The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1880-10-05
H AN COCKS
LETTER Of ACCEPTANCE
He Voices the Sentiments OF
a Majority Of the People.
A LETTER FULL OF PATRIOTIC
UTTERANCES.
"GoyERNoR's ISLAND.

"GOyERNoR's ISLAND. l
"NEw YORK CRY, July 20, $780,
"GENTLEMEN: have the honor to
acknowledge the receipt of your letter
of July 13, 1880, apprising me formally
of my nomination to the office of Pres
ldent of the United States by the Ma.
tional Democratic Convention, lately as
sembled in Cincinnati. i accept the
nomination with grateful appreciation
of the confidence reposed in me.
"The principles enunciated by the
Convention are those l have cherished
in the past and shall endeavor to main
tain in the future.
"The Thirteenth, Fourteenth and Fif.
.leeDth Amendments to the Constitution
of the United States, embodying the re
suits of the War for the Union, are in.
violahle. II called to the Presidency,
should deem it my duty to resist with
all nv power any attempt to impair or
evade the full force aod effect of the
Constitution, which, in every article. sec.
tion, and amendment, is the supreme
law of the land. The Constitution forms
the. basis of the Government of the
United States. The powers granted by
il to the legislative, executive, and Judi
cial departments define and limit the au-
thority of the General Government
Powers not delegated to the United
States by the Constitution, nor prohibit
ed by it to the States, belong to the
States respectively, or to the people
The General and State Governments,
each acting in its own sphere without
trenching upon the lawful jurisdiction Of
the other, constitute the Union. This
Union, comprising General Govern
ment with general powers, and State
governments with State powers for pur-
poses local to the States, is a policy the
foundations of which were laid in the
profoundest wisdom.
.This is the Union our fathers made,
and which has been so respected abroad
and so bene6cent at hume. Tried by
blood and fire. it stands to-day model
form of free popular governments
political 81 stem 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 Washs
inglon: The 'nnity of government which.
constitutes 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 so highly prize and
intend at every hazard to preserye2
"But no form of government, how.
ever carefully devised, no principles,
however sound, will protect the rights
of the people unless it's administration
is faithful and efficient. 1t is 9 vital
principle in our system that neither fraud
nor force must be allowed to subvert the
tights of the people When fraud, vio-
lence, or incompetence controls, the no.
blest constitutions and wisest laws are
useless. The bayonet is not Z fit in.
strument for collecting the votes of free
men. 1t is only by full vote, free bal
lot, and fair count that the people can
rule in fact, as required by. the theory
Of our government. Take this founda-
tion away, and the whole structure falls
"Pablic Office is trust, not bounty
bestowed upon the holder; no incompe.
tent or dishonest persons should ever
he intrusted with it, or, If appointed,
they should be promptly elected. The
basis of substantial. practical civil-ser-
vice reform must first be established by
the people in filling the elective Offices !;
il they Ak high standard of qualiiea-
tions for Office, and stermy reject the
corrupt and incompetent, the result will
be decisive in governing the. action Of
the servants whom they intrust with ap-
pointing power.
"The war for the Union was success
fully closed more than fifteen years ago.
All classes of our people must share
alike in the blessings of the Union, and
are equally concerned in its perpetuity
and in the proper administration Of pull
lie affairs. We are in state CT pro
found peace. Henceforth let it he our
purpose to cultivate sentiments of friend
ship and not of animosity among our
fellow-citizens.
"Our material interests, varied and
progressive, demand our constant and
united efforts. A sedulous and scrupu.
lous care Of the public credit, together
with a wise aud economical management
Of our governmental expenditures, should
be maintained in order that labor may
be lightly burdened, ana that all per-
sons may be protected in their rights to
the fruits of their own industry. The
time has come 30 enjoy the substantial
benefits Of reconciliation. As one peo-
pie, we have common interests. Let US
encourage the harmony and generous
rivalry among our own industries which
will revive our languishing merchant
marine, extend our commerce with
foreign nations, assist our merchants,
manufacturers, and producers to develop
our natural resources, and increase the
prosperity and happiness OF our people.
"If elected. shall, with the Divine
favor, labor with what ability ! possess
to dicharge my duties with fidelity, &C
cording to my convictions, and shall
take care to protect and defend the
Union, and to see that the laws be faith.
fully and equally executed in all parts ol
the country alike. I will assume the
responsibility, fully sensible of the fac,
that to administer rightly the functions
Of government is to discharge the most
sacred duty thst can devolve upon ar
American citizen.
81 am, very respectfully, yours,
WINFIELD S. HANCOCK.
To the Hon. john w. STEVENSON, ,Presi
dent of the Convention; Hon. JONI
P. STOCKTON, Chairman, and others o
the Committee of the National Demo
cratic Convention