The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1880-06-25

n nlNh ~ q NfnlH'f VT inN 70 HiAif iN NNN wy NH
iion 70 zoe rn,.id,ucy. which you asd youf seo-
clais, ore eemml.ienel % ualg IN hshaii % ~
! I7i'7i6'IfIIT WY ui 900 INV 7t1i'T9
Having fas'ed n,y ciiiy years IN M aimosrherc
allied with traditions Of the vaf which accurci
our national Independence. and Of the slfurslcs
which made our continental system government
iof ihe people. by ihe rcorlc, , harmed 20 idolic
The Institutions of ny country, and was clucstcd
10 hrlesc q the duty Of liii1cn Of the Republic
20 take bis slr lotmcnt OF tho care and naahis IN
public anairs. ] miailei that duty to me hest Of
MY ability er erty years o., private eiuaen. A.
though during all my ir Giving ~ much thought
and effort 10 public anilr. o.. 10 an other oilstis
have mover acccpici onheiai scr,icc except Co. a
brief period, Cor special purpose. aud only when
the oscasion sccnci 10 r,qu'sr aisac that sacrace
Of private preferences 10 rutlic Interests Ny nG
has been substantially that Of private citisen.
u was. presume, the succsss Of enoris Ia which
~ a pii,ate citizen. had shared 10 overihrou q
corrupt combination then holline iouIniou In our
msirulniis, aud 60 purity the iuiisary, witch hal
hscomc H. tool that lnducci the pcuocrsis q the
state in issi 90 nominate nae FOE Corcruor. TIT.
wss done In spite Of the PROTESTS Of minaris that
the part ! had borne 10 those rcl,rma bad ercaica
antaconisms htal % me as candidate I cen con-
strained to Accept the uominaiion Is the most GER
iain mean. Of putting the power Of the Uulcrna-
iofis oaec on the eide Of rciorin and Of removing
the impression, wherever IL prevailed, that the
fiithiui discharso Of oucs duty a. q citircu o. hiai
10 his usciulness o. a public scrvant
The br,ating up Of the canal riur. the heiief
management OF our pablie wlrts. the large rcslng.
ton Of taxes aud other reforms accomplished
during my administration douhtlcss occssionci nay
nomination for the Presidency ny the pcniocraey
Of the Union, In the horc that similar proces-s
would h. applied to tho FEDERAL Goscramcni
From the responsibility Of such an undertaking.
appalling rs q SEEMED to me, ala not ieei at lib
erty to shrink Ia the canvass which ensusd the
Democratic party rpr,senisd reform IN the Sd
miui.iraiioa Of the Federal Oovcrnmcni and a
rc.oration Of our complex political system TO the
pure Ideas Gifts iounders. Upon ihcsc Issues The
pcople q the United states. by majority Of more
than quarter ola million. chose a majority Of the
electors % cast their votes ior the pcnocraic can
diiaics or President and Nicc-rrcsldcui
II lsmy right and privilese here 10 say that
was nominated and elected 70 the Presidency all
soluicly me nom any engagement IN rseiest 10
the exetcis Of d. powers or the disposal Of rs pa
ironago. Through ihe whole period Of my relation
10 the Presidency ala every thiug In my Ie~cf TO
elevate and nothing 90 lower moni standards in
the competition Of paiiies ny what nefiriors
ueans the basis Doc iise count was laid ia sever
al oftho states, nec.i not re,iie. Those are nos
matier Of history, about which shsievef disetsi-
~ Of opinion may have existed 10 either of the
great rarii,s q che country al the time Of their
consummaiiou. has since practically disarrcarsd.
REFUSED 10 rlrs,m from The Returning Boards OF
southern States the iootJacniary evidence. hT the
suppression Of which, and by ihe Substitution a
fraudulent aud forged rapcr, protest va made
iar the Preparation of false count.
The constitutional duty Of the two houses Of
Congress to count the olccsonl voics a. cast, and
10 give effect 70 the will q the people a. cxrfessed
By their suniae,~, was never falhiied. An klcc-
toral Commission, Zoe the existence Of which have
10 responsibility, vas iornci, aud TO q the t~o
house. of Congress Addicted their duty 20 make
the count Ny las caaciinr that the count Of the
commission should stand a. hnal, unless oscrfuici
by the concurrent action Of the iso hou-ss' IT,
false count vas not ovcuulei, owing 10 tho ooin-
plicity ofa Republican senate with the Eepuhii-
rau irsigriiy thv Commission. ,''Htrvii'-i uy
It's Republican majority Of eight 20 seven, tho
Elcctoral Commission counici out The men elst-
ted BY the pecrlc and counted IN the men uoi
elected by the people.
That sanser-ion Of the c'cciion created nev /
issue ior the decision q the Peorle Of the United
States transcenalius in iuporiansc an questions Of
u in,olse the Vital prineirls Of
self government through clecilons by the Isurle.
The isasacnsc growth Of the means Of corrupt in-
aucnoc over the balloi-ios which is ~ the dlsIo |
sal Of the party having Possession Of tho executive
had alreaiy heoome a great evil I
aud danger, tendins 10 make elections rre>Ionsiso
to public opinion Handspring the Io~er OF the rso-
pie to change their rulcrs, and enabling the men /
holding the machinery Of government to continue /
and perrc uaic tisir power
n was my opinion In 1876 that the opposition
attempting 10 change the administration needed 10
Include At least two-thirls oi the voters At the
opening Of the canvas, In order 10 retain niaiori-
~ At the elssiion. II, alter such Obstacles had
ccn overcome aud q mai iFiiy Of tbs psoplc had
voted 10 change the administration Of theii Gov
srnment. The men In ofhtc could sill procure a
false count banded upon frauds, periures and iof-
geriss, furnishing prcicxt Of documentary esi-
hence on which 10 hasc that ialse count, and ~
.uch transaction were not only successful, hut q,
fter the alotmeuis VI ~ hcnedis made 10 IT,
ontrivers, atettors and apolosisis by the chief
icneGciary q the transaction, q were conioIei by
he people. practical destruction OF elections by
he Ieople would have been accomplished.
The failure 10 install the candidates chosen BY
he people, aeoniingcncy consequent upon NO act
" omission Of mine, and beyond MY ooatrol, has
hus lel me for the last three years, and until nov,
When the Democratic party, by M delegates In
Sailonal Convention assembled, shall choose new
eaer, the involuntary, hut necessary, represenii-
i've Of this momsnious issue, as such denied the
Of pilvaie iie, without the powers
ouierred by puhlie station, subject TO uneeasing
llsehoods and oslnmnies from the pariisans Of an
administration lahohng In vain 10 justify iis ex-
sienco. have nevertheless siealiasily cndeay-
red 10 preserve TO the ncmocraiic party Of the
niied States the supreme issue before the people
pr their decision next NoVemicr- whether this
hall be- government by the sovereign people
hrough elections, or a government by discarded
rrvans holding over by iorcc and fraud, and !
ave withheld no sacrifice aud neglected no OPP
ortunity to uphold organize and consolidate
gainsi the enemies Of representative Institutions
be- great party which alone under God can effect
ally resist their oyeIthrOs,
Having nov borne aiihh,lly my fall share Of
he labor and eafc In the public service and wear
* the marks Of ita burdens de,ire nothing 30
Iuch as an honorable discharge; / wish 10 lay
Dwn The honor and tolls Of even quasi party lead
ship, and to sock The reposc OF private liie In
punching the denomination iof iholrssidoncy do
with no doubt Ia nay mind a. 10 the vote Of New
ork OF thc United statos, hat because be-
I'VE that II Is reuunciaiou Of Reelection 10 the
residenoY. 10 those who think my denomination
ID reelection indispensable 10 an eneciual Yind-
ii0n Of the right of the people 10 elect their rul-
s, violated a. my person. have accorded as long
reserve ofmy decision rs possiblei bat cannot
ercomo my rcpugnanco 10 enter into new en-
cement which Involves tour years Of oeaselels
n. The dignity Of the Presidential Once h.
owe a merely personal ambition bat a creates IA
e mo- illusions lis value h a. great power foe
% 10 the country. / said four yoars ago, In
oepting the nomination.
knowing as DO, therefore, from iioIh expe-
nee, hos great The dinCrencc b. between gliding
rough ana Official rouiine and working out re-
'm Of systems and policies, II d imposslllc ior
10 contemplate what needs n Dc done la the
dtfal administration Ulihout afy anxious srnsr
the difficulties Of the undertaking. n sum
lned BY The suffasos % Ay oounirymon 20 at
apt this work. shall endeafor With Ood's
~, 40 be- The efficient instrument OF thclr Will.
llrn IA uarE AT rauuvailnu ufnr ulanN Nasfa al