Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1876-07-20
HAYES ACCEPTANCE.

HALEY ACCEfIANCEs
The Letter OF Gov. r. b. Hayes Accept
ing the Republican Nomination
for the Presidency.
He Gives. Briefly. His Views on Civil Ser
vice Reform. the Currency. the Pub
lie Sc hools, and Reconstruction.
COLUMBUS, o., July 9.-The follow
ing is the letter of Gov. Hayes, accept
ing the Republican nomination for the
Presidency.
COLUMBUS, o., July s, 1876.
Hon. Ed,oard MCPHERSON, Hon. VIM. A.
Hotcard, Hon. Joseph III. Rainry and
others, Committee Of the Republican
National Convention:
GENTLEMEN:-In reply to your Off
cial communication of June IL, 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 1 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 neces-
sary to enter upon any extended exam
nation of the declaration of principles
made by the convention. The resolu-
tions are in accord with my views, and
heartily concur in the principles they
announce. In several of the resolu-
tons, however, questions are consider
Ell which are of such Importance that 1
deem it proper to briefly express my
conviction in regard TO them.
The fifth resolution adopted by the
convention is of paramount interest.
More than forty years ago system of
making appointments 10 Office grew up,
based upon the maxim, ITO the victors
belong the spoils." The old rule, the
true rule, that honesty, capacity and
fidelity constitute the only qualiilca-
tions for Office, land that there Is no
other claim, gave place to the idea that
party services were to be chiefly consid-
cred. All parties in practice have
adopted this system. 1t has been es-
sentially modified since it's first intro
duction. II has not, however, been
improved. At first, the President,
either directly or through the heads OF
departments, made all the appoint
ments; but gradually 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 services, but
rewards of services to party leaders.
This system destroys the independence
of the separate departments of the gov
eminent. 1t tends directly to extrav
agance and official incapacity. 1t is
temptation to dishonesty. 1t binders
and impairs that careful supervision
and strict accountability by which,
alone, faithful and efficient public SER
vice can be secured. 1t obstructs the
prompt removal and sure punishment
of the unworthy. In every way it de-
grades the civil service and the charac-
ter of the government. 1t is felt, am
confident, by large majority Of the
members of congress to be an intolera-
BILE burden, an unwarrantable him
drance to the proper discharge of their
legitimate duties. 1t ought to be abol-
ished. The reform should be thorough,
radical and complete. We should re-
turn to the principles and practice of
the founders of the government, sup
plying by legislation, when needed, that
which was formerly established by Gus
tom. They neither expected nor desir-
ed from the public officer any partisan
service. They meant that public off,
GERS 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 per-
sonal character remained untarnished
and the performance of his duties salts
factory. II elected, I 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 favcr of single presi-
Dental term. do not assume 20 add
to that declaration; but believing that
the restoration of the civil sen vice to
the system established by Washington,
and followed by the early presidents,
can be best accomplished by an execu-
tive who is under no temptation to use
the patronage of his Office to promote
his own reelection, desire to perform
what regard as duty in stating now,
my infexible purpose, IL elected, not to
be a candidate for election to second
term.
On the currency have frequently ex-
pressed my views in public, and stand
by my record on this subject. regard
all the laws of the United States relat-
ing to the payment Of the public indebt-
edness, the legal-tender notes included,
as constituting pledge and moral OBJ
legation of the government, which must
in good faith be kept. 1t is my convic-
tion that the feeling Of uncertainty in
separable from an irredeemable paper
currency, with its fluctuations Of val
ues, is one Of the great obstacles to
revival Of confidence and business, and
to return Of prosperity. That uncer-
tainty can be ended but in one way
the resumption of specie payments.
But the longer the instability connect
ed with our present monetary system
is permitted to continue, the greater
will be the injury inflicted upon our
economical interests and all classes of
society. II elected, l shall approve
every appropriate measure to accom-
plish the desired end, and shall oppose
any step backward.
The resolution of the convention on
the subject Of the permanent pacifica-