Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1880-08-05

|
| Principles Established by the War
| InviOIabIe-strict Obedience TO the
Constitution In Letter and Spirit
Firm Opposition TO Undue CentraIi-
zatiOn "A Free Ballot uninfluenced
| by Bayonets-The Harmony aud,
Therefore. the Prosperity of the
| North and the South.
| GOVERNORS ISLAND, NEW YORK CRY, July
| ~, lSS0- Gentlemen: | 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 nomination, with grateful appre-
ciation of the confidence reposed in me.
The principles enunciated by the Conven-
| ton are those | have cherished in the past,
and shall endeavor to maintain in the future.
| The Thirteenth, 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
il my duty to resist with all of my power any
| attempt to impair or evade the full force and
effect of the Constitution, which, in every
article section and amendments il the supreme
law of the land. The Constitution forms the
| basis OF the Government of the United
States. The powers granted by it to the
Legislative, executive and judicial departments
define and limit the authority of the general
| government powers not delegated to the
United States by the Constitution, nor pro-
hibited by it to the states, belong TO the
states respectively or to the people. The
| general and state governments, each rcting in
their own sphere, without trenching upon the
lawful jurisdiction of the other, constitute the
Union. This Union, comprising n general
government, with general powers and state
l nnVlfnmlltl kitl N F,p t.tIp, auu
local to the states, il policy, the foundations
of which were laid in the profoundest
| wisdom.
This is the Union which our fathers made,
and which has been 10 respected abroad, and
30 benifcent at home. Tried by blood and
| fire, it stands to-day model form of free.
popular government; q political system which,
| rightly administered, has been and will CON
tinue to be the admiration of the world. May
| we not say nearly in the words of Washing
| ton, the unity of government which consti-
tutes us one people, is justly dear to us it is
the main pillar i'll the ediilce of our real indie
pendence, the support of our peace, safety
and prosperity, and of that liberty we 10
| highly prize and intend at every hazard to
preserve. But no form of government, how
! ever carefully devised no principles, however
| sound, will protect the rights of the people
unless administration is faithful and efficient.
1t is vital principle in our system that
neither fraud nor force must be allowed to
subvert the rights of the epeople When fraud,
violence or incompetence controls, the noblest
constitutions end wisest laws are useless. The
| bayonet is not a fit instrument for collecting
| the votes of freedmen. 1t is only by 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 structure falls.
| Public office is n trust. not bounty
bestowed upon the holder no incompetent or
| dishonest persons should ever be entrusted
| with it, or il appointed, should be promptly
/ rejected. The basis of substantial, prac-
| tical Civil Service reform must first be estab-
lished by the people in filling the elective
| offices ; if they fix high standard of qualit-
cations for office, and sternly reject the cor
rupt and incompetent, the result will be deci-
| sive in governing the action of the servants
whom they entrnst with appointing power.
| The war of the Union was successfully
| closed more than Is years ago. All classes Of
! our people must share alike in the blessings
of the Union, and are equally concerned in
| its perpetuity ard in the proper administra-
| profound peace. Henceforth let it be pur-
| pose to cultivate sentiments of friendship, and
| not OF animosity, among our fellow-citizens.
Our material interests, varied and pro-
| gressive, demand our constant and united
efforts. A sedulous and scrupulous care of
| tle plDllc crtult, tObellcr Wltn W1bc anu
economical management of our Governmental
expenditures, should be maintained, in order
that the laborer may be lightly burdened and
| that all persons may be protected in their
| rights to the fruits of their own industry.
| The time has come to enjoy the substantial
| benefits of the reconciliation. As one people,
we have common interests. Let us encourage
| the harmony and generous rivalry among our
own industries which will revive our languish-
| ing merchant marine, extend our commerce
| with foreign nations, assist our merchants,
manufacturers and producers to.deyelop our
vast natural resources, and increase the
| prosperity and happiness of our people.
| If elected, l shall, with the Divine favor,
labor with what ability possess to discharge
my duties with fidelity, according TO my CON
viction, and shall take care to protect and
| defend the Union, and to see that the laws
are faithfully and equally executed in all
parts of the country alike. | will assume the
responsibility fully sensible of the fact that
to administer rightly the functions of Govern
ment is to discharge the most sacred duty
that can devolye upon an American citizen.
am, very respectfully, yours,
WINFIELD s. HANCOCK.
To the Hon. John W. Stevenson, President
of the Convention; Hon. John Stockton,
Chairman, and others, of the Committee Of
the National Democratic Convention.
MIR. ENdIIsHs LETTER.
INDIANAPOLIS, July 3O.-Hon. William II.
English transmitted the following letter oi
| acceptance OF the nomination of candidate
for Vice President to the Committee of Mott
iiCation to-day
To Hon. John w. Stevenson, President OF
the Convention Hon. John 7. Stockton,
Chairman, and other members of Committee
on Notification:
| INDIANAPOLIS, July 80, 1880 Gentlemen
the 9N 3 3ths & aPn4p 45ppy tS rspy to your ettS,
unanimously nominated for the Office of Vice
President of the United States by the late
Democratic National Convention which
assembled at Cincinnati. As foreshadowed
in the verbal remarks made by me at the time
of the delivery of your letter, have now t.
say that accept the high trust with n realiz
ing sense of its responsibility, and am pro
f0undly grateful for the honor conferred.
l accept the nomination upon the platform
of principles adopted by the Convention
which | cordially approve, and | accept il
quite as much because of my faith i'll the wis
dom and patriotism of the great Statesman
aud soldier nominated on the same ticket fol
President of the United States. His eminent
services to his country, his fidelity to til,
Constitution, the Union and the laws lii
clear perception of the correct principles OF
government as taught by Jefferson his scru
pulous care to keep the military in stric
| subordlnation to the civil authorities; hi
high regard for civil liberty, personal right
and the rights of property; his acknowledged
ability in civil as well as military affairs, ant
his pure and tlameless life, all point /,
him as a man worthy of the confidence of tn,
people.
Not only brave soldier, great commander
q wise statesman and pure patriot, but
prudent, pains-taking practical man of I'M
questioned honesty trusted often with import
ant public duties faithful to every trust, an,
in the full meridian of ripe and vigorous man
hood; he is, in my Judgment, eminently fttet
for the highest office on earth-the Presi
dency of the United States. Not only is h
) the right man for the place, but the time ha
D come when the best interests of the countr
require that the party which has monopolize'
, the Executive Department of the Genera
Government for the last twenty years shoul'
be retired. The continuance of that party il
} power four years longer would not be beneti
cial to the public, or in accordance with tn
, spirit of our republican institutions. Laws o
, entail have not been favored in our system o
government. The perpetuation of propert
or place i'll one family or set of men has neve
/ been encouraged in this country and til
great and good men who formed our Repul
lican Government and its traditions wisel
limited the tenure of Office and in man
ways showed their disapproval of long lease
of power. Twenty years of continuous powe
is long enough, and has already led to irregu
! larities and corruptions which are not hkel
to be properly exposed under the same part
that perpetuated them. Besides, it shou
not be forgotten that the four last years o
power held by that party were procured b
| 1iaprp6itgbla mpaug and held in defiance n