The Columbus journal., 1880-09-15

following letter Of acceptance OF the
nomination rendered him by the re-
publican national convention TO Sem
stor Hosr, Of Massachusetts:
MENTOR, O., July 10, 1880.
Dear Str: Gu the evening OF the
eth of June last, l had the honor to
receive from you in the presence Of
the committee, Of which you were
chairman, the official announcement
that the republican national conveD-
ton al Chicago had that day nomi-
mated me as their candidate for
president of the United States. L
accept the nomination with grsti-
tude for the confidence IL implies
aud with q deep sense of the respon-
sibiIities il 1 imposes. L cordially en-
dorse the principles set forth In the
platform adopted by the convention.
or nearly all of the subjects on
which il treats my opinions are on
record among the published pro-
ceedings of congress. L will ven
ture, however, to make special men,
ton of some of the principal topics
which are likely to become subjects
of discussion. Without recurring
TO the controversy which has been
settled during the last 20 years, and
with no purpose or wish to revive
the passions of the late war, IL should
be said that while the republicans
fully recognize and will strennously
defend all the rights reserved TO the
states, they reject the pernicious
doctrine of state supremacy which
80 long crippled the functions of the
national government and 1t one
time brought the union very near
to destruction. They insist that the
United States is q nation, with am
pie powers of self-preservstion ; that
its constitution and the laws, made
in pursuance thereof, are the su-
preme law of the land that the
right of the nation TO determine the
method by which its own Legislature
shall be created cannot be surren-
dered without abdicating "a of the
Fundamental powers of government;
that the national laws relating TO the
election OF representatives in con-
gress shall neither be violated or
evaded that every elector should
be permitted freely and without in
timidation to cast his lawful vote at
such an election aud have il honest
ly counted, so that the potency of
his vote shall not be destroyed by
the fraudulent vote of any other
person. The best thoughts and en-
ergies of our people should be d.
rected to those great questions OF
national w~ell-being In which all
have q common interest. Such ell
forts will soonest restore TO perfect
peace those who were lately la arms
against each other, for justice and
good will are U last possessions.
But il Is certain that the wounds of
the war cannot be completely healed
and the spirit of brotherhood cannot
fully pervade the whole country
until every citizen, rich or poor,
white or black, is secure in the free
and equal enjoyment OF every civil
aud political right guaranteed by
the constitution aud the laws.
Wherever the enjoyment of these
rights Is not assured discomfort will
prevail, immigration will cease aud
the soil and industrial forces will
continue to be disturbed by the MI
grafton OF lsborers and the couss-
quent elimination of prosperity.
The national government should
exercise all lite constitutional aU-
thOrity TO put "a these evils, for all
the people and ell the ststes are
members OF one body, and no nan
csn suffer without injury TO all.
The most serious evils which now
sfiict the south arise from the fact
that there 10 not such freedom and
federation of political opinion and
sction. 60 that the minority party
8 exercise effective and whole
some restraint OF the party in pow
er. Without such r~estrsint party
rule becomes t~yrrsnicsl and corrupt.
The prosperity which is made pos
sible in the south by its great sd-
vantages Of soil and climate will
eve be realized until every voter
ear freely and safely support any
party he pleases. Next in import
snce TO freedom and Justice 10 the
popular election, without which
neither justice nor freedom can be
permanently maintained, unless Its
interests are Entrusted TO the states
and the voluntary action of the
people. Whatever help the nation
al justly afford should be gener-
ousiy given TO aid the states in sup
porting the common schools; but Ii
would he unjust to our people and
dangerous to our institutions to
apply any portion of the resources
of the nation or the states for sup
port of sectional schools. The sep
sration of the church and the state
in everything relating to taxation
should be absolute. On the subject
of the national finances my views
have been so frequently and fully
expressed that little is needed in the
way Of additiorsl statement. The
public debt is now SO well secured,
and the rate of annual interest has
been reduced by refunding, that
rigid economy in expenditures and
the faithful application OF our sur
plus revenues TO the payment OF the
principal OF tho debt will gradually
and certainly free the people from
its burden and close with honor the
financial chapter Of the war. At the
same time the government can pro-
"a -.lf-o-- --.-l---
and discharge its sacred obligations
10 the soldiers of the Union and to
the widows and orphans Of those
who fell in Its defense. The re-
sumption Of specie payment, which
the republican party 80 courageous
Iy and successfully accomplished,
has removed from the field Of con-
troversy many questions that long
and seriously disturbed the credit of
sho rovarpmopf aud busipaxs ~ tba