The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1880-07-24
GEN. ARTHUR ACCEPTS.
PLAIN AND CONCISE STATEMENT.
The Issues Between the Two Great Political Par
ties-Cvil Service Reform Discussed.


The Issues Between the Two Great Political Par
tics Civil Service Reform Discussed.
New YORK, July -, 1850.
DEAR SIR accept the position as
signed me by the great party whose
action you announce. This acceptance
implies approval of the principles de
clared by the Convention. but recent
usage permits me to add some expression
of my own views. The right and duty
to secure honesty and order in popular
elections is Il matter so vital that it must
stand in front. The authority of the
national government to preserve from
fraud and force elections at which its own
officers are chosen is Il chief point on
which the two parties are plainly and
intensely opposed. Acts of Congress for
ten years have. in New York and else
where, done much to curb the violence and
wrong to which the ballot and the count
have been again and again subjected
sometimes despoiling great cities, some
times sitting the voice of Il whole State.
often seating. not only in Congress. but
on the Bench, and III Legislatures. mum
berS OF men never chosen bv the people
The Democratic party since gaining pos
session OF the two Houses OF Congress-
has made these just laws the object of
bitter, ceaScleSs assault. and, despite all
resistance, has hedged them with re
StrlctlonS cunningly contrived to battle
and paralyze them. This aggressive ma
jority boldly attempted to extort from the
Executive his approval of various enact
ments destructive of these election laws
by revolutionary threats that Il constitu-
tional exercise Of the veto power would
be punished by Withholding the appro-
priations necessary to carry on the gov
ernment. And these threats were actu-
ally carried out by refusing the needed
appropriations, and by forcing an extra
session of Congress. lasting for months
and resulting i'll concessions to this usurp-
ing demand. which are likely. in many
States, to subject the majority to the
lawless will of Il minority. Omnibus
signs Of public diSapproval alone subdued
this arrogant power into Il sullen surren-
der for the time being of part of it's
demands. The Republican party has
strongly approved the stern refusal of its
representatives to suffer the overthrow
Of statutes believed to be safutgry and
just. 1t has always insisted. and now
insists, that the government of the
United States of America is empowered
and in duty bound to effectually protect
the elections denoted by the Constitution
as national
PROTECTION For EVERY CITIZEN
More than this. the Republican party
holds, as Il cardinal point i'll its creed
that the Government should, by every
means known to the Constitution, pro-
tect all American citizens everywhere in
the full enjoyment of their civil and po-
litical rights. AS great part of its work
of reconstruction, the Republican party
gave the ballot to the emancipated slave
as his right and defence. \ large i'll
crease i'll the number of members of Con-
gress and of the Electoral College, from
the former slave-holding States. was the
immediate result. The history of recent
years abounds in evidence that in many
ways and III many places-especially
where their number has been great
enough to endanger Democratic control
the very men by whose elevation to
citizenship this increase of representa-
ton was effected have been debarred and
robbed Of their voice and their vote. 1t
| is true that no State statute or Constitu-
ton in so many words denies or abridges
! the exercise Of their political rights: but
| the modes employed to bar their way are
no less eflectual. 1t is a suggestive and
startling thought that the increased
! power derived from the enfranchisement
of 4 race now denied its share in govern
! ing the country-wielded by those who
lately sought the overthrow of the gov
/ crnment-iS now the sole reliance to de-
] /, 4, 4, I
creignty and nationality of the American
/ people i'll the greatest crisis in our his
/ tory. Republicans cherish none of the
rcScntmcntS which may have animated
| them during the actual conflict Of arms.
/ They long for 4 full and real reconciI-
/ latlon between the sections which were
ncedlessly and lamentably at strife; they
sincerely offer the hand of goodwill but
they ask i'll return pledge of good faith.
They deeply feel that the party, whose
career is SO illustrious in great and pa
triotic achievements, will not fulfill its
destiny until peace and prosperity are
established in all the land, nor until
| liberty of thought, conscience and action,
and equality of opportunity shall be not
merely cold formaitics of statute. but
living birth-rightS which the humble
may confidently claim and the powerful
dare not deny.
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
The resolution referring to the public
service seems to me deserving of appro-
/ val. Surely. no man should be the ill.,
cumbent of an office the duties of which
he is, for any cause, unfit to perform,
who is lacking in the ability. fidelity or
integrity which a proper administration
of such office demands. This sentiment
would doubtless meet with general ac-
! quiescence, but opinion has been widely
divided upon the wisdom and practical
bility of the various reformatory schemes
which have been suggested, and of GER
tam proposed regulations governing APP
pointments to public office. The ellicicn-
cv of such regulations has been distrust-
ed, mainly because they have seemed to
eXalt mere educational and abstract tests
above general business capacity and even
special fitness for the peculiar work in
hand. 1t seems to me that the rules
which should be applied to the manage
ment of the public service may properly
conform. i'll the main. to such as regulate
| the conduct of successful private bust
ness. Original appointments should be
| based upon aScertained fitness. The
tenure Of Office should be stable. Posi-
tons of responsibility should, so far as
practicable. be filled by the promotion of
worthy and efficient officers. The inves-
| LEGATION of all complaints and the pun
ishmcnt of all official misconduct. should
be prompt and thorough. These views.
which | have long held, repeatedly de
clared, and uniformly applied when call
ed upon to- act. | find embodied i'll the
resolution, which Of GoHrse l approve
| will add that, by the accertation of
public office, whether high or low, one
does not, in my Judgment escape any of
his responsibilities as citizen, and that
he should enjoy absolute liberty to think
and speak and act i'll political matters
according to his own will and conscience.
provided only that he honorably. faith
fully and fully discharges all his official
duties,
RESUMPTION OF SPECIE PAYMENTS.
The resumption of specie payment
one of the fruits of Republican policy
has brought the return of abundant pros
perity, and the settlement of many dis
tracing questions. The restoration of
sound money. the large reduction of our
public debt and of the burden Of inter
est. the high advancement of the public
credit, all attest the ability and courage
of the Republican party to deal with such
financial problems as may hereafter de-
mand solution. Our paper currency is