The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1876-07-10
Gov. hayes. Letter Of Aocsptance.


Republican nomination for the Presi-
dency:
COLUMBUS. Ohio, July 8. 1876.
Hon. Edward MePherson Hon. VIM. A. Howard.
Hon. Joseph n. hainey and 9TH m. Commit
tee Of the Republican National Convention
Gentlemen-In reply to your official
communication Of June IL, by which 1
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 q
trust for the benefit OF all the people.
l do not deem It necessary to enter upon
any extended examination OF the de-
claration Of principles made by the con.
vention. 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 1t proper
to briefly express my convictions In re-
gard to them.
The fifth resolution adopted by the
convention Is OF paramount interest.
More than forty years ago q 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
cations for office, and that there is no
other claim, gave place to the idea that
party services were to be chiefly con-
sidered. All parties, In practice, have
adopted this system. 1t has been essen
TALLY modified since Its first introduce
ton. 1t has not, however, been i'm
proved. At first the President, either
directly or through the heads OF depart
ments, made all the appointments, but
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 for services
TO party leaders. This system destroys
the independence Of the separate de-
partmepts OF the Government. It tends
directly to extravaganza and official in
capacity. 1t is a temptation to dishon-
esty. 1t binders and impairs the careful
supervision and strict accountability by
which alone faithful and efficient public
services can be secured. 1t obstructs
the prompt removal and sure punish
way 1t degrades the civil service and
character Of the Government.
1t Is felt, | am confident, by large
majority OF the members Of Congress,
to be an intolerable burden and an I'M
warrantable hindrance to the proper
discharge Of their legitimate duties. It
ought to be abolished. The reform
should be thoroughly radical and CON-
plete. We should return to the princi-
pies and practices OF the founders Of
the Government. supplying by legisla-
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 the
officer should be secure in his tenure OF
office rs long as his personal character
remained untarnished and the perform
ance of his duties satisfactory. II
elected shall conduct the administra-
ton of the Government upon these
principles, and all constitutional powers
vested In the Executive will be en-
ployed to establish this reform.
The declaration OF principles by the
Cincinnati Convention makes no an
nouncement in favor of a single Presi
dental term. i do not assume to add
to that declaration, but believing that
the restoration Of the civil service to the
system established by Washington aud
followed by the early Presidents, can be
best accomplished by an Executive who
Is under no temptation to use the patron
age OF his office to promote his own re-
election, / desire to perform what re-
gard as duty in stating now my in
fixible purpose, ii elected, not to be a
candidate for second term.
On the currency question. 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
indebtedness, the legal tender notes in
cluded, as constituting q pledge and
moral obligation OF the Government,
which must in good faith be kept.
1t Is my conviction that the feeling
OF uncertainty, inseparable from an
irredeemable paper currency with its
fluctuations Of values, is one Of the great
obstacles to q revival Of confidence and
business, and to u return of prosperity |
That uncertainty can be ended in but |
one way-the resumption Of specie pay
ment; but the longer the instability
connected with our present money sys-
tenn Is permitted to continue, the greater
will be the injury inflicted upon our
society. Ii elected, l shall approve
every appropriate measure to accom-
plish 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 upon the |
subject Is to apprehended until by con-
stitutional amendment the schools are |
beyond all danger of sectarian control |
or interference. The Republican party |
Is pledged to secure such an amendment.
The resolution Of the convention on |
the subject of the permanent )acif1ca- |
ton OF the country and the complete |
protection OF all its citizens in the free |
enjoyment Of all their constitutional |
rights is timely and Of great importance.
The condition Of the Southern States |
attracts the attention and commands |
the sympathy Of the people Of the whole |
Union in her progressive recovery from |
the effects Of the war.
Their first necessity is an intelligent |
and honest administration OF Govern
ment, which will protect all classes of |
T. II Il IA