Morning appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1877-1906, 1880-08-01
GENERAL HANCOCK'S LETTER OF
ACCEPTANCE.

GENERAL HANCOCK'S LETTER OF
ACCEPTANCE. |
NEW YORK, July 80
The following is General Hancock letter
of acceptance
GsvERNoR's ISLAND, New YORK CRY, I
July 20, 1880.
GENTLEMEN ! have the honor to acknowl-
edge the receipt Of your letter Of July 18th,
1880, apprising me formally OF my nomination
to tho office Of President Of the United States
by the National Democratic Convention lately
assembled in Cincinnati. l accept the noml-
nation with grateful appreciation Of the con-
fidence repssed in me. The principles enun-
ciated by the Convention are those L have
cherished in the past, and shall endeavor to
maintain in the future. The Thirteenth,
Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments to the
Constitution of United States, embodylng the
results Of the war for the Union, are lnvloia-
bic. If called to the Presidency, l should
deem it my duty to resist, with all 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 it to the legislative,
executive and judicial departments define
and limit the authority of the General Gov
eminent. The powers not delegated to the
United States by the Constitution, nor pre-
hibited 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 trenchlng upon the law
| full Jurisdiction of the other, constitute the
Union. This Union, comprising general gov
eminent with general powers, and State gov.
ernments with State powers for purposes local
40 the States, is polity, the foundations OF
which were laiG in the profoundest wisdom;
and it is the Union our fathers made, and
which has been SO respected abroad and SO
benefcent at home. Tried by blood and hre,
it stands to-day model form of free popular
government, a political system which, rightly
administered, has been and will continue to
be the admiration of the world. May We not
saw. nearly in the words of Washington, that
".he unity of government, which constitutes
us one people, is justly dear to usl 1t Is
| the main ri lar in the edihce of our real lnde-
pendence the support of our peace, safety
and prosperity, and of that liberty which we
80 highly prize and intend, at every hazard,
to preserve" But no form of government,
however carefully devised; no principles, how
ever sound, will protect the rights OF the PEG,
pie unless the administration IS faithful AND
efficient II is a vital principle in our system
that neither fraud nor force must be allowed
to .ubvert the rights Of the people. When
fraud, violence or Incompetence controls, the
nobest constitutions and the wlsest laws are
useless The bayonet is not a mt instrument
for collecting the votes tor free hen Ii is
only by a full vote, free ballot and talr
count that the people can rule in fact, as
h.., If nnr [.
Take this foundation away and the whole
structure falls
Public office is trust; not a bounty be-
slowed upon the holder. No Incompetent or
dishonest persons should ever be entrustes
with it; or, if appointed they should promptly
) be elected Our material interests, varied and
progressive, demand our constant and united
efforts. A sednlous and scrupulous care Of
the public credit, together with wise and
economical management of our governmental
expenditures should be maintained, IN order
that labor may be lightly burdened and that
all persons may be protected In their rights t.
the fruits of their own industry. The time
has come to enjsy the substantial benefits OF
reconciliation 40 one people. We have com
mon interests Let US encourage harmony
and generous rivalry among our own indus
tries, which will revive our languishing mer-
chant marine, extend our commerce with for
egn nations, assist our merchants, manutaet
urers and producers to develop our vast natu
raj resources and increase the happiness and
prosperity of our people.
If elected, shall, with Divine favor, labor
with what ability l possess to discharge my
duties with fidelity, according to my coLv1c
tions, and shall take care to protect and do
fend the Union, and to see that the laws be
faithfully and equally executed ia all parts Of
the country alike. will assume the respon-
sibiity fully sensible of the fact, that to admin
lister rightly the functions of the Government
Is to discharge the most sacred duty that car
devolve upon an American citizen. l am very
respectfully yours,
w. S. HANCOCK.
To Hon. john w. Stevenson, President Of
the Conventions; Hon. John P. Stockton
Chairman, and others of the Committee o.
the National Democratic Convention.