Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1876-08-10
THE LETTER OF GOV. HENDRICKS.

| The LETTER OF GOV. HENDEleKs.
New York, Aug. 4.-The following
is Gov. Hendricks letter Of accep-
lance:
| indianapolis, July "a, 1876
Gentlemem have the honor to ac-
! knowledge the receipt Of your com
mlnication ill which you have form
ally notified me Of my nomination by
the national democratic convention at
81. Louis as their candidate for the
office of Vice-President of the Unite d
States. 1t is nomination which had
neither expected nor desired, and yet |
recognize and appreciate the high
honor by the convention. The choice
of such a body, pronounced with such
unusual unanimity, and accompanied
with so generous an expression of
esteem and confidence, ought to out
weigh merely personal desire and
preferences of my own.
1t is with this feeling,and trust also
from deep sense of public duty, that
now accept the nomination, and shall
abide the judgement of my country
men. 1t would have been impossible
for me to accept the nomination if l
could not heartily indorse the platform
of the convention. I am gratifed,
therefore, to be able unequivocally to
declare that l agree in the principles,
approve the policies and sympathize
with the purposes enunciated III that
platform. The institutions of our
country have been sorely tried by the
exlgencies Of civil war, and since peace
by selfish and corrupt management Of
public affairs, which has shamcd us
before civilized mankind by unwise and
partial Legislation.
Every industry and interest of the
people have been made to suffer, and in
the executive departments of the gov
ernment dishonesty, rapacity and
venality have debauched the public
| service. Men known to be unworthy
have been promoted, whilst others have
been degraded for fidelity to official
duty. Public Office has been made the
means Of private profit, and the country
has been offended to see class of men
who boast the friendship of sworn pro-
tectors of the state amassing fortunes
by defrauding the public treasury and
by corrupting the servants Of the people.
In such crisis of the history of the
country rejoice that the convention at
St. Louis has so nobly raised the stan
dard Of reform.
| Nothing can be we'll with us or with
our affairs until the public conscience,
shocked by the enormous evils and
abuses which prevail, shall have de-
manded and compelled an unsparing
reformation of our national admins
tration in its head and its members. In
such reformation the removal of a
single officer, even the President, is
comparatively trifing matter if the
system which he represents, and which
has fostered him as he has fostered it,ls
suffered to remain.
The President alone must not be made
the scapegoat for the enormities of the
system which infects the public service
and threatens the destruction of our
institutions. In some respects l hold
that the present executive has been the
victim rather than the author of that
vicious system. Congressional and
party leaders have been stronger than
the Present. No one man could have
created it, and the removal OF no one
man can amend it. 1t is thoroughly
corrupt, and must be swept remorse
less y away by the selection of a govern
ment composed of elements entirel,
new and pledged to radical REFORM
The first work of reform must evldentls
be the restoration OF the normal opera
ton of the constitution of the United
States, with all its amendments. The
necessities Of war cannot be pleaded il
a time Of peace. The right of loca
self government is guaranteed by the
constitution of the Union, and must b.
everywhere restored and respected
The almost personal imperialism which
has been practiced must be done away
or the first principles of the republi,
| will be lost. Our financial system O
expedients must be reformed. Golt
and silver are the real standard O
| values, and our national currency vii
not be perfect medium of exchang
until it shall be convertible at tn
pleasure OF the holder. AS hav
heretofore said, no one desires return
to specie payments more earnestly thai
| do, but | do not believe that 1t will O
can be reached in harmony with tn
interests! of the people by artifcia
measures for contraction of the currenc
any more than believe wealth or per
manent prosperity can be created by al
imitation of the currency.
The laws Of finance cannot be disre
garded with impunity. The financial
policy Of the government, if indeed it
deserves the name of policy at all, ha
been in disregard of those laws, ant
heretofore has disturbed commercial an
business confidence as we'll as hindere
a return of specie payments. One fea,
ure Of that policy was the resumption
clause of the act of 1875. which has en-,
barrassed the country by anticipation c
a compulsory resumption for which n
preparation has been made, and withou
any assurance that it would be practica
The repeal of that clause is necessary
that the natural operations of financia
(! laws may be restored, that the bushes
of the country NAV be relieved from If