American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1876-07-15
Governor Hayes's Letter of Ac-
ceDtaDce.

COLUMBUS, o., July 9.-The following
is the letter of Governor Hayes, accepting
the Republican nomination for the Presi.
dency:
| COLUMBUS, o.. July s, 1876.
HON. EDWARD MCPHERSON, HON. VIM. A.
| HOWARD, Hon. JOSEPH II. RAINEY and 9th
! ers, Committee ofMe Republican National Con-
| rention
| GENTLEMEN:-In reply to your official
communication of June II, by which / am
informed of my nomination for the Office of
President of the United States by the Re-
publican National Convention at Cincinnati,
| L accept the nomination with gratitude,
| hoping that under Providence shall be able,
| if elected, to execute the duties of the high
| office trust for the benefit OF all the peo-
pie.
l do not deem it necessary to enter upon
| any extended examination of the declara-
ton Of principles made by the Convention.
The resolutions are in accord with my views,
and l heartily concur in the principles they
announce. In several of the resolutions,
however, questions are considered which
are Of such Importance that deem it pro-
per to briefly express my convictions in re-
gard to them.
The fifth resolution adopted by the Con-
vention is of paramount interest. More
than forty years ago a system of making
appointments to office grew up based upon
the maxim, ,''To the victor belong the
spoils.'' The old rule, the true rule, that
honesty, capacity and fidelity constitute
the only real qualifications for office, and
that there is no other claim, gave place to
the idea that party services were to be chiefly
considered. All parties in practice have
adopted this system. 1t has been essential
ly modified since its first introduction; it
has not, however, been improved. At first
the President, either directly or through
the heads of departments, made all the ap
pointments, but gradually 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 to party
leaders. This system destroys the indie
pendence Of the separate departments of
the Government; it tends directly to ex-
travagance and official incapacity; it is a
temptation to dishonesty; it binders and
impairs that careful supervision and strict
accountability by which alone faithful and
efficient public service can be secured; it
obstructs the prompt removal and sure pun
ishment Of the unworthy in every way; it
degrades the civil service and the character
Of the Government. 1t is felt, am conf
dent, by large majority of the members of
Congress, to be an intolerable burden and
unwarrantable hindrance to the proper dis
charge of their legitimate duties. 1t ought
to be abolished. The reform should be
thorough, radical and complete. We Should
return to the principles and practice of the
founders of the Government, supplying by
legislation when needed that which was
formerly established by custom. They
neither expected or derived from the public
offices 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 as long as his per-
sonal character remained untarnished and
the performance of his duties satisfactory.
II elected, 1 shall conduct the administration
of the Government upon these principles,
and all constitutional powers vested in the
Executive will be employed tc establish this
reform.
The declaration of principles by the Gin
cinnati Convention makes no announcement
in favor of single Presidential term. do
not assume to add to that declaration, but,
believing that the restoration of the civil
service to the system established by Wash
ington, and followed by the early Presi-
dents, can be best accomplished by an Ex-
ecutive who is under no temptation to use
the patronage of his office to promote mis-
own reelection, desire to perform what
1 regard as a duty in stating now my inflexi-
BILE purpose, if elected, not to be a candi-
date for election to a second term.
On the currency question have frequently
expressed my views in public, and 1 stand
by my record on this subject. 1 regard all
the laws of the TTnifad StafeS ralatip0 IN tho
payment Of the public Indebtedness, the
legal-tender notes included, as constituting
a pledge and moral obligation of the Gov
eminent, which must, in good faith, be kept.
1t is my conviction that the feeling of uncer-
tainty inseparable from an irredeemable
paper currency, with its fluctuations of
values, is one of the great obstacles to a
revival of confidence and business and to a
return of prosperity. That uncertainty can
be ended in but one way-thc resumption
of specie payment. But the longer the
connected with our present money
system is permitted to continue, the greater
will be the injury inflicted upon our econom-
lcal interests and all classes of society. II |
elected, 1 shall approve every appropriate |
to accomplish the desired end, and |
shall oppose any step backwards.
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 be appre-
hended until by constitutional amendment |
The schools are placed beyond all danger of
,ectarian control or interference. The Re-
publican party is pledged to secure such an
The resolution of the Convention on the
subject of the permanent pacifcation of the
country and the complete protection Of all
is citizens in the free enjoyment of all their
rights is timely and of great
Importance. The condition of the Southern
states attracts the attention and COM
nands the sympathy of the people
If the whole Union. In their pro-
sressive recovery from the etfects
II the Var thAi-A-ssity Is an inteiil-
gent and honest administration of the Gov
,rnment which will protect all classes of citi-
,ens in all their political and private rights.
What the South most needs is peace, and
peace depends on the supremacy of law.
There can be no enduring peace if the con-
'titutiOnal rights Of any portion OF the people
ire habitually disregarded. A division of
political parties resting merely upon dis
,inctiOns Of race, or upon sectional lines, is
always unfortunate, and may be disastrous.
The welfare of the South, alike with that of
my other part of the country, depends on
he attractions it can offer to labor, to i'm
and to capital; but laborers will
not go and capital will not be ventured
where the Constitution and the laws are set
1t defiance, and destruction, apprehen-
sion and alarm take the place of peace
owing and law-abiding social life. All