Litchfield enquirer., 1877-03-08
HAYES LETTER OF ACCEPT AMCE.

~ COLUMBUS, O., July 8, 1876.
 Hon. Ed,cord McPhersoa, Hon. Wan. 4.
 Hotoard, Hon. Jos H. RGiney and
 others. Committee of tte National Re-
 publican Convention.
 GENTLEMEN: In reply to your official communication of June IT, by which I am informed of my nomination for the office of President of the United States by the Republican National Convention at Cin- cinnati, I accept the nomination with gratitude, hoping that under providence shall be able, if elected, to execute the duties of the high office as trust for the benefit of all the people. gsr1a y4oHF
 I no not deem it necessary to enter up- on any extended examination of the de- claration of principles made by the con- vention, the resolutions are in accord with my views, and l heartily concur in the principles they announce. In several of the resolutions, however, questions are considered which are of such importance that deem it proper to briefly express my convictions in regard to them.
 The sixth resolution adopted by the convention is of paramount interest. More than forty years ago a system of making appointments to office grew up, based up- on the maxim, "to the victors 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 be chiefly considered. All parties, Tn prac. tice, have adopted this system. It has been essentially modified slnce it's first in- troduction; it has not, however. been im- proved. ..
 At first the President, either directly or through the heads of departments, made all the appointments. But gradually the appointing power in many cases passed into the control of the members of Con- gress. The offices in these cases have become not merely rewards for party ser vices, but rewards for services to party leaders. This system destroys the inde- pendence of the separate departments of the Government. "It tends directly to extravaganza and official incapacity;" It is temptation to dishonesty; it flinders and impairs that careful supervision and stricVaccountability by which alone faith ful and efficient public service can be se- cured; it obstructs the prompt removal and sure punishment of the unworthy; in every way it degrades the civil service and the character of the Government. It is felt, I am confident. bv large maiori- ty of the members of Congress to be an intolerable burden and an unwarrantable intolerance to the proper discharge of their legitimate duties. It ought to be abolished. The reform should be thorough, radical and complete. We should return to the principles and prac- tice of the founders of the Government supplying by legislation, when needed, that which was formerly the established custom. They neither expected nor de- sired from the public officers any partisan service. They meant that public officers should give their whole service to the Government and t0 the, people. They meant that the officer should be secure in his tenure as long as his personal charac- ter renamed untarnished and the per- formance of his duties satisfactory. If elected. shall conduct the administra- tion of the Government upon this princl- pie, and all constitutional power vested in the Executive will be employed to es- principles by the Cincinnati Convention makes no announcement in favor of sim gle Presidential term. do not assume
 
 that the restoration of the civil service to the system established by Washington and followed by the early Presidents can be best accomplished by an Executive who is under no temptation to use the patronage of his office to promote his own reelection, I desire to perform what I regard as duty in stating now my infiex- ible purpose, if elected, not to be, candi- q ofo f0r o1o kn
 On the currency question l have ire. and stand by my record on this subject; relating to the payment of the public in- debtedness,- the legal-tender notes inclu- ded. as constituting pledge and moral be kept in good faith. It is my conviction that the feeling of uncertainty insepera- ble from an irredeemable paper currency with its fluctuations of value is one of the great obstacles to revival of confi- dence and business and to return of prosperity. That uncertainty can be ended in bnt one way-the resumption of specie payments; but the longer the lnsta- bility of our money system is permitted to continue, the greater will be the injury inflicted. upon our economical interests and all classes of society. If elected I shall approve every appropriate measure to accomplish the desired end, and shall oppose any step backward. The resolu- ton with respect to the public school sys. tenn is one which should receive. the hearty support of the American people. Agitation upon this subject is to appre- hended, until by constitutional amend ment the schools are placed beyond all danger of sectarian control or interfer- ence. The Republican party is pledged to secure such an amendment. The res Olution of the convention on the subject of the permanent pacification of the cOun- try, and the complete protection of all it's citizens in the free enjoyment of all their constitutional rights, is timely and of great importance
 The condition of the Southern States attracts the attention and commands the sympathy of the people of the whole Union. In their progressive re. covery from the effects of the war, their first necessity is an intelligent and honest administration of government which will protect all classes of citizens in their po- litical and private rights. What the South most needs is ''peace." and peace depends upon the supremacy of the law. There. can be no enduring peace If the constitutional rights of any portion of the people are habitually disregarded. A di- vision of political parties resting merely upon sectional lines is always unfortunate and may be disastrous The welfare of the South, alike with that of every other part of the country, depends upon the attractions it can offer to labor and immi- grafton and to capital. But laborers will not go and capital will not be ventured. where the Constitution and laws are set at defiance. and distraction. apprehension and alarm take the place of speace-loying