The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1881-10-05
The Presidents Letter Accepting the
Nomination as Vice.President.


The one conspicuous public utterance
of Mr.. Arthur life is his letter of ac-
ceptance of the ce-Presidential nomi-
nation. By this he must be judged
until he supplements it with further
expression of his views and outlining
of his policy.
NEW YORK, July Is, 1880.
DEAR SIR: 1 accept the position as
signed to me by the great party whose ac-
tiOn you announce. This acceptance inn
piles the approval of the principles declared
by the Convention, but recent usage per-
mits me to add some expression OF my own
views. The right and duty to secure hon.
esty and order in popular elections is mat
ter so vital that it must stand in 'front.' The
authority of the National Government to
preserve from fraud and force elections at
which its own officers are chosen is q chief
point ON which the two parties are plainly
and intensely opposed.
The acts OF Congress for ten years have in
| New York and elsewhere done much TO
curb the violence and wrong to which the
ballot and count have been again and again
\ subjected, sometimes despoiling great cities,
/ sometimes sitting the voice of whole State.
After stealing not only in Congress, but on
the Bench and in Legislatures numbers OF
mem bers chosen by the people, the Demo-
cratic party, since gaining possession OF the
| two houses of Congress, has made these
| laws the object of bitter, ceaseless assault,
and, despite all resistance, has hedged them
with restrictions cunningiy constructed to
battle and parslyze them. This aggressive
majority boldly attempted to extort from
| the Executive his approval of various enact
ments destructive of these Election laws by
| revolutionary threats that constitutional
| exercise of the veto power would be pun
| ished by Withholding appropriations neces-
sary to carry on the Government, and these
threats were actually carried out by refus-
ing needed appropriations and by forcing an
| extra session of Congress, lasting for months,
| and resulting in concessions to this usurp-
ing demand, which are likely in many States
to subject the majo rity to the lawless will OF
aminsrity. Ominous signs OF public dis
approval alone subdued this arrogant power
in sullen surrender, for the time being, of
part of its demands.
The Republican party has strongly ap-
proved the stern refusal OF its representa-
tives to suffer the overthrow Of statutes be-
lieved to be salutary and Just. 1t has al
ways insisted and now insists that the Gov
ernment of the United States of America is
empowered and in duty bound TO effectually
protect the elections denoted by the Con-
stitution as National. More than TINS, the
Republican party holds, as the cardinal point
IN its creed, that the Government should, by
every means known te the Constitution, pro-
tect all American citizens everywhere IN the
full enjoyment OF their civil ana polltlcal
rights. AS great part OF Its work OF re-
construction, the Republican party gave the
ballot to the emancipated slave as his right
and defense. A large increase in the num-
ber of members Of Congress and Of the Elect
oral College from the former slave
, holding States was the immediate result.
The history of recent years abounds In
, evidence that in many ways and in many
| places, especially where their number has
, been great enough to eudanger Democratic
control, the very men by whose elevation u
citizenship this increase OF representation
, was effected have been robbed or their
: voice and their votes. 1t is true that NJ
! State statute or Constitution in so man!
2 words denies or abridges the exercise oi
. their political rights, but the means EN-
/ ployed to bar their way are no less e1ectual
/ 1t is a startling thought that the increased
: power derived from the enfranchisement o
the race now denied its share IN governin:
r the country, welded by those who latel.
sought to overthrow the Government, is nov
the sole reliance to defeat the party whicl
| represented the sovereignty and Nationally
of the American people in the great crisis o
q our history. The Republicans cherish non
: | of the resentment which may have animatet
e them during the actual conflict OF arms
/ They long for a full and real reconciliatio
3 between the sections which were needlessl
( and lamentably at strife. Tney slneerel
r offer the hand Of good will, but they ask i
e return a pledge of good faith. They deepl
) feel that the party whose career is so Illus
q trious in great and patriotic achievement
will not fulfill its destiny until peace an
: prosperity are established in all the land
: nor until liberty of thought, conscience an
o action, and equality of opportunity shall nc
. be merely cold fofmalities OF statute, Du
!. living birthrights which the humble ma
o confidently claim and the powerful dare ne
II deny.
i the resolution referring to the public sery
e ice seems to me deserving of approya
i Surely no mar should be the incumbent {
q IAN office, the duties of which he Is for
= cause unfit to perform; who Is lacking