Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1813-08-12
TUESDAY, July s.

eEoDaSt SUt1 Ss
The following written message wa,
received from the president of tic US.
by Mr. Graham.
To the Senate Of the United States.
! have received from the committee
appointed by the resolution efthc Senate
Of tho 18th day Of June, a copy Of iha.
resolution, yhich authnrises the commit
tee to confer with the President M the
subject Of the termination made b. him
OF minister plenipotentiary to Sweden.
Conceiving it TO be ny duty to decline
the proposed conference will! the con-
mittee, and it being uncertain whcn j,
may be convenient to explain to the
committee, and through them 10 the Sc.
nate; the grounds Of my so doing, ] think
proper to address the explanation direc,-
~ to the Senate. Without entering into
a general review of the relations IN which
the constitution has placed the several
departments OF the government 10 each
other, it will suffice to remark that the
Executive and Senate, IT, The Gases Of
appointments to Office and nftreatics, arc
to be considered independent and co. or.
dinate with each other. 1t they agree,
the appointments or treaties are made.
II the Senate wish Information prcviou.
10 their final decision, the .ractice, keep
ing in view the constitutional relation Of
the Senate and Executive has been, Ell
Their to request the Executive TO furnish
it, or refer the subject to a committee
of their body to commune ale, either
formally or informally. with the head Of
the proper department The appoint.
ment OF a committee Of the Senate to
confer Immediately with the executive
himself, appears to lose sight OF the CO.
ordinate relation between the Executive
and the Senate, which the constitution
has established, and which ought lbeIe.
fore to be maintained.
The relation between the Senate and
House of Representatives, In whom lc-
gisla'ive power is concurrentiy vested,
is sufficiently analogous to illustrate that
between the Executive and Senate, in
making appointments and treaties. The
two Houses are 10 like manner. indie
pendent of. and CO ordinate with each g.
Their; and the invariable Practice OF each
in appointing committees Of conference
and consultation is 10 commission tkem
to confer not with the en- ordinate body
Itself, but with committee OF that body.
And although both branches VI the legis-
lature may DC toe numerous to hold con.
vicinity conference with committees,
we're they to be appointed by either, to
confer with the entire body OF the other,
1t may be fairly presumed that il TIE
whole number 81 ei!her branch were not
too large for the purpose, the objcctIe9
to such conference, being against the
principle, as derogs.ory from the co-or-
dinete relations vi the two Hoases,would
retain ali il. force
| Id only, tina, am entirely persuad-
ed OF lhe purity O. TIE intentions Of the
Senate in The course they have pursued
on this occasion, and with which my view
Of the subject makes II my duty no! TO
accord: and that they will be cbee'fuly
furnished with ali the sui;atle Intosala.
ton in possession Of the executive, in a.
nv mode emed consist4n. with the
principle. of the constitution, ard the
settled practice under II.
JAMES MADISON.
Washington, July 6. 1873.