Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1880-08-07
BUYS AND SELLS EXCHANGE
THE hErTERs OF ACCEPTANCE.
ny General winfield s. Hancock
and the Hon. william n.
English.

Ii 1
ny General Winfield s. Hancock
and the Hon. william n.
English.
GEN. WINFIELD SCOTT HANCOCK.
GOvERNoR's ISLAND, n. Y,
July 80, 1880.
To the Hon. John w. Stevenson, President
of the Convention Hon. John p. Stock
ton. Chairman, and others of the Commit
tee of the National Democratic Conyen-
tion:
GENTLEMAN: / have the honor
to'acknowledge the receipt of your
letter of July 13, 1880, apprising me
formally of my nomination to the
Office of President of the United
States by the National Democratic
Convention lately assembled in Gin
cinnati. / accept the nomination
with grateful appreciation of the
confidence reposed in me. The prin-
ciples enunciated by the Convention
are those / have cherished in the
past, and shall endeavor to main-
tain i'm the future.
The Thirteenth, Fourteenth and
Fifteenth Amendments to the Con-
stitution of the United States, en-
bOdying the results of the war for
the Union, are inviolable. If called
to the Presidency, should deem 1t
| 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 amendment, is
the supreme law of the land. The
Constitution forms the basis of the
Government of the United States.
The powers granted by 1t to the
Legislative, Executive and Judicial
Departments define and limit the
authority of the General Govern
ment. Powers not delegated to the
United States by the Constitution,
nor prohibited 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 UEion.
This Union, comprisiDga General
Government with general powers,
and State Governments with State
powers for the purposes local to the
States, is q pOlity, the foundation of
which were laid in the prOfoundest
wisdom. This is the Union our
fathers made, and which has been
so respected abroad and SO beneficent
at home. Tried by blood and fire,
| free, popular Government; a polit-
ical 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, the unity 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, safely 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 Administration is
faithful and efficient.
1t is a vital principle in our sys-
tenn that neither fraud nor force must
be allowed to subvert the rights |
of the people. When fraud, vio-
lence or incompetence controls, the |
noblest Constitution and Wisest laws |
are useless. The bayOnet is not |
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 Gov
ernment. Take this foundation
away, and the, whole structure
falls.
Public Office is trust, not boun-
ty, bestowed upon the holder. No
incompetent or dishonest persons |
should ever be intrusted with it, or
if appointed they should be prompt
ly elected. The basiseof Substan
tial, practical Civil Service reform
must first be established by the peO-
pie filling the elective offices. If |
they fix a high standard of qualifi-
cations for Office and sternly reject
the corrupt and incompetent, the
result will be decisive in governing
the action of the servants whom
they intrust with appointing power.
The war for the Union was success
fully closed more than fifteen years
ago.
All classes of our people shall
share alike in the blessings of the
Union, and are equally concerned /
in its perpetuity and in the proper
administration of public affairs.
We are in state of profound peace.
Henceforth let it be our purpose to
cultivate sentiments of friendship,
and not of animosity, among our
fellow citizens. Our material inter-
ests, varied and progressive, de-
mand our constant and united eff
forts. A sedulOus and scrupulous
care of the public credit, together
with a wise and economical man.
agement of our Governmental ex-
penditureS, should be maintained
in order that labor 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 reconcillia-
ton. AS one people we have COM
mon interests. Let us encourage
the harmony and generous rivalry
among our own industries which
will revive our languishing mer-
chant marine, extend our commerce
with foreign Nations, assist our
merchants, manufacturers and pro-
ducers to develop our vast natural
resources, and increase the pros
perity and happiness of our people.
If elected / shall, with the Divine
favor, labor with what ability
possess to discharge my duties
with fidelity, according to my con-
victions, and shall take care to pro-
tect and defend the Union, and to
see that the laws be faithfully and
equally executed in all parts of the
country alike. 1 will assume the
responsibility, fully sensible of the
fact that to administer rightly the
functions of the Government is to
discharge the most sacred duty that
can devolve upon an American
citizen. / am, very respectfully,
yours,
WINFIELD s. HANCOCK.
HON. WILLIAM II. ENGLISH.
TS~rSr nor m TNJn