The Lake County star., 1876-07-20
Governor uayes's Letter Of Acceptance
The following is the letter of Governor
Hayes accepting the Republican nomination
for the Presidency;

| Inc lOllOWlnS lS the lettcr Ol UOVeTnOE
Hayes accepting the Republican nomination
for the Presidency;
COLUMBUS, o., July s, 1876.
Hon. Ea,card McTaeyson Hon. William A. Horard,
Hon. Joseph H. Rdiney and others, Committee Of The
Republican National COnrsation:
GENTLEMEN: In reply to your official COM
| munication Of June 18th, by which l am in-
| formed of my nomination for the office of
President of the United States by the Re-
publican National Convention at Cincinnati,
| | accept the nomination with gratitude,
hoping that, under Providence, l shall be
able, if elected, to execute the duties of the
high Office, as q trust for the benefit of the
people. do not deem it necessary to enter
| upon an extended examination of the dec
laration of principles made by the Conven-
| tion. The resolutions are in accord with
my views, and heartily concur in the prin-
cples they announce.
Ia several of the resolutions, however,
questions are considered of such Importance
that deem il proper to briefly express my
convictions in regard to them.
| The fifth resolution adopted by the Con.
yention is OF paramount interest. More
than forty years ago system OF making APP
| pointments to office grew up, based upon
| the maxim, "To the victOrs belong the
| spoils." The old rule, the true rule, that
honesty, capacity, and fidelity constitute
the onfy real qualification 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 es-
sentially modified since its first introduction.
1t has not, however, been improved. At
first the President, either directly or through
the heads of the departments, made all the
appointments, but gradually the appointing
power, in many cases, passed into the con-
troll of members of Congress. The offices in
these cases have become, not merely rewards
Tor party services, but rewards for services
to party leaders. This system destroys the
independence of the separate departments
OF the government. 1t tends directly to ex-
travagance and official incapacity. It is a
temptation to dishonesty; it hinders and
impairs that careful supervision and strict
accountability by which, alone, faithful and
efficient public service can be secured.
1t obstructs the prompt removal and sure
punishment OF the unworthy. In every way
it degrades the civil service and the charac-
ter of the government. 1t is felt, am conf.
dent, by large majority Of the members of
Congress, to be an intolerable burden and
an unwarrantable hindrance to the proper
discharge oil 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, supply
ing by legislation, when needed, that which
was formerly the established custom. They
neither expected nor desired, from the pub
lie officer, any partisan service. They meant
that public o0icers. 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 cbarac-
ter remained untarnished, and the per:
| formance of his duties satisfactory. III
elected, / shall conduct the administration
of the government upon these principles,
| and all the constitutional powers vested in
the Executive will be employed TO establish
| this reform.
The declaration of principles OF 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 adopted by Washington
and followed by the early Presidents, 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 10 perform what regard as duty in
stating now my iniexible purpose, IL elected,
| not TO be candidate for election to a second
term.
On the currency question 1 have fre-
quently expressed my views in public, and
stand by my record on this subject. 1
regard all the laws Of the United States
relating to the payment Of the public in.
debtedness, the legal-tender notes included,
as constituting a pledge and the moral
obligation Of the government, which must,
in good faith, be kept. II is my con.
viction that the feeling OF uncertainty, in
separable from an irredeemable paper
currency, with its fuctuation of values, is
one of the great obstacles TO revival OF
confidence and business, and to return OF
prosperity. That uncertainty can be ended
but one way--the resumption OF specie pay.