St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1876-07-14

A STRONG, SENSIBLE, sTRAIGIlTFOR-
WARD LETTER.
CoLUMBUs, o., July {, 1876.

COLUMBUS, o., July Z, 1876.
Hon. Edward Mcpherson. Hon. Will
liam \. Howard, Hon. Joseph II. Rain
eN, others, committee of the republican
national convention: Gentlemen: In
reply to your official communication of
June IL, 10y which am informed of my
nomination tor the office of President
of the United States by the republican
national convention at CINCINNATI, ac-
ctpt the nomination with gratitude,
hoping that under Providence, | shall
he elected, to execute the duties of the
high office as il trust for the benefit of
all the people.
| do not deem it necessary to enter
upon any extended examination of the
declaration of principles made 10y the
convention. The resolutions are i'll ac
cord with my views, and | heartily con
cur in the principles they announce.
Ia several of the resolutions, however,
questions are considered which are OF
such Importance that deem it proper
To briefly express my couN lotions in lie
gard to these.
The fifth resolution adopted 10y the
convention is of paramount interest.
More than forty wears ago, Il system OF
making appointments to office grew up.
based upon this maxim, TO the vic
tors belong the spoIls." The old rule.
the true rule, that honesty, capacity
and fidelity constitute the only real
qualifications for office. and that there
Is no other claim, gave place to the idea
| that party services were to he com>id-
cred. All parties III practice have
adopted this system. 1t has been es-
>cnIally modified since its first intro
durti"n. 1t has not, however. been i'm
proved. AT first the President, either
directly OF through the heads ofdrpalt-
mrntS. made all the appointments. but
gradually the appointing power in
many cases passed into the control of
members at CungIe>>. The officers in
these eases have become, tot merely
rewards fur party services, hut rewards
Tor services To party leaders. Tins >NS-
TEN destroys the independence "t the
separate departments of the cavern
memt. 1t tends directly Extravaganza
and official incapacitN. 1t i a t-mpta
ton tn dishonesty. 1t hiudrr> and i'm
pains that careful >uperN iSion and strict
accountability 10y which alone faithful
and efficient public scrN ice can hc Sc
cured. 1t oh>truct> the prompt rrmoN-
al and sure punishment of the unWor-
/ thy. la every way it degradc> the civ il
service and the character OF the GOV
crnmtnt. Ii i felt. am confident hN
Il large majority of the members OF Con
gltS> To he an intol-Iahlc burden and
an understandable hlndrancr to the
proper discharge of THEN legitimate du-
ties 1t ought to Ice abolished. The
reform should hc thorough. radical and
complete. We should return To the
| principles and practice OF the founders
of the government. supply ling 10y l"gi>-
latinn. When needed, that which WAS
established 10y custom. They neither
expected non desired from the public
Officer ANY PARTISAN service. They
meant that public officers should owe
! their whole service to the government
and to the people. They meant that
the officer should he secure III his ten
uIe a> long a> his personal character
remained untaIni>hed and the perform
auce of his duties satisfactory. If elect
ed. shall conduct the administration
of the government upon these prlnci-
piles. aud all constitutional power vest
ed IN the executive will lac employ eel to
establish this reform.
The declaration al principles 10y the
Cincinnati convention make no all
nounccmrnt IN favor of Il single prc>i-
dental term. | dn not assume Ia add
to that declaration. but. believing that
/ the restoration of the civil service to
the system established 10y Washington.
and followed 10y the early Presidents.
can he best accomplished 10y an c>ccu-
] "a la. l. D.. t,.th ,tItI t,,
the patronage of his office to promote
his own reelection. | desire to perform
What regard H. Il duty in stating now
my intirNihlt purpose. If elected. not t."
/ he u candidate Ton Il second term.
On the currency question have iIc-
quentlN expressed my views in public
and stand 10y my record on this sub
jrct. | regard all the laN< of the Uni
ted States relating to the pay mcnt of
the public Indebtedness. the legal ten
der notes included, as constituting Il
pledge aud moral obligation of the gov
eminent. which must in good faith b.
/ kept. Ii l. my conN lotion that the feel
/ ing at uncertainty ln>cparahlr from an
lrrcdeenlablc paper currency. with the
| fluctuations of values. l. one of the great
obstacles To Il revival of confidence in
/ business and to Il return of prosperity.
! That uncertainty can br ended in only
one way the resumption of specie pay
mcnt But the longer the instability
connected with our present money SIS
tenn is permitted t" continue, the great
ct will he the injury inflicted upon our
economical interests and all CLASSES of
society. If elected shall approve ev-
cry appropriate measure to accomplish
the desired end, and shall oppose any
step backward.
The resolution with respect to the
public school system is one which should
receive the hearty support of the Amer
| lean people. Agitation upon this sub
iect is tu he apprehended, until 10y con-
! Stitutional amendment the schools are
placed beyond all danger of Sectarian
control OF interference. The republican
party Is pledged to secure such an
amendment.
The resolution of the convention on
the subject of the permanent pacitica-
ton of the country, and the complete
protection of all its citizens in the free
enjoyment of all their constitutional
rights, is timely and of great impor-
tance. The condition of the southern
States attracts the attention and COM
mauds the sympathy of the whole
| Union. In their progressive IerovcrN
from the effects of the war. their inst
necessity IL an honest and intelligent
administration of the government, " hich
will protect all classes of citizens in all
their political and private rights. What
the South most needs is peace land peace
depends upon the supremacy of law
There can he no enduring peace if the
constitutional rights of any portion of