The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1876-08-09
GOV. TILDEN'S LETTER
Accepting Ihc Nomination of the
"a. Louis convention.


IN behalf OF the Democratic National Coh-
ventinn. held on the 18th OF June at 81
Louis, advising me OF my nomination a.
the candidate OF the constituency repre-
sented by that body. for the office of Pres
ideut of he United States, answered that
AT INV earliest convenience, and in conform
ity with usage, | would prepare aud trans
init YOU formal acceptance. | now aNail
myself OF The first interval IN uhaNoldr me
occupation. to fulfill that engagement. Tue
Convention, before making its noun
nations adopted n declaration of principles
whicltaS a Whole. seems 10 me wise cXpusi-
tion OF the necessities ut our country, ana
the reforms needed To bring back the gov
eminent TO its true functions; TO restore
purity of administration and TO renew the
prusnerity of the people. But some of these
reforms are so urgent that they claim more
than passing approval.
Toe necessity of "a reform in the scale OF
public expense. Federal, STATE and NUM-
cipal. ana i'm the modes of Federal taxation.
juStities all the prominence given to IL IN
the declaration of the st. Louis Convention.
The present depfe ssinn in all the business
and Industries of the people, which is depri-
vIng labor of its employment ana carry
ing want into SO many homes, has its p:in
cipal cause I'm excessive governmental
consumption under the illusions of Sne-
ciou> property engendtrrd by the false TAI
lacies of the Federal Government. a
waste of capital has been going on ever
stree the peace of 1860, which could Only
end IN universal disaster. The Federal
taxes of The last eleven years reached the
aggregate sum OF $500 100000. Local tax
alton has amounted 10 ;wJ-thirds as much
more. The vast aggregate is not less than
$7,J0000O,000. This enormous taxation fol-
lowed IA civil conflict that had greatly i'm %
paired our aggregate wealth, and had made
IA prompt reduction of expenses iudispcu-
sible. 1t was aggravated by most unscieu-
tilic and i'll adjusted methods of taXations
that increased the sacrifices OF the people
far beyond the receipts OF the Treasury.
Ii WAS aggravated moreover by "A financial
policy which tended to diminish the energy.
skill and economy of production and the
nu@aity of private consumption, an indi-
rect characterization in business and uurc-
muneratiVe use of capital ana labor. Even
in prosperous times. the daily wants OF in
dusiri0us communities press closely upon
their daily earnings. The margin of pos
sible National savings IL at best "A small per-
ceutage of National earnings, and yet now
tor these eleven years governmental con-
sumption ha- been IA larger portion of the
natural earnings than the whole people can
possibly save, even in prosperous times, for
all new investments. The consequences of
these errors are now acute public calamity,
but ihcY were never doubtful. never inVi-
sibe. They were necessary and inevitable I;
were lorcseen and depicted when the waves
OF that fictitious prosperity ran highest. In
a speech made by me on Sept. 2lth, 1865,
IL was said of these taxes that they bear
heavily upon every mans income, upon
every industry aud every business IN the
country. aud year by year they are des-
JineI to press still more heavily unless we
arrest the systeia that gives rise To them.
Ii was compaI atively easy when mere val
ucs were doubling under repeated Issue OF
legal her paper money to pay out of the
troth of our growing aud apparent wealth
these taxes, but when values recCde and
sink toward their natural scale the lax
gatEerer takes from III not only our income,
not only our profit. but also a portion OF
our capital. | do not wish To cXaggcrate
or alarm | simply say we cannot afford the
costly and .uinOuS policy of the Radical
majority of Congress. We cannot afford
that policy towards The South We cannot
ado thc magnificent aud oppressive cen
tral>m into which our government is being
converted. We cannot afford the present
magnificent scale OF taxation. 70 the See
reIaFy OF the Treasury | said, early in $50,
there is no royal road for a Government
more thad for an individual or Il corpora
ton. What you want 20 do now is to cut
down your expense ana live within yOur
income. | would give all the egerdemain
of finance AMI linanCeeTiRg; | would give
the whole of it for the old hnmely maxim,
Live within your income" This reform
Will be resisted at every step, bu it must be
pressed perstcu.ly. We see to-day the inn
mediate representatives, of the people i'm
one branch OF Congress, while struggling to
reduce expenditures. compelled 10 confront
the menace of the Senate and Executive
that unless the Objectionable appropriations
be consented TO The operations of the Gov
ernment hereunder shall suffer deirimcnt
% TUasv. In my Judgment. an amendment
of the Constitution ought to be devised .pD
arating into distinct bills, the Appropril-
tions for the various departments OF the
public sci ,ice, and excluding from each
bill all appropriation for olhcr objects
and all inc ependrnt legislation. In that
way alone the revisory power 81 each of the
two Houses and OF the Executive can be pre-
served ana exempted from the moral du-
ress which often compsls "A resort to OBJ
Jectionable appropriations rather than stop
the wheels OF Governments
An accessory cause of enhancing the dis
tress in business. is TO be found in tho sys-
tematic and iusupDortablo misgovcrument
I'M posed on the sta es of tie South. Besides
the ordinary effects Of ignorant and dishun-
est ad ninis.ration, it has Inflicted on them
enormous issues of fraudulent bonds the
Scanty avails OF which were was ga Of stO-
len. and the eEiSt0nCe of which is public !
discredlt, tending to bankruptcy, or tue
of saNes generally oppressive. /
In some instn 1cts they have contiscated the |
entire incoNe of property, and totally de- |
stroyed is MAJ ketable value. lt is not pos |
slbie t'lat these evils shO Jld not react upon
tue prosperity OF the whole country. The |
nobler motives of humanity concur with |
the material Interest of all, it requiring that /
all obstacles be removed TO Il complete and !
durable reeo lcil'ation between kindred pop |
llaton, once unnatuiaIlY cStIangpd, on tbe /
basis recognized BY the ST. Louis platform |
OF the Constitution Of the United STATES. /
with its amendments universally accepted /
rs final settlement OF the controversies |
Whit h engeIdercd civil war, but in all of a |
result so benedcent TO the legal influence Of |
every citizen, as we'll as every COVER lmental !
luthorlty, ought 20 be eXertcd not alone |
% maintain the just equality before the |
aw' but likewise 70 establish cordial and |
.raterna' good viii among citizeHs. what
sver their race or color NAV De- who "A m \
low united in the one destiny of "A common |
'cli-gove' lment. Ii the duty shall be as
signed to me, | should not fail To exercise
he powers with which the laws aud The
Jonsti' ution clothe its chief magistrate, 20
protect ~ its citi$ens, no mater whatever
heIr former condition was, In every pOliti- |
.al and personal right.
Keform Is necessary, declares the st. Louis
TO establish "A soand currency,
estore the public credit, ant maintain the
National honor; and IL goes on TO demand
Jndicious system of preparation by public
economies, 10y official retrenchmeat and by
wise finance. which shall enable the nation !
Don to assure the whole void OF its per
ect ability AMI perfect rel illness To
meet any of its promises at the call
4 tie creditor entitled to payment.
Tie Object demanded by the Convention Is
resumption OF specie payments on the le-
al tender notes OF the United States that
would not only restO,e the public creditand
naintain the national honOr but it would
stabiisb souud currency tor the people
ne method by which This object Is TO be
ufsHcJ, and the means bV which it Is 10 lac
{ AIRED, demands in the future and by what
denounced in Che pasr, bank note resufnp-
ION, resum pt'o1 of specie payments by the
government of the Uuiled States OF its Ic-
al leader notes would establish specie pay
rents by all tue banks on all their not0.
'i ~ ia. statements on the l5th Nav show
ne amount of the bank notes was $ 300. 600
W. less $500 100000 held by themselves.
-gainst these $3.50 100000 the banks
al Si1LOOO,CO0 OF legal tenders. or
Lttle more than fifty per cent
the amount; but they also had ,