Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1880-08-12
Hancock's Letter of Accep-

have the honor to acknowledg
the receipt of your letter of Ju
ly Is, 1880, apprising me for
mally of my nomination to tn
; office of President of the Uni
ted States by the National Dem
ocratic Convention, lately assem-
bled in Cincinnati. ] accept tn,
nomination with grateful appre
citation of the confidence reposeC
in me. The principles enuncia
ted by the convention are thost
| have cherished in the past anC
shall endeavor to maintain il
the future. The thirteenth, four.
teenth and fifteenth amendments
to the Constitution of the Uni.
ted States, embodying the result:
of the war for the Union, are
inviolable. If called to the
Presidency, l should deem il
my duty to resist with all my
power any attempt to impair OF
evade the full force and effect
of the Constitution, which, il
every article and amendment
is the supreme law of the land
The Constitution forms the ba-
sis of the Government of the
United States. The powers
granted by it to the legislative.
executive and judicial depart
ments define and limit the au-
thority of the General Govern
ment. Powers not delegated to
the United States by the Con-
stitution, nor prohibited by it to
the States, belong to the States
respectively or to the people.
The General and State Govern
Iments, each acting in its own
sphere, without trenching upon
the lawful jurisdiction of the
other, constitute the Union.
This Union, comprising a gener-
al government with general pow
ers, and State governments with
State powers for purposes local
to the States, is a polity, the
foundation of which was LARD in
the profoundest wisdom. This
is the Union our fathers made
and which has been so respect
ed abroad and benefcent at home.
Tried by flood and fire, it stands,
to-day, a model form of free and
popular government-a political
system, which, rightly admins
tered, has been and will continue
to be the admiration of the world.
May We not say, nearly in the
words of Washington, that the
unity of government which con-
stitutes us one people is justly
dear to us? 1t is the main pillar
in the edifice, of our real indie
pendence-the support of our
peace, safety and prosperity and
of that liberty we SO 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 the Admins
tration is faithful and efficient.
1t is a vital principle in our
system that neither fraud nor
force must be allowed to subvert
the rights of the people. When
fraud, violence or incompetency
controls, the noblest Constitu-
tion and thewisest laws are use
less. The bayonet is not a fit
instrument for collecting the
votes of freemen. 1t is only by
a full vote, free ballot and fair
count that the people can rule in
fact as required by the theory
of our Government. Take this
foundation away, and the whole
falls.
Public office is a trust, not a
bounty, bestowed upon the hol-
der. No incompetent or dis
honest person should ever be in
trusted with it, or if appointed
they should be promptly elected.
The basis of a substantial, prac-
tical Civil Service reform must
first be established by the peo-
pie in filling the elective offices.
If they fix a high standard of
qualifications for office and stern
ly reject the corrupt and incom-
petent, the result will be deci-
sive in governing the action of
the servants whom they intrust
with appointing power. The war
for the Union was successfully
closed more than fifteen years
ngo.
All classes of our people shall
share alike in the blessings of
the Union, and are equally con-
cerncd in its perpetuity and in
the proper administration ofpub-
ic affairs. We are in a state Of
profound peace. Henceforth let
It be our purpose to cultivate
Of friendship, and not
Of animosity, among our fellow
citizens. Our material interests,
varied and progressive, demand
Dur constant and united efforts.
A seduIous and scrupulous care
IF the public credit, together