Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1880-08-07
GENERAL W. s. HANCOCK
His Declaration of
Principles.
HE ENUSCIATEs THE TRUE PRINCIPLES OF
FREE GOVERNMENT, FOUNDED IN
LAW AND THE CONSENT OF
THE PEOPLE.

OF acceptance:
GOVERNORS ISLAND, NEW YORK CITY
July %, 1880.
GENTLEMEN--I have the honor t.
acknowledge receipt of your letter o
July -, 1880, apprising me formally o
my nomination to the Office Of presiden
Of the United States by the Nationa
Democratic Convention, lately held IL
Cincinnati.
a accept the nomination with grateful
A appreciation of the confidence reposed IL
me. The principles enunciated by the
convention are those | have cherished
in the past, and shall endeav0r to main
tain in the future. The thirteenth
fourteenth and fifteenth amendments tC
the constitution of the United States
cmbodying the result Of the war for the
Union, are invi0lable. IF called to the
presidency, should deem it my duty to
resist with all of my power any attempt
to impair or eyade the full force and
EFFECT OF TIE 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.
Tho powers granted by it to the legisla-
tive and judicial departments, define
and limit the authority Of the general
government. Tho powers not delegated
to the United States by the constitution,
nor prohibited by it to the States, belong
to the States respectively, or to tho
people. Tho general and State govern
mcnts, eacl, acting in its own sphere,
without trenching on tho lawful jurislic-
ton of the other, constitute the Union
This Union, comprising the general
government, with general powers, and
State governments, with States powers,
for purposes local to States, is Il polity
tho foundation of which was laid i'll the
profoundcst wisdom. This is the Union
our fathers made, and which has been
so respected abroad and so bcncticent at
home. Tried by blood and fire, it stands
to day model form of FREQ popular
government; a popular system which,
rightly administered, has been, and will
continue to be, the
ADMIRATION OF TIE WORLD.
May we not say, nearly III the words
of Washington, that the unity of gov
eminent which constitutes rs one peO-
pie is Justly dear to MS. 1t is the main
pillar in the cdiiice of our real indcpen-
dence, the Support of our peace, safety
and prosperity, and Of that liberty we
80 highly prize and intend, at every
hazard, to preserve. But no form of
government, however carefully devised;
Ro principles, however sound, will pro-
tect the rights Of the people unless the
administration is faithful and efficient.
1t is vital principle i'll our SYSTEM that
neither fraud nor force must be allowed
to subvert the rights of the people.
When fraud, violence or incompetence
controls, the noblcst constitutions and
wisest laws are useless. The bay0nct is
not fit instrument for collecting the
votes of free men. 1t is only by full
vote, free ballot and fair count, that the
people can rule i'll fact as required by
the theory of our government Take this
foundation away and the whole structure
falls. Public Office
Is TRUST, NOT A BOUNTY
bestowed upou the holder
No incompetent or dishonest person
should ever be entrusted with it, or if
appointed they should be elected. The
bMis of substantial practical service re-
form must first be established by the
people in filling the executive offices.
If we fix high standard OF qualiica-
dions for office and sternly reject the
corrupt and incompetent, the result will
be decisive in governing the action of
the servants whom they entrust with
the appointing power. The war of the
Union was successfully closed more than
fifteen years ago. All classes of our
people must share alike the
BLESSINGS OF TIE UNION,
and are equally concerned i'll its per
petuity and in the proper administration
of public affairs We are in q state of
profound peace, Hencctorth let it be our
purpose to cultivate sentiments of
friendship and no aniinosity against o,tr
fclIow-citizcns Our material interests,
varied and progressive, demand oar
constant and united efforts. A scdulous
and scrupulous care of public credit, to-
,gcther with wise and economical man
sagement of our governmental cypendi-
lures, should be maintained in order
that labor NAV be Iiuhtiv burdcucd