Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1876-07-13
COLUMBUS, July s, 1876.

lilt lCllCl Va oOFs uNSOP thN
Republican nomination for the Presi-
dency:
COLUMBUS, July s, 1876.
To Hon. Edward McPhearson, Hon.
VIM. a. Howard, Hon. Joseph Ra-
ney and others, Committee of the
Republican National Convention:
GENTLEMEN-In reply to your off
cial communication of jane 18th, by
which l am informed of my nOnina
ton for the Office of President of the
United States by the Republican Ma
tional Convention at Cincinnati, l ac-
cept the nomination with gratitude,
hoping that under providence, L shall
be able, if elected, to execute the duties
of the high Office, as trust, for the
benefit of all the people. l do not deem
it necessary to enter upon any extend
ed examination of the declaration of
principles made by the Convention.
The resolutions are in accord with my
views. l heartily
CONCUR IN THE PRINCIPLES
they announce. In several of the res
olutions, however, questions are con-
sidered which are of such Importance
that deem it necessary to briefly eX-
III III lOSulo W
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 on the maxim,
To the victOrs belong the spOils.' The
old rule is the true rule, that honesty,
capacity and fidelity constitute the on
ly qualifications for office, and there IS
no other claim that gave place to the
idea that party services were to be
chiefly considered. All parties in prac-
tice have adopted this system. 1t has
been essentially modified since its first
introduction. 1t has not, however,
been improved. AT first the President,
either directly or through the heads OF
departments, made ali the appoint
ments, but gradually the appointing
power, in many cases, passed into the
control of mem bers of Congress. The
Office in these cases have become not
merely
REWARDS FOR PARTY SERVICES
but rewards for services to party lead
ers. This system destroys the inde-
pendencc of the separate departments
of the Government. 1t tends to extrav-
agance and official incapacity. 1t is a
temptation to dishonesty; it hinders
and impairs that careful supervision
and strict accountability by which
alone faithful and efficient public SER
vice can be secured; it 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
hxy Iarc r,oainrity nf the
members of Congress, to be an intolera-
BILE burden; an understandable hinder
ance to the proper discharge of their
legitimate duties; it ought to be abol-
iShed.
THE REFORM
should be thorough radical and COM
plete. We should return to the prInci-
Piles and practice of the founders of the
Government, supplying by legislation,
when needed, that which was formerly
established custom. They neither ex-
pect nor desired from the public officer
any partisan service. They meant that
PUBIC OFFICES
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 personal
character remained untarnished and
the performance of his duties satiSfac
tory. If elected [ shall conduct the
administration of the Government
upon these principles, and all constitu-
tional powers vested in the executive
will be employed to establish this re-
form. The declaration of principles by
the Cincinnati Convention makes no
announcement in favor of single |
presidential term. do MOI assume to |
add to that declaration, but believing
that the restoration of the
CIVIL SERVICE
to the system established by Washing
ton and followed by the early Presi |
dents can be best accomplished by an
Executive who is under no temptation
to use the patronage of his office to
promote his own reelection. | desire
to perform what l regard as a duty in
stating now my infiexible purpose, ifl
elected, not to be candidate for sec
ond term. On
THE CURRENCY QUESTION,
| have frequently expressed my views
in public, and | stand by my record on
this subject. l regard all the laws of
the United States n relation to the pay
ment OF the public Indebtedness, the |
legal tender notes included, as consti- |
tuting pledge and moral obligation
of the government, which must, in |
good faith, be kept. 1t is my convic-
ton that the feeling of uncertainty, in-
separable from an irredeemable paper
currency with its fluctuations of values,
is one of the great abstracts to revi-
val of confidence and business, and |
return to prosperity. That uncertain
ty can be ended but in one way, the
RESUMPTION OF SPECIE PAYMENTS,
but the longer the instability connect |
ed with our present money system is
permitted to continue, the greater will |
be the injury Inflicted upon our eco
nohical interests, and all classes of So
ciety. II elected | shall approve every
measure to accomplish the
desired end, and shall oppose any steps /
back ward. The resolution with re-
Spect to
THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM
is one which should receive the hearty
support of the American people. Ag-
itation on this subject is to be appre-y
hended until, by constitutional amend
ment, the schools are placed beyond all
danger of sectarian control or interfe-
renee. The Republican party is pledg
ed to secure such an amendment. The
resolution of the Convention on the
subject of the
PERMANENT PACIFICATION
Of the Country, and the complete pro-
lection of all its citizens in the free en-
oyment Of all their constitutional
rights is timely, and of great impor-
Lance. The condition of the Southern
States attracts attention, and commands
the sympathy of the people of the
whole Union. In their progressive re-
,overy from the effects of the war, their
first necessity is an intelligent and
honest administration of GoYernment \