
must in good faith be kept Ii is my
conviction that the feeling Of uncertain.
| ty inseparable from an irredeemable pa.
per currency, with its fluctuations Of val
ues, is one OF the great obstacles to a re
| yiyal Of confidence and business, and to
a return of prosperity. That uncertainty
can be ended in but one way-the re
sumption Of specie payments-but the
longer the instability connected with oui
present money system is permitted 4
continue, the greater will be the injury
inflicted upon our economical interests
and all classes of society.
II elected, shall approve every appro
pirate measure TO accomplish the desire,
end, and shall oppose any step backward
The resolution with respect to the put
lie school system. is one which should rs
ceive the hearty support OF the Americai
people Agitation upon this subject is t
5 be apprehended until, by constitutions
amendment, the schools are placed b'
yond all danger of sectarian control, G