New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-06-25

1
on election boards adopted. The extension
of suffrage to al citizens without distinc-
ton of color secured by the fifteenth amend
ment. In his messages he has made epe-
cialties of the following principles, end has
urged their incorporation into the legisla-
tive will Of the State: Against excessive
legislation and against extravsgant local
expenditures, and against all public debts.
During his administration the State debt
has been largely reduced, and IN the last
year reduction of taxes, State and local,
as compared with the previous year,
Speaking further on this topic, the State
Journal at another time said
| Governor H ayes is certainly the happiest
man in his messages that ever occupied the
Gubernat0rial chair. 1t is nothing that all
praise his messages, without distinction of
party; but every body publishes them, which
is more substantial compliment. They
need no abstracting-the whole thing com.
plete is q brief abstract which every one
may read with interest"
! The Ohio Statesman, central Democratic
| organ of the State, said:
| "GovernOr Hayes retired from Office yes
| terday with good wishes generally of the
| people of the capital and OF the State. On
| one or two points he has been subject to
criticism, but it is likely that in important
| political emergencies most men cast in the
ordinary human mold would have done
| much as he did"
| Many other newspapers, both Democratic
and Republican,, spoke with equal en-
phasis to the same effect.
| HE TRIES TO RETIRE FROM PUBLIC LIFE,
BUT FAILS.
| Governor Hayes now lin January. 1922,
returned to Cincinnati with his family. in
| tending to resume business there and ex-
| pecting to escape further public duties and
responsibilities. But his respite was not
destined to be protracted. The election of
| a United States Senator had eupervened,
and the two parties in the General Assem-
bly, were nearly evenly divided, with bal
ance Of power in the hands of q small
minority of independent members. With
| view of defeating the regular Republican
nominee, the Democrats were prepared to
nominate q Republican, provided they
could secure enough votes Of that party to
elect him. In this behalf overtures were
made to Governor Hayes, who promptly
and emphasically declined to permit the
use of his name. He was also proposed as
the regular caucus nominee Of the Repub-
licans, but refused to countenance the
strong movement in his behalf and posi-
lively declined to avail himself of it.
On the thirty-irst of July, 1872, General
Hayes received the following communica-
ton, signed by many prominent Repobli-
cans OF Cincinnati:
Hoa. B. B. HaJes:
Believing that it is the desire of the Re-
publicans generally of the Second Congress
sional District that you be candidate for
tho nomivation, and feeling, that yon would
| receive larger vote from the people OF the
district than any person that could be
| agreed upon, We write You respectfully ask
ing that you accept a nomination fer Con-
gress.
To this General Hayes, then absen. from
the city, replied by telegraph, positively
and unequivooslly declining the nomins-
| ton. Nevertheless. the Republican conven-
| ton, when it met about week afterward
august 6, 1872 made him it's nominee, and
as it became evident that his persistence in
! declining wonld greatly distract the party,
causing loss Of probably 1000 OF 5000
votes, he was constrained to accept. Ham,
ilton county went over 5000 Democratic,
| and he was defeated, as from the beginning
| he foresaw he would be. He ran largely
ahead of his ticket, however, and was the
| only candidate for Congress in Ohio who
received more votes in his distr.c5 than
| General Grant.
In March, 1878, General Hayes was unex-
pectedly nominated by the President tor
assistant treasurer OF the United States at
| Cincinnati, but he declined the appoint
ment and shortly afterward returned to
his old home in Fremont, where he resumed
his residence, and has continued 1t TO the
present time. Here he devoted himself
chiefly to the management of his farm.
naturally enjoying the relief from official
care and responsibility which now suc7
ceeded twelve years of nearly uninteI-
rupted public service, military and civil.
Thus time passed with him until the spring
Of 1875, when the Republicans began TO dis
cuss who should be their leader in their
State canvass then approaching. The Dem
| Ocra-s had the Governor the Legislature,
the Secretary Of State, the School Commis-
sioner and the clerk of the Supreme Court,
all elected on the popular vote, and had
carried the State the year before by MAJ
| to be overcome to achieve Republican suc-
cess, and all over the State there was a
popular acclaim that General Hayes was
the man to overcome it. There were grave
doubts, however, as to whether he would
accept the nomination, and not without
reason. To ali who had approached him on
| this subject ne had expressed an extreme
disqualification to do so, and had discouraged
to the full extent that he could the use of
| lis name.
THIRD TINE GOVERNOR AGAINST GREAT
Nevertheless, public sentiment in his
| favor rapidly grew in force and value and
by the time the State convention met in
June was simply overwhelming. There
was no doubt any longer as to whether he
would be nominated, but it was still by no
means certain that he would accept the
nomination. The only other candidate for
Governor proposed was Judge Taft, of Gin
cinnati, whose high standing and abilities
| were universally acknowledged, and were
| urgently pressed upon the convention BY
earnest friends. General Hayes himself
favored the nomination of Judge Taft, and
in reply to kilograms strongly recommended
it, at tho same time speaking in the highest
terms of Mr.. Taft, and positively refusing
| to be a candidate against him. With this
dispatch before it, the convention assem-
bled, and on the first ballot cast four tifths
| Of its votes for General Hayes. That there
might be no obstacle in the way of his &C.
ceptance, Judge Taft gracefully authorized
the withdrawal Of his name. and the nomi-
| nation was made unanimous amid great
enthusiasm. General Hayes was promptly
| Dotifed Of this action, and in reply tele-
| t-legraphed:
SIN obedience to the wishes of the con.
vention, yield my preference ami accep.
| the nomination.
suit indicate the state Of popular feeling.
The Cincinnati Enquirer (Democratic) said
| General Hayes is a clever gentleman.
and his previous administrations were
| marked by fairness, evennees, and upright
| ness; and his personal character and Sigh
repnte will make his candidacy tormida
ble."
The Democracy renOminated Governor
| Allen, and threw into The contest the best
talent and effort at their command. Gen.
| eral Hayes canvassed the entire State, max
ing speeches in nearly every county, often
| making two or three at as many different