Ellsworth American., 1876-07-13
The Republican Ticket.


'INcINArI. July 9.-The following /, the let
ter Of Governor Hayes accepting the Republi.
can nomination for the Presidency:
COLUMBUS, o., July ;. Is.6
Hon. Edward Mcpherson. Hon VIM
Howard. Hon. j. i. II. Rayney aud other.
81 the Committee OF the Republican National
convention:
GeRnsDseR-In reply o your official eomnu.
hl'a'ion oi June 10, by which am informed Of
NV nomination for the Office of President of the
nited States, s,by the Republican National CON
tthtloH al Cincinnati, 1 accept the nomination
with gratitude, hoping that un der proyidenca 4
shall be able II elested TO execute the duties OF
tue high Office trust for the benefit OF Mi
the peOpf.
do not deem il necessary TO enter upon ANY
extended examination Of the declaration OF
principles made by the convention. The reso-
luilons are IN accord with nv views and I
heartily concur IN the principles which they an
h1nnce. In several Of the resolutions. howey-
or. questions are considered winch are OF such
Importance that ! deem II proper 10 briefly eS :
press my CONVICTIONS in regard to them
The hfth resolution adopted by the conveu-
uOn Is OF paramount Interest. More than forty
yrBrs ago system Of making appointments Ia
Office grew up, based upon the maxim, ITO the
Nlctors belong the spoils.H The Old rule. the
true rule. that honesty. capacity and fidelity,
constitute ihe only real Qualifications for Office
and ihAt there l. no other claim. gave place TO
the idea mat party services were 10 he chiefy y
Considered. All parties in practice have ,doni-
e this system. II has been essentially mott
he'd since it, first introduction. II has not how
ever. been improved. At first the President
either directly, or through the heads of ieDart :
menis. made all the appointments but gradtI-
ailY the appointing power in many cases passs,l
INTO the control Of member. Of Congress. The
Offices 10 these cases have beeo me not merely
rewards for party services bot rewards Tor
services 10 party leaders. The system DESTROYS
tue independence Of the separate Department.
OF the government; il tend, directly TO extr..
agance and official incapacity IL is stemnlation
10 dlshoResty; IL hlnders and irnpsrs that care
ful supervision and strict accountability Nv
which alone faithful and efficient public SER
vice can he secured; il obstruets the prompt re-
mOVal and sure punishment Of the unworthy
IN every way II degrsdes the civil service ana
the character OF the government. Ii is felt
am confident, by large majority of the mem.
bers OF Congress to be an intolerable burden
and AN unwarrantable hindrsnce 10 the proper
discharge OF their legitimate duties II ought
10 be abolis he'd. The reform should be thorough
radical and complete. We should return 10
the principles and practice Of the founders OF
the government, supplying by legislation
when needed. that which was the former ly es-
tablished custom. They neither expected nor
desired from the public officers any partisan
service; they meant that public officers should
owe their whole services to the government
and TO the people; they lmesnt that the officer
should be secure 10 his tenure as long rs his
personal character remained untarnshed and
VI raIlS1dctDTN. III
elected, L shall conduct the administration OF
the government upon these principles land all
constitutional power vested in the executive
will be employed to establish this reform.
The declaration of principles by the Cincin-
natl convention makes no announcement in
favor of 3 single presidential term. | do not
assume to add thAt declaration, but believing
that the restoration of the civil service to the
system established by Washington and follow
ed by the early presidents, can best be accom-
plished BY an executive who is under no temp
tation TO use the patronage of his Office TO pro-
mote his own reelection, desire to perform
what 1 regard as duty in stating now nv in
flexible purpose, if elected. not TO be q candi-
date for election TO q second term.
On the currency question l have frequently
expressed my views in public and ! stand by
nv record on this subject. l regard all the
laws of the United States relating to the pay
menf Of the public Indebtedness, the legal
tender notes included, rs constituting pledge
and moral obligation of the government, which
must in good faith. be kept. II is my conYie-
tion that the feeling Of uncertainty and inseeu-
rity from an irredeemable paper currency with
its fluctuations Of value, is one Of the great OBJ
stscles TO revival of confidence and business
and 10 return TO prosperity. That uncertainty
can t.s ended in but one way-the resumption
az specie payment-but the longer the instabil