Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1876-08-29
spirit of yefferson.
CharlestOun, Jefferson COunty, We.t Va
TUESDAY MORSING. AUGUST 90. 1876.
THELETrEB OF GOV. HENDRICKS.

Governor Hendricks letter of acceptance
Indianapolis, July "a, 1876 Gentlemen:
have the honor to acknowledge the receipt
of your communication in which you have
formally notified me of my nomination by the
National Democratic Convention at st. Louis
as their candidate for the Office Of Vice Pres
ideut of the United States. 1t is a nomiua-
ton which l had neither expected nor desir-
ed, and yet recognize aud appreciate the
high honor by the convention The choice
of such body pronounced with such unusual
unanlmlty, and accompanied with so generous
an expression OF esteem and confidence, ought
to outweigh merely personal desires and pres
terences Of my OWE.
1t is with this feeling, and trust also
from deep sense of public duty, that now
accept the nomination, and shall abide tho
judgment of my counrymen. 1t would have
been impossible for me to accept the nomina
zion if / could not heartily Udurse the plat
form of the convention. am gratifed, there
fore, to be able uucquivgco'ly to declare that
| agree in the principles, 7pprcve the policies
and sympathjzc with the purposes enuncicted
in that platform. TIE Institutions of our
country have been sorely tried by the exigen-
cies of civil war, and since peace. by a sell
fish and corrupt management of public affairs,
which has shamed US before civilized man.
kind by unwise and partial legislation
Every industry and interest of the people
have been made TO suffer, and in the execu-
tive department of the government dishoues
ty, rapacity and venality have debauched the
public service. Men known to be un worthy
have been promoted, whilst others have been
degraded for fidelity to official duty. Public
"ffice has been made the means of private
profit, and the country has been offended to
class OF men who boast the friendship
OF sworn protectors uf the State amassiug for,
tunes by de'raudlug the public treasury and
by corrupt'ng the servants of the people. 10
such crisis OF the history of the country |
rejoice that the convention at St. Louis has
so Dobly raised the standard of reform.
Nothing eau be we'll with US or with our
affairs until the public conscience, shocked
By the enormous evils aud abuses Which pre-
vail shall have demanded and compelled ap
unsparipg reformation Of our national admin
istration in its head and its members Tu
such reformation tue removal of single off
Ger. even the President, is comparatively a
tr'hing matter if the system which he repre-
sents. and which has fostercd him as he has
fostered it. is suffered to remain.
he= rCsidsuJ uTI1st uUe-t5e IrIat1c tire
scapegoat for the cnormlties of the system
which infects the public service and thrent>
ems the destruction of our institutions 10
some respects hold that the present exec
utive has been the victim rather than the
author of that viclbus system. Congression
al and party leaders have been stronger than
the President No one man could hsve cre-
ated it, and the removal of DO one man can
amend it. 1t is thoroughly corrupt, and must
be swept remorselcEsly away By the selection
of governUent composed of elements entire
ly new and pledged to radical reform. The
first work OF reform must evidently be the
constitution of the United States, with all its
amendments. The necessities of war cannot
he pleaded in time of peace. The right Of
local self government is guaranteed 10y the
constitution of the Union, aud must be every
where restored and respected The almost
personal Imperialism which has been prac>
ticed must he done away, or the first priDci>
pies OF the republic will be lost. Our fiuan,
cinl system of cxpedients must be reformed
Gold and silver sfe the real standard of val
ues. aud orr national currency will not bc q
perfect medium Of exchange until it shall be
convertible at the pleasure OF the holder AS
| have heretofore said, no one desires a re-
turn to specie payments more earnestly than
| do, but do not believe that it will or can
be reached in harmony with the Interests of
the people by artificial measures for contrao,
tiou OF the currency; any more than l be-
lieve wealth or permanent prosperity can be
created By an imitation of the currency.
The laws OF finance cannot be disregArded
with impunity. The financial policy of the
government, if indeed it deserves the name
OF policy at all, has been in disregard Of
those laws. aud therefore has disturbed COM
lnercial ana business confidence as well as
hindered a return t. specie payments. One
feature of that policy wns the resumption
clause of the act Of 1875 which has embar
rassed the country by auticipAiIonyOf q com>
pulsory resumption for which 10 preparation
has been made, and without any assurance
that would be practical.
The repeal of that clause is necessary that
the natural operations of financial laws may
be restored. that the business Of the country
may be relieved from its disturbing and de-
pressing influence, and that return to specie
payments may be facilitated by the substitu>
tion of wiser and more prudent legislation,
which shall manly rely on a judicious system
of public economies and official retEench-
ments. and above all on the promotion OF pros
perity in all industries of the people.
do not understand the repeal Of the re-
sumption clause OF the &C, of 1875 TO be q
backward step on our return to specie pay
ments, but recovery of a false step, and al
though repeal may for time be prevented.
the determination of the democratic party on
this subject has now been distinctly declared
There should be no hindrauces put in the
way of return to specie payments. LAS
such hiDdrauce," says the platform of the
st Louis convention, ''Ge denounce the re-
sumption clause of the act of 1875, and de,
mand its repeal"
thoroughly believe that by public econ
omy, by official retreuchments and BY wise
finance, enabling 10 accumulate the pre-
cious metals. resumption at an early period is
possible without producing an "srti6cial
scarcity of currency" or disturbing public or