National Republican., 1880-12-07
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

Below will be found in full, the last annual mes.
sage of President Hayes delivered to both Houses
Of Congress yesterday;
FrtLow.CfTiZESs OF THE SESATE ASD HotsE ~ |
REPRESENTATIVES congmtulgte YOU on inc con |
Nv The favor of Divine Providence we have been |
blessed dgtng ihc n9si year Win health, WIN
all our people. aud With contcnmcnt at home, and
With peace and friendship with other nations
chief Magistrate has attended another opportunity
o the people or the United states to exhibit In the
world n significant example or the peaceful aud
safe transmission Of the power aud authority NJ
government from the public servants whose terms
of office are about TO expire to their ngwly,choscn
successors This example cannot iail In impns-
profoundly thoughtful people Of other countries
with the advantages which republican institutions
afford The Immediate general, nnd cheerful nc'
quiesccnce of all good citizens III the result of the
election gives gratifying assurance TO our country
and To its friends throughout the world that GOV.
crnmen based On the free consent Of an Intelligent
and patriotic people possesses elements OF strength
stability, and pcrmancncy not found In any other
contihHsd opposition g the fall and free free enjoy
re colored people by the recent amendments 70
the Constitution still prevails IN several Of the late
save-holding State. i has rcrhnl', not been man.
acts of violence or intimidation II has, however
by fraudulent practices IN connection with the bal
lots with the regulations ~ 10 the plnCcs aud man
ncr of voting and With counting, returning, and
canvnssing the votes cast, been successful In de
lenting the exercise of the right prcScrvatlvc Of all
rights the right of suffrage, which the Constitution
expressly conlerT upon our enfanchlsed citizens.
Il Is the desire ofthe good people of the whole
country that scctionnlism ny fnctor in our politics
the country should be united in solid opposition to
any other section The disposition TO refuse
prompt and hearty Obedience to the equal rights
amendments to the Constitution, is AZ that nov.
sectional lines in our political contests. As long as
either of these amendments Is nagmntly violated
or disreg0rded. lis safe to assume that the people
who placed them in the Constitution, as embo1y-
ing the Legitimate results Of the war for the Union.
viii continue to act together, and to Insist that
they shall be obcyed. The paramount question
still Is, as to the enjoyment of the right by every
tions to freely cast his @ vote IAN and 10 have Il honest
ly counted, With this question rightly settled the
past, bygones will indeed be bygones and political
and party issues with respect 10 economy and eifci
cncy of administration Internal Improvements, the
tariff, domestic taxation, education, finance, aud
other important subjects Will then receive their
,,ill share Of attention but resistance 70 and nul-
gethcr In resolute purpose for their support all who
maintain the authority ofthe Government and the
perpetuity of the Union, and who adequately up
precatc the value of the victory achieved. This
determination proceeds from no hostile sentiment
or TO any of their Interests. The invioabilty Of
the amendments rests upon the fundamental prin-
preston ofthc win ofthc people of the United states
The sentiment that the consti titutional rights of all
our citizens must DE maintained does not grow
weaker. II VIII continue TO control the Govern
inent of the country. Happily, the history of the
late election shows that In many parts of the coun-
has heretofore prevailed II Is diminishing, and IL
likely toCease altogether If firm and weconsidered
action is taken by Congress. | trust the House of
Representatives and the Senate which have the
right judge ofthe elections, returns, and qualica
tions their own members, will see to II that every
case of violation of the letter spirit of the fifteenth
amendment Is thoroughly investigated, and that no
benefit from such violation shall accrue to any per-
son or party II viii be the duty of the Executive
with sufficient appropriations for the purpose, TO
prosecute unsp9ringly all who have been engaged
n depnving citizens of the rights guaranteed to
i, Is not, however, to be forgotten that the best
Senship Is to be found in that capacity for self
protection which can belong only to people whose
right to universal suffrage is supported by universal
education. The means at the command of the local
and state authorities arc, In many cases wholly in
adequate to furnish free instruction to all who need
u. This Is especially true where, before emancpa-
tion the education of the people was neglected or
prevented in the interest Of slavery. Firmly con-
servesthe earnest attention people ofthe whole
country, with aview to wise and comprehensive ac.
tion BY the Government of the United States, re-
Spectfully recommend that Congress by suitable leg
islation and with proper safeguards. supplement the
local educational funds in the several States where
the grave duties and responsibilities of citizenship
have been devolved on uneducated people, by devot-
Ing to the purpose grants ofhe public lands and If
,he United states Whatever Goycrnment can iairiy
90 to promote free popular education ought 10 be
virtue, and social order prevail, and civil and re.
ligious liberty are secure.
In my former annual messages, have asked the
attention of Congress to the urgent necessity of re-
formation Of the civlserycc system of the Gov
crnment. Ny views concerning the dangers ofpat.
considerations, have been strengthened by my oh.
seryGtion and experience in the Executive office,
ana believe these dangers threaten the stability
of the Government Abuses 80 serious in their ma.
turc cannot be permanently tolerated. They tend
administrative service a the growth of the coun-
try in population increases the number of officers
and placcmcn employed.
a. Nn tlr Tho nd nf
fixed rules for the reg niiOn of appointments, pro-
motions, and removals, establishing II uniform
stance, the attainment of the best qualifications for
the position IN question, such method alone is
consistent with the eQunl rights of all citizens and
the most economical and efficient administration of
the public business.
Competitive examinations, in aid orimparlal ap-
polntments and promotions, have been conducted
for some years pqSt In several of the Executive De-
partment and hy my direction This system has
been adopted In the ciIstunhOllSrs nud pOst-oniccS
Of the larger cities of the country III The city of
New York over two thousand positions IN the civil
service have been subject In their appointments
and tenure of place. Ia the operation Of published
rules for this purpose during the past two years.
The results of these practical trials have been very
satisfactory, and have confirmed my opinion iii
invorof this system of selection. \l are subjected to
the same tests and the result is free from prejudice
by personal favor or partisan influence. II secures
for the the position applied for the hest quatca-
iions attainablc among the competing applicants.
II Is an ciircual protection from the pressure ofim
portunity which, under any other course pursued,
largely cxacts the time and attention Disappointing
other Official duties, preventing the abuse of the
service for the urthrrnncc of private or party
purposes, and leaving the employee of the Govern.
mcnt freed from the obligations imposed by pat.
ronagc, TO depend solely uOn merit for retention
and advancement and with this constant incentive
toexertion and Improvement.
These invaluable results have been attained in
high degree In the Offices where the rules for
appointment by competitive examination have
been applied.
A method which has 50 approved itself by cx.
perimental tests at points where such tests may be
tended 10 all subordinate positions under the
Government. believe that strong ana growing
public sentiment demands immediate measures for
securing ana enforcing the highest possible ethci-
cncy In the civil service, and its protection from
recognized abuses, and that the experience referred
10 has demonstrated the feasibility of such meas
nreS.
The examinations in the custom houses and
post-oillccs have been held under many cmbarraSs-
menh and without provision for compensation for
the extra labor performed by the officers who have
conducted them, ana whose coInlnendable interest
duced this devotion of time and labor without Pc
cuniary reward A continuance of these lnbOrs
grauitously ought not to be expected, and without
an appropriation by Congress for rconpensaton, tits
not practicable 10 extend the system of exaniina.
lions generally throughout the civil service. II II
also highly important that all such examinations
under general supervision. section 1853 of the Re
yised Statutes authorizes the President to prescribe
the regulations for admission to the civil service of
the United States, and for this purpose 10 employ
suitable persons Ia conduct the requisite inquiries
with reference to" the fitness of each candidate, In
respect To ugc, health, character knowledge, aud
ability, for the branch of service into which he
seeks 10 entcr; but the law is practically nopera-
tive for want of the requisite appropriation.
therefore recommend an appropriation OF s25,'
600 per annum TO meet the expenses OF u commits
sion, TO be appointed by the President In accord.
ancc with the terms of this section, whose duty IL
devise n pilnient