The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1880-07-14
GARFIELD ACCEPTS
The Republican Nomination for Presi.
dent Of the United States
In a Letter Which is Poor in Construction,
and Mighty Thin Reading.
Garfield. Letter of Acceptance.

GarfeId's Letter of Acceptance.
MESToR o., July l2.-General GARFIELD has
the following letter Of acceptance OF the nomi-
nation rendered him by the Republican Ma
tional Convention:
MENTOR, o., July 10, 1850.
DEAR SIR-On the evening OF the Sth of June
last had the honor 10 receive from you. In
the presence of the Committee of which you
were Chairman. the official announcement
that the Republican National Convention at
Chicago had that day nominated me as their
candidate for President of the United states.
] accept the nomination with gratitude for
the confidence Il implies, and with Ceep
sense of the responsibilities IL imposes
set forth in the piattorm adopted by the Con.
ventiOn on nearly all the subjects OF Whlcn IL
treats My opinions are on record among the
however. to make special mention of some of
the principal topics which are likely to be-
come subjects OF discussion, without review
ing the controversies which have been settled
during the last twenty years, and with no pur-
pose or wish 70 revive the passions OF me lete
war. IL should be said that while the Hepuo-
licans fully recognize and will strenuouSly de-
fend all the rights retained by the people, and
all the rights reserved to the States, they re-
iect the pernicious doctrine OF state su-
premaey which 50 long crippled the n Inne.
tions OF tie NaIona ;1nSs 10 Govern IN
Union very near TO destruction.
They Insist thar the United STATES is Nation
ton, with amp.e powers of self preservation;
that its Constitution and the laws made IN
pursuance thereof ''are the supreme law OF the
land" that the right OF the Nation I oeteI-
mine the method by which its own Ltglsla;
ture shall be created can not be surrendered
without abdicating one of the fundamental
powers of the Government; that the Natlonal
laws relating to the election of Representatives
in Congress shall neither be violated nor
evaded /; that every electOr shall be permitted
freely ana without intimidation TO cast his
lawful vote at such elect on, and have II hon.
estly counted, and that the potency of his vote
shall not be destroyed by the fraudulent vote
az and HNs eneTgiea Gh q s our people should be
6fre'tSa OF NatOns1 WeH seHss being in TSGR whieR
ali have a common interest; such efforts will
soonest restore 10 perfect peace those who
were lately in arms against each other, for
justice ana good will Outlast passion. But 1t
is certain that the wounds OF the war can not
be completely healed, and the spirit OF oroth-
erhocd can not fully pervade the whole coun-
try. until every citizen, rich and poor, " hlte
or black is secure in the free and equal enjoy
ment of every civil and political right guaran-
teed by the Constitution ana the laws.
Wherever the enjoyment of these rights Is
ton will case, aud the social and Industrial
forces will continue to be disturbed By the
migration OF labor and the consequent dimi-
mutton Of pros perity. The National Govern
ment should exercise all It's Constltutlonsl
authority to pat the an Deenfe enG 10 and tnGse s
the states are members of one body,
and 10 member can suffer without in Jury
to all. The IN, s serious evils which now sfnlct
the South arise frOn the fact that there Is not
such freedom and liberation OF political opin-
ion and action, that the minority party can
upon the party in power; without such
straint party rule becomes tyrannical and Coz
rupt The prosperity which is made pos
sible in the South by its great advantages of
soil and clima.ei will never be realized until
every voter can freely and safely support any
party he pleases.
Next in importance to freedom and justice is
popular education, without which, neither
Justice nor freedom can be permanently main
tanned. Its interests are intrusted TO the states
and 10 the voluntary action OF the people;
Whatever help The nation can justly afford
should be generously given to and the states IN
supporting common schools, but 1t would ne
unjust to our people and dangerous to our IN
stiIu ions, to apply any portion OF the reye-
nues of the Nation, of the states, 10 the sup
port of sectarian schools. The separation OF
ing to taxation should be absolute.
on The subject of National finances, my
views have been so frequently and fully eX-
pressed. that little is needed in the way of an
additional statement The public debt is row
well secured and the rate OF annual inter
est mas been so reduced oy reiupdlng,
that rigid economy in expenditures, and the
faithful application of our surplus revenues
viii gradually but certainly free the people
from its burdens and close with nonor tne
time the Government can provide for all its
ordinary expenditures and d1scharge us sacred
obligations TO the soldiers OF the Union, ana 70
the widows and orphans of those who fell In
its defense. The resumption OF specie pay
ments. which the Republican party so cour-
ageously and successfully accomplished, has
removed from the field of controversy many
questions that lorg and seriously disturbed
the credit OF the Government and the business
of the country. Our paper currency is now
as National as the nag, and resumption has
not only made it every where equal TO coin,
silver. The circulating medium is now
more abundant than ever Defore, ana
we need only TO maintain the qualty OF
all our dollars TO insure to labor and capital
measure of value from the use of which no
can suffer loss. The great prosperity
which the country is now enjoying should
not be endangered by any violent changes or
doubtful financial experiments. In reference
to our custom laws. a policy snould De pur-
sued which will bring revenue to the Treasury,
and Will enable the labor and capital en-
Pleyed In our great ib the 70 sbor snd
capital of foreign production. we legls ate
for the people of the United states. not for
the whole world, ana IL is our glory that the
American laborer Is more intelligent and
better paid than his foreign competitor. Our
country can not be independent unless its
people, with their abundant natural re.
sources, possess the requisite skill
at any time 10 ciothe. arm and equip them
selves for war, and in time of peace 10 pro-
duce All the necessary implements of labor.
II was the manifest intention of the founders
mon defense not by standing armies alone,
but by raising among the people greate,r, AYE,
army Of artisans; whose intsliigence n and skill
glory of the Nation. Fortunately for the in
ierests of commerce, there Is no longer any
mproyements of our haIb6rs and great
navigable rivers, provided that the exPenol-
lures for that purpose are Strictly n nml.ea 20
=
sippi River, with its great tributaries, Is OF
such vital importance TO so many mlllions OF
people, that the safety OF its navigation re-
quires exceptional consideration. In order M E to
secure to the Nation the control Of all its wa
tiers, President Jefferson negotiated
the purchase Of vast ,s terrific,
nv extending from the Gull OIL
Mexico TO the Pacific Ocean. The wisdom OF
Congress should be invoked to devise some
plan by which that great river snail cease 10
be a terror 10 those who dwell upon its banks,
and by which its shipping may safely carry
the industrial prod ucts OF 2o,OOO,COO people
The interests of agriculture, which Is the
basis of ali our material prosperity, and In
which seven-twelfth of our population are en-
gagged, as well as the interests OF man nufacturers
and commerce, demand that the facilities for
cheap transportation shall be increased by the
use OF all our great water courses. The mate
rial interests OF this country, the traditions Of
its settlement and the sentiments OF our peo
pie have led the Government TO offer the
widest hospitality TO emigrants wfo seek oul
shores for new and happier homes, willing u
share the burdens as well as the bene1ts OF oul
society, and intending that their posterity
shall become an undistinguishable part OF oul
population. The recent movement OF tn