Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1876-11-02
GOV. HAYES LETTER.
The Most Remarkable Political DOcu-
ment Written for Years.
CoLuMRus ONO Julv 3 1875

COLUMBUS, ONO, July 8, 1876.
In reply to your official communi
cation Of June II, by which 1 am in
formed of my nomination for the Of
flee Of President of the United States
by the Republican National Conven,
ton at Cincinnati, accept the nom.
ination with gratitude, hoping that
under Providence, shall be able, II
elected, to execute the duties of the
high Office as trust for tho benefit
Of all the people. ..'''''' ..i0
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 / heart
lily concur in the principles they an
nounce. 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 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, "To
the victors belong the spoils." The
old rule, the true rule, that honesty,
capacity and fidelity constitute the
only real qualifications 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 mod
flied since its introduction. 1t has
not however, been improved. At
first the President either directly or
through the heads OF departments,
made all the appointments, but grad
ually the appointing power. in many
cases passed into the control of men,
bers OF Congress. The offices in these
cases have become, not merely re-
wards for party services. but rewards
for services to party leaders. This
system destroys the independence Of
the separate departments OF the gov
ernment 1t tends directly to ex-
travagance and official incapacity. 1t
is a temptation to dishonesty. 1t him
ders and impairs that careful super
vision aud strict accountability by
which alone faithful and efficient pub
lie service can be secured. 1t OBJ
structs the prompt removal and sure
punishment Of the unworthy. In
every way it degrades the civil SER
vice and the character OF the govern
ment 1t is felt, am confident, by a
large majority Of the members Of
Congress to be an intolerable burden
and an unwaIrantable hindrance to
the proper discharge Of their legii-
mate duties. thought to be abolished.
The reform should be thorough, radi
cal and complete. We should return
to the principles and practice Of the
founders of the government, supply
ing by Legislation, when needed, that
which was formerly established by
custom. They neither expected nor
desired from the public officer any
partisan service. They meant that
public officers should owe their whole
service to the government and to the
people. They meant that every off,
Ger should be secure in his tenure as
long as his personal character re-
mained untarnished and the perform
ance Of his duty satisfactory. II
elected, shall conduct the admins
tration Of the government upon these
principles, and all constitutional
powers vested in the executive will
be employed to establish this re-
reform.
The declaration of principles, by the
Cincinnati convention makes no an
nouncement In favor single presi-
Dental tenn. do not assume to add
to that declaration, but, believing
that the rest oration Of the civil SER
vice to the system established by
Washington and followed by the ear
ly Presidents can be best accom-
plished by an executive who is under
no temptation to use the patronage
Of his office to promote his own re-
election, desire to perform what /
regard as duty in stating now my
inhexible purpose, IL elected, not to
be a candidate for election to a Sec
ond term.
On the currency question / have
frequently expressed my views in
public, and / stand by my record on
this subject regard all the laws OF
the United States in relation to the
payment of public Indebtedness, the
legal-tender notes included, as con-
stituting a pledge and moral obliga-
ton of the government, which must
in good faith be kept. 1t is my con-
viction that the feeling OF uncertain
ty inseparable from an irredeemable
paper currency. with its fuctuation
OF values, Is one of the greatest OBJ
stacles to revival Of confidence in
business and to q return OF prosper
ity. That uncertainty can be ended
in but one way-the resumption OF
specie payment But the longer the
instability connected with our pres
ent money system is permitted to
continue the greater will be the in
jury inflicted upon our economical
interests and all classes Of society.
II elected, shall approve every ap-
propriate measure to accomplish the
desired end, and shall oppose any
step backward.
The resolution with respect to the
public school system is one which
should receive the hearty support Of
the American people. Agitation up
on this subject is to be apprehended,
until by constitutional amendment
the schools are placed beyond all
danger of sectarian control or inter-