The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1880-07-22
GEN. gARFIEhD'S LETTER,
Accepting the Nomination for the
Presidency.

Accepting tne NOmlnatlOn iOT tne
Presidency:
MENTOR, o., July 12.-General Garfield has
forwarded to Senator Hear, of Massachusetts;
the following letter of acceptance of the nomi-
nation rendered him by the Republican Ma 1
Honai Convention.
MENTOR, O., July 10, 1880.
DEAR SIR-On the evening of the 9Th Of June
last, 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 Convention at Chi
cago hsd ttat day nctninatsd iie IS eheff cah-
didate for President of the United States.
I accept the nomination, with gratitude for
the confidence it implies, ard with deep sense I
of the responsibilities it imposes. I
I cordially endorse the principles set forth in |
the platform adopted by the convention, on
nearly all the subjects of which it treats Ny
opinions are on record among the published
proceedings OF Congress. /
4 venture. however; to make special riietition
OF SOME Of tie principal topics which are likely
10 bec5ms tie subjects Of disciission. Without
reviewing the controversies which have been
settled during the last twenty years, and with
no purpose or wish to revive the passions OF
the late war, it should be said that while Re-
publicans fully recognize, and will strerttotislS
defend all tie rights retained Dy tine people,
and all the rights reserved to the States, they
reject the pernicious doctrine of State su-
premacy which so long crippled the functions
Of the National Government, and, at one time,
brought the Union very near to destruction.
They insist that the United States is a Nation
with ample powers of self-preservahon, that It's
Constitution and the laws made in ptirsilance
thereof 'lare the srprerne lay Of the lahd;'
that the right of the Nation to deterIiine the
method by which its own Legislature shall be
Al oh n
eating ons Of the fundamental powers of
Goyerpment; that, the National laws relating to
the election of Representatives mt ln Gdngtess
shall neithet pc vinlhted tttjr hvadtd that svetty
elect5f siiian De permitted freely and without
intimidation to cast his lawful vote at such
election, and have it honestly counted, and
that the potency of his vote shall not be de-
stroyed by the fraudulent vote of any other
person. zt
The best thoughts and energies Of our people
should be directed to those great questions of
National Well being III which all hsve b coniiioh
interest; snch efforts viii soonest restore to
| perfect peace those who were lately III arms
| against each other, for justice and good will
will outlast passion.
| But it 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, il secure in the free and equal enjoy
ment of every civil and political right guaran-
teed by the Constitution and the laws. Wher-
/ ever the enjoyment of these rights Is not as
\ sufed, discotteht will prevail; immigration will
| cease, aid the Social and industrial forces will
continue to be disturbed by the migration Of
| laborers and the consequent diminutiOn of
prosperity The National Government should
| exercise all its Constitutional authority to pitt
| an end to these evils for all the people and ali
the States are members of one body, and no
member can suffer without injury to all.
The most serious evils which now aff1ict the
South arise from the fact that there is not such
freedom and liberation of political opinion and
action that the minority party can exercise an
effective and wholesome restraint upon the
| party in power,
| Without such restraint party rule becomes
| tyrannical and corrupt. The prosperity which
is made possible in the South, by its great
advantages of soil and climate, will never be
| realized until every voter can freely and safely
support any party he pleases. Ell
Next in importance to freedom and justice is
popular education, without which neither
Justice nor freedom can be permantly main
tanned. Its interests are intrusted to the States
and to the voluntary action Of the people.
Whatever help the nation can justly afford,
should be generously given to aid the States in
supporting common schools; but it would be
unjust to our people, and dangerous to our in.
stitutions, to apply any portion of the revenues
of the nation, OF, OF the States, to the support
of sectarian schools. The separation of the
church and the State in everything relating te
taxation should be absolute.
On the subject of national finances my viewi
have been SO frequently and fully expressed that
little Is needed IN the way of ali additional state
ment. The public debt is now SO well secured
and the rate of ANIMAL interest has been so re
duced by funding, that rigid ecosnmy in ex
penditures and the faithful application of oru
surplus revenues to the payment of the princi
pal Of the debt will gradually but certainly fire,
the people from its burdens, and close will
honor the financial chapter of the war. At thu
same time the government can provide for al
its ordinary expenditures, and discharge 1T
sacred obligations to the soldier of the UnioI
and to the widows and orphans of those wh'
fell in its defense.
The resumption of specie payments, whicl
the Republican party SO courageously and sue
cessfully accomplished, has removed from tn
field of controversy many questions that lon,
and seriously disturbed the credit of the Gov
ernment and the business Of the country. Gu
Z paper currency is now national as the flag
: and resumption has not only made it every
4 where equal to coin, but has brought into us
our store of gold and silver. The circulating
medium is more abundant than ever before
g and we need only to maintain the equality o
= all oUr dollars to insure to labor and capital
i measure of value from the use of which no on
o can suffer loss. The great prosperity which tn
a country is now enjoying should not be endan
: gered by any violent changes or doubtful hnar
u cial experiments.
y In reference to our customs laws. a polio
n should be pursued which will bring revenue
a the Treasury, and will enable the labor an
. capital employed in our great Industries
u compete fairly in own markets with th
,. labor and capital of foreign producers.
+ We legislate for the people OF the Unite
g States, not for the whole world, and it IS OF
is glory that the American laborer is more INTEL
q gent and better paid than his foreign compe
y itor. Cur country can not be Independent
r unless its people, with their abundant natur
h resources possess the requisite skill, at an
j. time, to clothe, arm and equip themselves ft
" war, and, in time of peace, to produce all Il
:. necessary implements for labor.
, 1t was the manifest intention of the founde
al Of the Government to provide for the commo
t, defense not by standing armies alone, but
le raising among the people greater army
20 artisans, whose intelligence and skill shou
= powerfully contribute to the safety and glol
- of the nation.
as Fortunately for the interests of commerc
As there is no longer any formidable opposition
m appropriations for the improvement of o.
n harbors and great navigable rivers, provide
Is that the expenditures for that purpose a
40 strictly limited to works of national importanc
lc The Mississippi River, with its great trib
f. taries, is of such vital importance to SO mai
n millions of people that the safety of its navig
of ton requires exceptional consideration.
- order to secure to the nation the control of
u its waters, President Jefferson negotiated t
ne purchase Of vast territory, extending from t
Of Gulf Of Mexico to the Pacific Ocean. The W.
"a dom Of Congress should be invoked to dew
;r some plan Dy Wnlcn tnaJ great river bnaH cea
=, to be q terror to those who dwell upon
I'd banks, and by which its shipping may safe
Nv carry the industrial products Of twenty-five m
n lions Of people. The interests of agricultul
an which is the basis of all our material prosperi
ar and in which seven-twelfths of populati
~ are engaged, as well as the interests Of man
ne facturer and commerce, demand that t
lly facilities for cheap transportation shall be
ed creased by the use OF all our great water cours
as The material interests of this country, t
"a traditions of its settlement, and the sen
~ ments of our people have led the Governme
yer to offer the widest hospitality to emigrants "
ed seek our shores for new and happier HON
ed willing to share the burdens as well as the bel
fits Of our society, and intending that their p
terity shall become an undstinguishable part
our population. The recent movement Of
10, 40 ,Aalo. h.,kl