Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1876-08-11
TILDEN'S LETTER or ACCEPT


NEW YORK, Aug. 4. The long looked
for letters of acceptance from Tildon and
Hendricks have finally becu given to the
public. Mr.. 11lden's letter of acceptance
Is az follows;
ALBANY, N. ", July 81, 1876
Gentlemen When L had the honor 10
receive personal delivery Of your letter
ON behalf of the Democratic National Con-
vontion, held on the 2Sth Of June at ST.
Louis, advising me Of my nomination as
the candidate of the constituency represent
ed by that body for the office of President
of the United States, | answered that at my
earliest convenience and in conformity
with usage would prepare and transmit
to you formal acceptance. / now avail
myself of the first interval in unavoidable
occupations to fulfill that engagement.
The convention before making lis numi-
nations adopted II declaration Of principles
which, as whole, seems TO me wise OK
position of the necessities of our country,
and of the reforms needed TO bring back
the Government to its true functions, to re-
store purity of administration and to re-
new the prosperity of the people; but some
of these REFORMS are SO urgent that they
claim more than passing approval.
The necessity Of a reform in the scale Of
public expense, Federal, State and munich
pal. and in the modes of Federal taxation,
iuslifies all the prominence given 10 it in
the dcclai alton of the ST. Louis Conven-
ton. The present depression in all the
business and industries Of the people,
which is depriving labor of its employ
mcnts, and carrying want into 50 many
homes, has its principal cause in excessive
| governmental consumption. Under the IL
lusions of specious prosperity, engender-
| ed by the false policies OF the Federal Gov
| ernment, Il waste Of capital has been going
on ever since the peace Of 1865, which could
only end in universal disaster.
| The Federal taxes OF the last eleven years
| reach the gigantic sum of S4,5OO ,OOO,O OO.
| Local taxation has amounted to twO-thirds
| as much more. The vast aggregate is not
| less than $500, 100000. This enormous
taxation followed a civil conflict that had
| greatly impaired our aggregate wealth, ana
had made II prompt reduction OF expenses
| Indispensable. 1t was aggravated by Tue
most unsclentific and ill-adiusted methods
| of taxation that increased the sacrihces oil
the people far beyond the receipts OF the
Treasury. 1t was aggravated moreover Dy
a finan cial policy which tended 10 dlmlh'
ish the energy, skill and economy OF pro
duction and the frugalily of private con
sumption, and induced miscalculation il
business and an unrCmunerative use o
capital and labor.
| Even in prosperous times tie daily want
of industrious communities press closely
upon their daily earnings. The margin o
| possible national savings is at best slnal
percentage Of national earnings. Yet nov
Tor these eleven years Governmental con
sumption has been larger portion OF th'
national earnings than the people can pos
sbly save even in prosperous times Tor NJ
new investments. The consequences
these errors are now present public ca
lamity. But they never were doubtful
| never invisible. They were necessary an'
inevitable, and were forester and depicted
when the waves Of that fictitious pr0sperit.
ran highest.
Ina speech made 10y me on the 2lth q
Septeniher, 1869 it was said of these taxes
They bear heavily upon every mans in
come, upon every industry and ever.
business In the country, and year by yea
they are destined 10 press SUI more heaNl
ly unless we arrest the system mat awe
rise to them. Ii was comnalatively cas-.
| when values were doubling, under repeat
ed issues Of legal tender paper money, 1
nav out OF the flUth OF our growing aud ar
parent wealth these taxes I; but when val
| ues rocede and sink toward their nalura
scale the tax Gatherers take from US not on
ly our income, not only our profits, but al
SO a portion OF our capital. do not Wis
TO exagn crate or alarm. l simply say tina
| we cannot afford the costly and ruinou
policy of the radical majuriiy OF Con
9ress, We cannot afford that pouc
r toward The South. We cannot aior
: the magn iflcent and oppressive cenlraiisi
, into which our Government is being con
verted.
We cannot afford the present ma2niilcei
: scale of taxation. To the Secretary of III
$ Treasury said early in 1865, 'There Is n
= royal road for Il Government, more ina
for an individual or corporation. VIVA
j won want to do now is 10 cut DOWN you
) expenses and live within your income"
= would give all the legerdemain of iinanC
= and finauciering, l would give the who
{ of ii for the old money maxim: "LiS
Z within your Income
d This reform will he resisted at ever
: step. but il must be pressed PERSISTENT.
We see to-day the immediate represent;
Z lives of the people in one branch OF Coz
n gress, while struggling to reduce eApehd
If lures compelled 10 confront the menace
q the Senate and the Executive. Unless u
Objectionable appio priallons De consehle
e TO- the operations of the Government therl
i nnder shall suffer detriment or cease.
INV Judgment an amendment of The Const
union ought to be devised, separating IN
distinct bills the appropriations Tor The VI
l. rlous departments OF the public service, an
excluding from each bill all appropriation
for other objects and all independent legi
IT lalion. In that way alone can the revisol
e. power of each of the two Houses ana OF u
J. Executive be preserved and eNemPt'
Of from The moral duress which olten compe
le assent To Objectionable appropriations rat
or than stop the wheels OF the Governmel
An accessory cause, enhancing The Ill
Vi tress in business, is to be found in the sy
re tcma,ic unsupportable misgovernment 10
pr posed on the States of the South. Besid
If the ordinary effects of an ignorant and di
- honest administration, il has inflicted upt
10 them an enormous issue or irandule
I'd bonds, the scanty avails of which we
If. wasted or stolen, and the existence of whit
ar is public discredit, lending TO bankrupt
- or Reputation. Taxes, generally oppre
IL sive, in some instances have contiscal'
n. the entire income OF property ana lotal
ic DESTROYED its marketable value. 1t is II
- possible that these evils should not rea
" upon the prosperity of the whole counir
lie The nobler motives of humanity conc
as | with the material interests OF all in requ
ing that every obstacle be removed to
complete and durable reconciliation
tween kindred populations once unnaturi
or | ly estranged, on the basis recognized by I
ST, Louis platform, of the "Constitution
iiS the United States with its amendmeI
universally accepted as a final settleme
be of the controversies which engendered CT
ke il war" But in aid of result SO beneticel
- the moral influence of every good eiilz
7S' as well as every governmental authori
lis ourht 10 be exerted not alone to mainta
M their just equality before the law, but ill
~. wise to establish cordial fraternity a
!" good will among citizens, whatever III
sr- race or color, who are now united in
yn one destiny of a common self-governme
IN. If the duty shall be assigned TO me
~ should not fail TO exercise the powers "
g.. which the laws and the Constitution of @
ial country clothe its Chief Magistrate TO p
CO. tect ali lis citizens, whatever their form
zee condition, in every political and persol