Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1876-08-11
MR.. HENDRICKS LETTER.


as follows:
INDIANAPOLIS, July "A, 1876.
Gentlemen 1 have the honor TO ac-
knowledge the receipt of your communica-
ton in which you have formally notified
me of my nomination by the National
Democratic Convention at 81. Louis as
their candidate for the Office of Vice Presi-
dent of the United States.
1t is a nomination which / had neither
expected nor desired, and yet recognize
and appreciate the high honor done me by
the Convention. The choice of such body,
| pronounced with such unusual unanimity
aud accompanied with so generous an ex
preston of esteem and confidence, ought
to outweigh all merely personal desires
and preferences of my own. 1t is with
this feeling, and L trust also from a deep
sense of public duty, that l accept the nom
ination and shall abide the judgment of
my countrymen.
Ii would have been impossible for me TO
accept the nomination ii could not hearth
| ly indorse the platform OF the Convention.
| am gratitied, therefore, 10 be able une-
quivocally TO declare that / agree in the
| principles, approve the policies and sym
| pathize with The purposes enuncialed III
| that platform.
The institutions OF our country have
| been severely tried by the exigeucies of
| evil war, and Since the peace by selfish
and corrupt management Of public affairs,
| which has shamed us before civilized mal-
| kind. by unwise and partial legislation
| every industry and interest of the people
| have been made TO suffer, and in the Exec
| utiVe Department Of the Government dis
! honesty, Tapaclty and venality have de-
| bauched the public service; neu known 10
he unworthy have been promoted, whilst
others have been degraded for fidelity TO
official duty. Public office has been made
the means Of riyate profit, and the coun-
try has been offended TO see 4 class Of men
who boast the friendship of the sworn pro-
teclors of the Stale amassing fortunes by
defIauding the public Treasury, aud by
corrupting the servants of the people.
In such crisis of the history of the
country l rejoice that the convention at ST.
Louis has ~ 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 ami abuses
which prevail, shall have demanded aud
compelled an unsparing reformation of our
National administration in its head and in
its members. In such reformation the re-
mOVal Of single officer, even the PTesi-
deui, is comparatively trifling matter, if
the system which he represents and which
has fostcred him as he has lUstered it, is
suffered TO remain.
The President alone must not be made
the scapegoat for the enormities OF the sys-
TEN which iniects the public service and
threatens II g destruction Of our institu-
tons. In some respects l hold that the
present Executive has been the victim
rather than the author OF that vicious sys-
| tenn. Congressional and party leaders
have been stronger than the President. No
one man could have created il, aud the re-
mOyal of 10 man can amend il. 1t is thor
oughly corrupt and must he swept remorse-
lessly away by the selection of Govern
meut composed OF elements entirely new
and pledged 10 radical reform.
The first work of reform must evidently
be the restoration OF the normal operation
Of the Constitution of the United States,
with all its amendments. The necessities
of war cannot he pleaded in a time of peace.
, The right of local sef-goyernment, as
guaranteed by the Constitution of the
Union, must he everywhere restored and
the centralized almost personaD imperial
, ism which has been practiced must be
done away with, or the first principles of
the Republic Will be lost.
, Our financial system of eXpedieats must
, be reformed. Gold and silver are the real
standard Of values, and our national cur
reucy will not be perfect medium of ex-
change until IL shall be convertible at the
pleasure of the holder.
AS have heretofore said no one desires
! a return TO specie payments more earnestly
) than do, but do not believe that it will
, or can be reached in harmony with the in
/ terests of the people by artificial measures
for the contraction of the currency, any
more than believe that wealth or perma-
! neut prosperity can be created by an intia-
| ton of the currency. The laws OF finance
3 cannot be disregarded with impunity. The
financial policy of the Government, if, in
! | deed, ii deserves the name of policy at all,
? has been in disregard of these laws, and
therefore has disturbed commercial and
r business confidence as well as hindered a
= return to specie payments.
r Que feature OF that policy was the re-
v | sumption clause of the act OF 1879, which
r has embarrassed the country by the antici-
n | patton of a compulsory resumption, fol
Y which no preparation has been made, and
Q Without any assurance that ii would be
. practicable. Tho repeal of that clause is
!, necessary that the natural operation OF the
S financial laws may he restored, that the
e business of the country may be relieved
o from its disturbing aud depressing infiu'
c ences, and that return tospecle payments
may be facilitated by the substitution o.
o wise and more prudent legislation, which
= shall mainly rely on judicious system OF
! public economies and efficient retrench
d ments, and above all on the promotion o
i prosperity in all the industries Of the peo
u ple. do not understand the repeal of the
l. resumption clause of the act of 1875 TO he
II back ward step in our return to specie pay
|, | ments, but the recovery of a false step, ant
o though the repeal may for time be pre-
v vented, vet the determination of the Dem
J. ocratlc party on this subject has now beer
j. distinctly declared. There SHOULD be NJ
n hindrance put in the way of return t
VI | specie nayments. "As such hinderance,'
10 saws the lalform of the st. Louis Conven
,r ton, tive denounce the resumption claus
IS Of the act of 1875 and demand lis repeal"
: thoroughly believe that by public econ
l. omy, by official retrenchment, aud by wis
~ finance, enabling us to accumulate tn
l. precious metals, resumption at an earll
n period is possible without producing an ar
he tificial scarcity of currency or disturbing
l. public or commercial credit; and tina
v these reforms, together with the restora
20 ton of pure government, will restore gen
le eral confidence, encourage the useful in
Al Vestment of capital, furnish employment
a to labor, and relieve the country from tn
l. paralysis of hard times.
of With the industries of the people Their
u, have been frequent inlerferences. Gu
le platform truly says that many industrie
ie have been impoverished to subsidiZe
few. Our commerce has been degraded /
IN an inferior position on the high seas. Man
~ ufactures have been diminished agricul
al tuTe has been embarrassed, and the distres
n of the industrial classes demands tha
il these times shall be reformed. The bur
It. dens of the people must also be lightene
ne by great change In our system Of publ
r. expenses. The profligate expenditure.
c. which increased taxation from live dollar
s. rer capita in 1860 to eighteen dollars in 1871
n tells its own story of our need of reform.
We Our treaties with foreign powers shoul
n also DO revised and amended, in so far 9
It, they leave citizens of foreign birth in an
oe particular less secure in any country o
H. earth than they would be if they had bee
born upon our own soil. And the iniqu
| t,sua xarhfn NH