Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1880-07-15
GARFIELD ACCEPTS.
An ESSAY Upon the Powers and
Functions of the Federal GOvern-

Functions of the Federal Govern-
mcnt.
General James A. Garfield has written
the following letter to Senator Hoar, of
Massachusetts, accepting the nomination
as q candidate for the Presidency rendered
him by the Chicago convention:
MENTOR, Ono, July 10, 1SS0.-Dear Sir:
On the evening of the sth of June last had
the honor to receive from you, in presence of
the committee of which you were chairman,
the official announcement that the Republican
National Convention, ut Chicago, had that
day nominated me for their candidate for
President of the United States. l accept the
nomination with gratitude for the confidence
it implies, and with IA deep sense of the re-
sponsibilities it imposes / cordially endorse
the principles set forth in the platform
adopted by the convention, on nearly all the
subjects Of which it treats
My opinions are on record among the pub
lished proceedings of Congress.
THE NATION AND ITS POWERS.
venture, however, to make special mem
ton of some of the principal topics which
are likely to become subjects of discussion,
without reviewing the controversies which
have been settled during the last 20 years,
and with no purpose or wish to revive the
passions of tile late war. 1t should bs said
will strenuonsy defend all the rights re-
tanned by the people and the rights reserved
to the States, they reject the pernlcious doc
trine OF state supremacy, which so long
crippled the functions of the National Govern
ment and at one time brought the Union
very near to destruction. They insist that
the United States is nation with ample
power of self-preseryation that its Consti-
tuition and laws made in pursuance thereof,
are the supreme law of the land that the
right of the nation to determine the method
by which its own Legislature shall be created,
cannot be surrendered without abdicating one
of the fundamental powers of the Govern
inent that the national law relating to the
election of Representatives i'll Congress shall
neither be violated or eyaded that every
elector shall be permitted, freely, and without
intimidation. to cast his lawful ballot at such
election, and have il honestly counted, and
that the potency of his vote shall not be de-
stroyed by the fraudulent vote of any other
person.
THE SOUTHERN QUESTION.
The best thoughts and energies of our
people should be directed to these great ques-
lions of national well-being, in which all have
common interest. Snch effort will soonest
restore perfect peace to those who were lately
in arms against each other, for Justice and
goodwill will outlast passion but it is GER
tain that the wounds cannot be completely
healed, and, the spirit of health cannot freely
| peryade the whole country until every citizen,
| rich OF poor white or black, is secure in the
| free and eloquent enjoyment of every civil
| and political right guaranteed by the Constl-
| tuition and the laws Whenever the enjoy
ment of this right is not assured, discomfort
| will prevail.
Immigration will cease and the social and
| industrial forces will continue to be disturbed
| by the migration of laborers and the conse-
quent diminution of prosperity. The National
| Government should exercise all its Constitu-
| tona authority to put an end to these evils
for all the people and all the states are mem-
bers Of one body, and no member can suffer
without injury to all. The most serious evils
| which now af1ict 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 iii
| favor
Without such restraint party rule becomes
tyrannical and corrupt The prosperity which
il made possible in the South by its great adj
vantagcs of soil and climate will never be real
lied until every voter can freely and safely
support any party be pleases Next i'll i'm
portance to freedom and justice il popular
education without which neither Justice MOI
freedom can be permanently maintained. IT.
interests are entrusted to the States and the
involuntary action of the people. Whatever
help the Nation can justly afford should b,
generously given to aid the States in sup
porting common schools but it would b,
unjust to our people and dangerous to on
institutions to apply any portion of the reye
nues of the Nation or of the States to thu
support of sectarinn schools The separation
of the Church and the State in everything re
lating to taxation should be absolute.
THE FINANCIAL QUESTION.
On the subject of National finances m,
views have been SO frequently and full
, expressed that little is needed in the way o
additional statement. The public debt is no,
so well secured, and the rate of annual inter
; est has been so reduced by reflnding tina
rigid economy in expenditures and the faith
, full application OF our surplus revenues to til
payment of the principal of the debt wi
gradually but certainly free the people iror
: its burdens and close with honor the iinancll
chapter of the war. At the same time TIL
l Government can provide for all its Ordinar
expenditures and discharge its sacred obligo
tions to the soldier of the Union, and to til
| widows and orphans of those who fell iii il
defense. The resumption Of specie payments
which the Republican party so courageousl
and successfully accomplished, has remove
5 from the field of controversy many question
I that long and seriously disturbed the cred
of the Government and the business of til
country. Our paper currency Is now 4
v only made it everywhere equal to coin, br
n has brought into Use our store of gold an
silver. The circulating medium is MOI
abundant than ever before, and we need onl
e to maintain the equality of all our dollars I
q insure to labor and capital a measure of valu
. from the use of which no one can suffer los
The great prosperity which the country
now enjoying should not he endangered !
o any violent changes OF doubtful tinanei
!, eXpermcnts. In reference to our custom
- laws, n policy should be pursued which wi
n bring revenues to the Treasury, and wi
n enable the labor and capital employed i'll OF
d great industries to compete fairly i'll our ow
markets with the labor and capital of foreig
u producers. We legislate for the people of Il
ID United States, not for the whole world, and
id is our glory that the American laborer il mo
=, intelligent and better paid than his foreie
competitor. Our country cannot be ind
CT pendent unless its people, with their abu
" damt natural resources. possess the requisi
skill ut any time to cl0thc, arm, and eql
themselves for war, and in time of peace
produce all the necessary implements
!. labor. 1t was the manifest intention of Il
founders of the Government to provide I
% the common defense, not by standing armi
alone, but by raising among the people
greater army of artisans, whose intelligon
ut and skill should powerfully contribute to t
le safety and glory of the nation.
lNlENNAL lMIhbN EMINlS.
,k Fortunately for the interests of CONNER
of there is no longer any formidable OPPOSITE
s. to appropriations for the Improvement of o
harb0rs and great nayigable rivers, provid
AZ that the expenditures for that purpose q
ut strictly limited to works of national mpo
re auce. The Mississippi river. with its grt
tributaries, isof such vital importance to
ma many millions OF people that the safety of
Ia navigation requires exceptional considerable
~ In order to secure to the nation the control
nm all its waters President Jefferson negotiat
the purchase Of Il vast territory, extendi
ie- from the Gulf of McNco to the Pacific Ocei
en- The wisdom OF Congress should be invoked
or devise some plan by which that great ri'
shall cease to be terror to those who DIV
nc upon its banks. and by which its shippi
10 may safely carry the industrial products
% %, 900 Of people Tho interests of ugric
IN turr. which is the basis of all otr mater
prosperity, and in which sevcn-twelfths of
Id population are engaged az well as the int
in ests Of manufactures and commerce, demaI
NO that the facilities for cheap transported
mi shall be increased by the use OF all our gr
- water courses.
..- CHINESE IMMIGRATION.
ear The material interests of this country
at traditions of its settlement and the sentim
- of our people have led the Government
,eu offer the widest hospitality to emgrants y
u seek Onr shores for new and happier hon
ats willing to share the burdens as well as
lr. benefits of our society, and intending
their posterity shall become an undistingui
Ted able part of our population. The rec
it'll movement OF the Si!inese 10 our facllle &C
emigration, either in its purposes or its res
10 t,,n Ia an tT1ttp futi -,