Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1880-07-20
GEN. GARFIELD.
His Letter Oi Acceptance,
To the Associated Press.

10 the hhtOClutVu ITehb.
MENTOR, o., July l2.-Gen. Garfield
has forwarded to Senator Hoar, of Mas.
sachusetts; the following letter of accep.
lance of the nomination rendered him by
the Republican National Conventions:
MENTOR, o., July 10.
DEAR SIR:
On the evening Of the 9Th Of June
last, / had the honor to receive from
you, in the presence of the committee OF
which you were chairman, the official
announcement that the Republican Ma
tional Convention ut Chicago had, that
day, nominated me as their candidate foi
President of the United States. accept
the nomination with gratitude for the
confidence it implies and with deep
sense of the responsibilities 1t imposes.
cordially endorse the principles set
forth in the platform adopted by the
convention. On nearly all the subjects
of which 1t treats, my opinions are on
record among the published proceedings
of Congress. venture, however, to
make special mention of some of the
principal topics which are likely to be-
come subjects of discussion, without
reviewing the controversies which have
been settled during the last twenty years
and with no purpose or wish to revive
the passions of the late war. 1t should
be said that while the republicans
fully recognize and will strenuously
defend all the rights retained by
people and all the rights reserved to
the States they reject the prenicious
doctrine of State supremacy, which so
long crippled the functions Of the Ma
tional Government and, ut one time,
brought the Union very near TO destruC.
ton They insist that the United States
Is nation with ample powers of self
preservation; that Its Constitution aud
the laws made in pursuance thereof "are
the supreme laws of the land;" that the
right of the nation to determine the
method by which its own Legislature
shall be created, cannot be surrendered
without abdicating one of the funda-
mental powers of government; that the
national laws relating to the election of
Representatives In Congress shall neith-
or be violated nor cyadcd; that every
clector shall be permitted, freely and
without intimidation, to cast his lawful
vote at such election, and have II hon
estly counted, and that the potency of
his vote shall not be destroyed by the
fraudulent vote of any other person.
The hest thoughts and energies of our
people should be directed to those great
questions of national wcll-bcing in
which all have common interest. Such
efforts will soonest restore TO perfect
peace those who were lately in arms
against each other, for justice and good
will will outlast passion; but II Is ccr-
taiu that the wounds of the war cannot
be completely healed, and the spirit Of
brotherhood cannot fully pcrvadc the
whole country until every citizen, rich
or poor, white or black, Is secured IN the
free and equal enjoyment of every civil
aud political right guaranteed by the
Constitution and the laws Wherever
the enjoyment OF these rights Is not as-
surcd discomfort will prevail, immigra-
ton will cease and the social and indus
trial forces will continue to be disturbed
by the migration of labor aud the conse-
quent dimunltlon Of prosperity. The
National Government should exercise
all It's constitutional authority to put an
end to these evils, for all the people and
all the States are members Of one body
and no member can suffer without iniu-
ry TO all.
The most serious evils which now af-
ilict the South arise from the fact that
thoro IL not such freedom and tolcration
at political opinion and action, that the
minority party can exercise nn effective
and wholesome restraint upon the party
IN power. Without such restraint, par
ty rule becomes tyranical and corrupt
The prosperity which IL made possible
In the South by its great advantages of
soil and climate will never be realized
until every voter can freely and safely
support any party he pleascs. Next In
importance TO freedom and justice Is
popular education, without which nclth-
rr Justice nor freedom can be permanent
" maintained Its interests are cntrust-
ed TO the States and to the voluntary ac-
ton Of the people. Whatever help the
nation can justly afford should be gencr-
onely given To aid the States In support
ing common schools but IL would be
unjust 10 our people and dangerous TO
our institutions to apply any portion of
the revenues Of the nation or of the
States to the support Of ecctarlan schools
The separation of the Church and the
state In anything relating to taxation
should be absolute.
On The subject Of national flnanclcs
my Views have been 10 frequently aud
fully expressed that little II needed In
the way Of additional statement. The
public debt Is now 80 well secured that
the rate Of annual interest has been 30
reduced by reflndlng that rigid ccono-
my In expenditure and the faithful ap-
pllcation Of our surplus revenues to the
payment Of the principal OF the debt
will gradually but certainly free the
people from It's burtlens aud close with
honor the financial chapter OF the war.
At the same time the government can
provide for nll la ordinary expenditures
and dechargc lts sacred obligations 10
the soldiers OF the Union and 10 the
widows aud orphans Of those who fell
In lie defense. The resumption of spcs
Gle payments, which the Republican
party 70 courngcously and successftlly
nfeDtnnllshet bnu tOmOVp1 from Tho