South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1877-03-16
President Hayes inaugural.

gural OF President Hayes, indicates the
policy lie intends to pursue:
The evils which afflict tie Southern
States can only be removed or remedied
by the united and harmonious efforts of
both races, actuate6 By motives Of mu.
tual sympathy AMI regard, ani while
in Guty bound and fully determined TO
protect the rights OF all by every consti.
tntlonal means at the disposal Of my
administration, J am sincerely anxious
TO use every legitimate influence In favor
OF honest and efficient local self govern.
ment "a the true resource OF those States
LOT the promotion OF tue contentment
and prosperity OF their citizens. lin the
effort 1 shall make TO accomplish this
purpose, ask the cordial cooper. ton
OF all who cherish an interest in the vel.
iare or the country, trusting that party
ties and the prejudice OF races will he
freely surrendered in behalf Of the great
purpose TO be accomplished. In he
important work Of restoring the South,
1t Is not the political situation alone that
merits attention. The material deyeli
opment Of that section Of the country
has becri arrested by the social and DO.
iitlcai revolution through which it has
passed. and now needs and deserves the
confederate care Of the national Gov.
ernment within The just limits prescrib
ed by the Constitution and wise public
economy. But ut the basis OF ali pros
perity. for that as we'll as for every other
part OF the country, lies the Improvement
OF the intellectual and moral condition
OF the people. Universal suffrage should
rest upon universal education. 10 this
end liberal and permanent provision
SHOULD be made for the support Of free
Schools by the State governments and
II need he. supplemented by legitimate
aid from national authority. Let me
assure my countrymen of the Southern
States thai it is my earnest desire to
regard andpromo.e your truest interests.
The Interests of the white and of the
colored people both, and equally. and
to put forth my best efforts in behalf of
civil policy. which will forever wine
out in our political affairs the color line.
and the distinction between North and
South, to the end that We may have not
merely united North. or a united South
but united country. l ask attention
OF the publicto the paramount necessity
OF refom in our civil service; a reform
not merely as to certain abuses and
practices OF so-colled official patronage
which have come to have the sanction
OF usage in the several departments of
our Government. but change in The
system of appointment itself reform
that shall be thorough. radical and com.
piete. return to the principle, and
practices OF the founders of the Govern.
ment. They neither expected nor dc.
sired from public officers any partisan
service. They meant that public officers
should owe their whole service TO the
Government and to the peop!e.-They
meant that the officer should be secure
In his tenure rs long rs his personal
character remained untarnshed ana The
performance of his duties satisfactory
They held that appointments to Office
were not male nor expected merely "a
rewards for partisan services, nor mere
~ on the nomination of members OF
Congress, rs being entitled in any re-.
spect to control such appointments
Tho fact that both the great political
parties of the country in declaring their
principles prior to the election rave
prominent place u the subject OF reform
OF our civil service, recognizing and
strongly urging its necessity in terms
almost identical in their specific import
with those have here employed, must
be accepted rs conclusive argument in
behalf Of these measures. 1t must be
regarded rs the expression or the united
voice and will Of tho whole country M.
on this subject, and both political parties
are pledged TO give it their unrescryod
support. The President Of the u. s..
OF necessity owes his election to office
TO the suffrage and jealous labors Of n
political party, the members of which
cherish with ardor and regard as of es
sential importance the principles Of their
party organization. but he should strive
to be always mindful Of the fact thath
serves his party best who serves the
country best. In furtllerance of the
reform we seek, and in other important
respects change Of great importance,
| recommend an amendment to the Con.
stitution prescribing term Of six wears
for the Presidential Office and forbiddipp
re election"