Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1880-06-29

forty years rs n private citizen. AL
though during all my life, giving at least
rs much thought and effort TO public af-
fairs as to all other objects, have never
accepted official service except for a
brief period for special purpose, and
only when the occasion seemed to re-
quire Of me that sacrifice of private
preferences to public Interests. Ny life
has been substantially that of private
citizen. 1t was, | presume, the success
of efforts in which, as private citizen,
had shared TO overthrow a corrupt
combination, then holding dominion in
our metropolis, and to purify the judicia-
ry, which had become its tool, that in
duced the democracy of the State in 49,
70 to nominate me for Governor. This
was done in spite of the protests of a
minority that the part had borne in
these reforms had created antagonisms
fatal to me rs candidate. | felt con-
strained to accept the nomination as the
most certain means of putting the pow
cr of the gubernatorial office on the side
of reform, and of removing the impress
sion wherever ii prevailed that the faith
ful discharge of ones duty as a citizen
is fatal to his usefulness as u public SER
want. The breaking up of the canal
ring, the better management of our pub
lie works, the large reduction of taxes
and other reforms accomplished during
my administration, doubtless 0ccasioned
my nomination for the presidency by
the democracy Of the Union in the hope
that similar process would be applied to
the federal government. From the re-
sponsibilitics OF such an undertaking.
appalling as II seemed TO me, did not
feel at liberty to shrink. In the canvass
which cnsued the democratic party rep
resented reform in the administration of
the federal government and restora-
ton Of our complex political system to
the pure ideas OF its founders. Upon
these issues the. people of the Uaited
States, by majority Of more than Il
quarter OF u million, choose majority
Of the electors 10 cast their votes for the
democratic candidates for President and
and Vice President. II is my right and
privilege here to say that | was nomi-
mated and elected to the presidency alb
solutely free from any engagement in
respect to the exercise Of its powers or
disposal of its patronage. Through the
whole period Of my relation 10 the pres
idency did everything in my power to
elevate and nothing TO lower moral stand
ards in the competition Of portics. BY
what nefarious means the basis for Il
false count was laid IN several Of the
States | need not rccitc. These are now
matters of history about which, wlIatcy-
er diversity Of opinion may have exist
ed In either Of the great parties Of the
country at the time Of their c0nsumma-
ton, has since practically disappeared,
refused to ransom from the returning
boards of Southern States the documen-
tary evidence, by the suppression Of
which and by the substitution of fraud
ulent and forged papers pretcxt was
made for the preparation Of false count.
The constitutional duty Of the two
houses of Congress TO count the electo-
raj vote as cast, and TO give effort to the
will Of the people rs expressed by their
sull'rages, was never fulfilled. An elec-
roral commission, for the existence OF
which ! have no responsibility, was
formed, aud to Il the two houses of Con-
gress abdicated their duty to make the
count by law cnaetlng that the count of
the commission should stand Ms final,
unless oyerrulcd 10y the concurrent ac-
ton Of the two houses. lis false count
was not overruled, owing to the compile
lty Of republican Senate with the re-
publican majority Of the commission,
controlled by It's republican majority OF
to Z. The electoral commission count
ed out the men elected by the people and
counted In the men not elected by the
people. That subvcrsion of the election
created new issue for the decision Of
the people Of the United States, trans.
csndlng In Importance all questions Of
administration. IL Involved the vital
principal Of self-governmcnt through
elections by tho people.
The immense growth Of the means Of
corrupt influences over the ballot-box
which is at the disposal Of the party hay.
Ing possession OF the executive admins
tratlon had already become n present
evil and great danger, tending to make
elections irresponsible to public opinion,
hampering the power Of the people to
change their rulers, and enabling tho
men holding the machinery Of govern
mcnt to continue and perpctuatc their
power.
II was my opinion In 1876 that the OPP
position attempting to change the ad-
mlnlstratIon needed to include ut least
two thirds Of the voters ut the opening
OF tho canvass In order to retain at the
election. If after such obstacles had
been overcome, aud majority Of the
people had voted to change the admins
tratlon Of their government, the men In
office could still procure u false count
founded upon frauds, perjury and ror.
gerics, furnishing n prcteXt Of docmon-
tary evidence ON which to base that false