The Life, Public Services and Select Speeches of Rutherford B. Hayes

In Short

Published in 1876, this biographical narrative chronicles the life and political career of Rutherford B. Hayes, moving from his modest ancestry and legal training to his distinguished military leadership during the Civil War and his tenure as Governor of Ohio. The work serves as a campaign-era portrait, emphasizing the subject’s integrity, administrative discipline, and steadfast dedication to the Republican cause. It has persisted as a window into the political climate of the Reconstruction era, capturing the values and rhetoric of a time when the nation sought to define its moral and economic future.

The Story

The narrative begins with a look at the subject’s heritage, grounding his character in the legacy of Revolutionary War ancestors and the quiet, industrious atmosphere of nineteenth-century Ohio. His early life is marked by steady academic preparation, including studies at Harvard Law School, which lead to a successful career as a Cincinnati attorney. This phase of his life is defined by professional stability and a happy marriage to Lucy W. Webb, a partnership that remains a central pillar of his personal identity.

The narrative shifts abruptly as the Civil War erupts, pulling the lawyer into the field. He serves with notable grit, rising from the rank of major to brigadier-general and eventually brevet major-general. The writing highlights his courage under fire—notably during the Shenandoah Valley campaigns—where he sustains multiple wounds while proving himself a capable, self-effacing leader. His performance in battle is framed not merely as bravery, but as a moral commitment to the Union, setting the stage for his entry into the political arena.

Upon returning to civilian life, he is quickly drawn into national politics, winning election to Congress and later serving as Governor of Ohio. His tenure in these offices is characterized by an intense focus on fiscal responsibility, the codification of school laws, and the systematic reform of state charitable and penal institutions. He consistently positions himself against the "spoils system," arguing for a civil service based on merit and capability rather than partisan patronage.

The arc of the narrative concludes with his transition toward the 1876 national presidential campaign. The book presents him as a man of "cultured goodness," emphasizing his ability to rise above petty factionalism. Throughout the final chapters, the tone becomes increasingly elevated, framing his potential leadership as a necessary balm for a nation still grappling with the wounds of the Civil War. By portraying his life as a steady, upward trajectory from frontier roots to high national office, the account argues that he is a steady hand, prepared to lead the country into its second century with a focus on administrative purity, economic stability, and the hard-won preservation of the Union. The narrative ends on an optimistic note, viewing his candidacy as a reflection of the people’s desire for character and integrity in their leaders.

How It Unfolds

The foundations of character The narrative establishes the subject’s roots, highlighting a lineage of "Indian fighters" and Revolutionary soldiers that imbues him with a sense of inherited duty. His academic and legal training are presented as the essential toolkit for a life dedicated to order and the rule of law.

The crucible of war The story follows his rapid ascent through military ranks, emphasizing his physical resilience and his presence on the front lines for over one hundred days. This period serves as the primary proof of his loyalty and his willingness to sacrifice for the survival of the republic.

The shift to the statehouse His career as Governor of Ohio demonstrates his administrative philosophy, specifically his push for modern school systems and rigorous oversight of state institutions. These chapters detail his specific legislative victories and his persistent battle against governmental inefficiency.

The call to national duty The final beats focus on his role as a voice for civil service reform and national unity during the centennial year of the United States. The narrative portrays him as a reluctant yet capable candidate, pushed forward by the momentum of his own unimpeachable record.

The People

Rutherford B. Hayes stands at the center as a figure of "transparent purity" and "manly, moral worth." He is defined by his modesty—often downplaying his own heroism—and a deep-seated belief that public office is a duty to be performed with technical precision and ethical rigor.

Lucy W. Webb, his wife, is portrayed as his intellectual and social equal. Her lineage, like his, is tied to the Revolution, and her presence is described as a source of "cultured goodness" that would refine the atmosphere of the nation’s capital.

Edwin M. Stanton, the wartime Secretary of War, is presented as an exemplar of the "iron-nerved" patriot whom the subject deeply admires. Stanton serves as a moral benchmark, representing the kind of undaunted, duty-bound leadership that the subject strives to emulate.

The political opposition, particularly figures like George H. Pendleton and Clement Vallandigham, are depicted as obstacles to progress. They represent the "peace party" and the "old system" of patronage and sectionalism, acting as the necessary foil to the subject’s vision of a reconstructed, unified nation.

In Its Own Voice

Regarding his firm belief in the necessity of administrative honesty and the rejection of the spoils system:

"We ought to have a reform of the system of appointments to the civil service, thorough, radical, and complete."

Reflecting on the moral gravity of the Civil War and the necessity of maintaining the Union's hard-won victories:

"The house which was divided against itself, and which, therefore, according to Mr. Lincoln, could not stand as it was, is divided no longer; and we may now rationally hope that under Providence it is destined to stand--long to stand the home of freedom, and the refuge of the oppressed of every race and of every clime."

What It's Really About

The book is an argument for the "professionalization" of American democracy. It posits that the chaotic, factional politics of the mid-nineteenth century—marked by war, inflation, and patronage—could only be cured by individuals of high character and administrative expertise. Beneath the biographical details lies a broader question about the role of the state in the post-Civil War era: should the government be a source of spoils for the victors, or a neutral, efficient engine for public improvement? The book argues for the latter, suggesting that the only way to honor the "army of martyrs" who died in the war is to build a government that is as orderly and righteous as the cause they fought for.

Why Read It Today

For the reader interested in the machinery of nineteenth-century American politics, this book offers an authentic, if intentionally flattering, glimpse into how presidential candidates were packaged in the 1870s. It captures the high-flown rhetoric of the era, where political debates were often framed as battles for the soul of the republic. One will find the prose earnest and occasionally quite grand, reflecting a period when "manliness" and "patriotism" were the primary currencies of political discourse.

However, the modern reader should be prepared for the book's limitations. It is deeply partisan, written with the specific intent of securing an election, and consequently, it lacks the critical distance one expects from modern biography. The discussions of economic policy and state debt, while historically significant, are dense and can feel tedious to the non-specialist. Furthermore, the attitudes toward race and reconstruction are very much of their time; while the text celebrates the Fifteenth Amendment, it views the era through the lens of a specific Republican triumphalism. If you are looking for an objective, warts-and-all account, you will not find it here. But if you want to experience the cadence, values, and political anxieties of a century and a half ago, this book provides a vivid, firsthand encounter with a period that shaped modern America.