Year: 1876

| pledged to secure such an amendment
The resolution Of the Convention on
the subject Of the permanent pacification
Of the country, and the complete protec-
tion OF all its citizens in the free enjoy
ment Of all their constitutional rights. is
timely and of great importance. The
condition Of the Southern States attracts
the attention and commands the sympa-
thy Of the people Of the whole Union.
In their progressive recovery from the
effects of the war, their first necessity is
an intelligent and honest administration
of government, which will protect all
classes of citizens in all their political
and private rights What the South
most needs, is peace, and peace depends
upon the supremacy Of law. There can
be no enduring peace, IL the constitution.
al rights of any portion Of the people are
habitually disregarded. A division Of
political parties, resting merely upon dis
tinctions OF race, or upon sectional lines,
Is always unfortunate, and may be disas-
trous. The welfare Of the South, alike
with that OF every other part Of the eoun-
try, depends upon the attractions IL can
offer to labor, TO immigration, and to cap
ital. But laborers will not 20, and cap
ital will not be ventured, where the Con
stitution and the laws are set at defiance,
and distraction, apprehension and alarm
take the place Of peace-loving and law
abiding social life. All parts Of the Con-
stitution are sacred, and must be sacred
ly observed-the parts that are new no
less than the parts that are old. The
moral and material prosperity Of the
Southern States can be most effectually
advanced by hearty and generous rec
ognition Of the rights of all, by ala
recognition without reserve or exception


With such recognition fully accord
ed, it will be practicable to promote. by
the influence Of all legitimate agencies Of
the General Government. the efforts OF
the people Of those States, to obtain for
themselves, the blessings Of honest and
capable local government


IL elected, / shall consider il not only
my duty. but il will be my ardent desire
to labor for the attainment Of this end


Let me assure my countrymen Of the
Southern States that IL shall be charged
with the duty Of organizing an Admins
tration, IL will be one which will regard
and cherish their true interests-the in
terests of the white, and Of the colored
people both, and equally; and which
will put forth its best efforts in behalf Of
a civil policy, which will wipe out forever
the distinction between North and South
in our common country.


With civil service organized upon
system which will secure purity, expert
ence. efficiency. and economy. q strict re-
gard for the public welfare. solely. in ap-
pointments. and the speedy. thorough
and unsparing prosecution aud punish
ment Of all public officers who betray OF.
fetal trusts; with a sound currency; with
education unsectarian and lJee 10 ALL
with simplicity and frugality in public
and private affairs; and with a fraternal
spirit OF harmony pervading the people
OF all sections and classes. we may rea-
sonably hope that the second century Of
our existence as Nation will, by the
blessing OF God. be pre-eminent as ian
era of good feeling and a period Of
prosperity and happiness.


Very Respectfully,


Your fellow citizen,


RIB HAYES.