Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1880-08-07
HANCOCK.
Letter of Acceptance OF the
Democratic Candidate.

/ A AUTHORIZATIONS OF The ClNClN-
MATT PLATFORM-REA FOR
A CHANGE OF ADMINISTRA-
TIoN-CIvIL SERVICE REFORM.
New YoRY, July 30.-The fol-
lowing is General Hancock's letter
of acceptance
GOVERNORS IsLAED,
New YORK CITY, July %, 80.
Genaeme,, have the honor to
acknowledge the receipt of your
letter of July 18th, 1880, apprising
me formally of my nomination to
the Office of president of the United
States by the National Democratic
Convention, lately assembled in
Cincinnati. / accept the nomina-
ton with grateful appreciation of
the confidence reposed In me.
The principles enunciated by
the convention are those have
cherished in the past, and shall
endeavor to maintain in the flu
ture. The Thirteeth, Fourteenth
and Fifteenth amendments to the
Constitution of the United States,
embodying the results of the war
| for the Union, are inviolable. If
called to the presidency, | should
deem it my duty to resist with all
of my power any attempt to i'm
pair or evade the full force and eff
feet of the Constitution, which, in
every article, section and amend
ment, is the supreme law of the
land. The Constitution forms the
basis of the government OF the
United States. The powers grant
ed by it to the legislative, execu-
tive and judicial departments de-
fine and limit the authority of the
general government powers not
delegated to the United States by
the Constitution, nor prohibited
by it to the states. belong to the
states, respectively, or to the peo-
pie. The general and state gov
ernments, each acting in its own
sphere, without touching upon the
lawful jurisdiction of the other,
constitute the Union. This Un-
ion, comprising a general govern
ment with general powers, and
state governments with state pow
ers for purposes local to the states,
is a polity, the foundations of
which were laid in the profound
est wisdom.
This is the Union our fathers
made, and which has been so re-
spected abroad and so beneficent
at home. Tried by blood and fire
it stands to-day a model form Of
free popular government; a polit-
ical system which, rightly admin
istered, has been, and will con-
tinue to be the admiration of the
world. May we not say nearly in
the words of Washington 1.-THE
unity of government which
constitute us one people is
Justly dear to US; it is the
main pillar in the edifice of our
real independence, the support Of
our peace, safety and prosperity,
and of that liberty we 80 highly
prize and intend at every hazard
to preserve" But no form Of gov
eminent, however carefully de-
vised, no principles, however
sound. will protect the rights of
the people unless administration
is faithful and efficient. 1t is a
vital principle in our system that
neither fraud nor force must be al
lowed to subvert the rights Of the
people. When fraud, violence or
| incompetence controls, the uoblest
constitutions and wisest laws are
useless. The bayonet is not fit
instrument for collecting the votes
of freemen. 1t is only by full
vote, free ballots and fair count
that the people can rule in feet. as
required by the theory of our gov
eminent. Take this foundation
away and the whole structure falls.
Public Office is q trust, not a boun-
ty, bestowed upon the holder; no
incompetent or dishonest persons
should ever be entrusted with 1t,
or, if appointed, they should be
promptly rejected.
The basis of Substantial, practi-
cal civil service reform must first
be established by the people In
filling the elective offices. If they
fix high standard of qualifica-
lions for Office, and thereby reject
the corrupt and incompetent, the
result will be decisive in govern
ing the action OF the servants
whom they entrust with the APP
pointing power,
The war for the Union was sue
cessfullv closed more than fifteen