The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1876-08-17
Governor Hendricks Letter.
IxpIaxAroLr.. July oil,

lxDIANAroLIs. July g. 1870.
GENTLENEx-I have the honor 10 40.
knowledge the receipt Of your communi.
cation. in which you have formally noti.
fed me Of my nomination by the Ma.
tional Democratic Convention at St
Louis as their candidate for the Office Of
Vice-President Of the United States IL
Is a nomination which had neither ex.
pected nor desired. and yet / recognize
aud appreciate the high honor done me
by the Convention. The choice Of such
body, and pronounced with such un-
usual unanimity. and accompanied with
so generous an expression Of esteem
and confidence, ought 20 outweigh all
merely personal desires and preferences
Of my own. IL is with this feeling. and
trust also from deep sense Of public
duty, that i now accept the nomination,
and abide by the judgment Of my coun-
trymen. IL would have been impossible
for me to accept the nomination "
could not heartily indorse tho platform
Of the Convention. I am Eratifed
therefore, to be able, unequivocally, 70
declare that / agree in the principles.
approve the policies and sympathiKe with
the purposes enunciated in that platform.
The institutions Of our country have
been sorely tried by the oxigencies Of
civil war. and since the peace BY a selfish
and corrupt management Of public
affairs which has shamed us before civ
iliIed mankind. BY unwise and partial
legislation every industry and interest OF
the people has been made 10 suffer, and
in the executive departments Of the
Government dishonesty, rapacity and
venality have debauched the public ser
vice. Men known 10 be unworthy have
been promoted. while others have been
degraded for fidelity to official duty
Public Office has been made the means
Of private profit and the country has
been offended TO see n class Of men who
boast the friendship OF the sworn pro-
tectors Of the State, massing fortunes by
defrauding the Public Treasury. and by
corrupting the servants Of the people.
In such a crisis Of the history Of the
country ! rejoice that the Convention al
St. Louis has 30 nobly raised the standard
of Reform.
Nothing can be well with us. or with
our affairs until the public conscience,
shocked by the enormous evils and
abuses which prevail, shall have de
manded and compelled an unspAring re-
formation Of our National Administra.
ton, in its head and In its members"
In such a reformation the removal Of a
single officer. even the President IL com
paratively a trifling matter, IL the system
which he represents. and which has fos.
tered him as he has fostered IL. is suffered
TO remain. The President alone must
not be made the soape-goat for the onor.
mites Of the system which iniccts the
public service and threatens the deatruc-
ton Of our institutions. In some re-
spects hold that the present Executive
has been the victim rather than the au-
thor Of that vicious system. Congress
ional and party leaders have been
stronger than the President No one
man could have credited II, and the re-
moval Of no one man can amend H. 10
Is thoroughly corrupt, and must be swept
away by the selection Of a
Government composed Of elements en-.
tirely new. and pledged TO the work Of
radical reform.
TnE uRsr WORK OF REFORM
must, evidently, be the restoration Of
the normal operation Of the Constitution
Of the United States. with all lie amend
ments. The necessities Of war cannot be
pleaded IN time Of peace The right Of
local seligoyernment, as guaranteed by
the NousLtutions must De everywhere
restored, and the centralized, almost per
sonal imperialism which has been prac-
ticed must be done away, or the FIRST
principles OF tho Republic will be Lost.
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
! most heartily indorse that section Of
the platform which declares that the
Civil Service ought not 10 DO subject 10
change at every election. and that IL
ought not 10 be the Grief reward Of party
zeal, but ought TO be awarded for proved
competency, and held for fidelity in the
public employ. ] hope never again TO
see the cruel remorseless prescription for
political opinions which has disgraced
the Administration Of the last eight
years. Bad as the Civil Service now is.
As all know IL has some men Of tried In.
tegrity and proved ability. Such men
and such pen only should be retained In
Office, but no man should be retained on
any consideration who has prostituted
his office 70 the purpose Of partisan in.
timidation or eompulsion. or who has
furnished money TO corrupt the elections.
This is done and has been done In al
most every county Of the land. IL j. q
/ blight upon the morals Of the country
/ and ought 10 be reformed
oUR FtxAxctAL SYSTEM
. of expenditurea must be reformed- Coll