Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1837-02-16
THE PRESIDENTS LETTER TO
THE COMMITTEE.
WAsH1NGroN Cry, JAN. 26, iss,

!" ARLINGTON CITY, JAN. 26, 1887.
SIR: received, on The evening the oath
instant, your letter covering a copy Of CERTAIN
resolutions proporiing TO have been adopted
10y committee of the House of Representa-
ives, OF which you are the chairman, and re-
quest that you will lay before that COMMITTEE
This my reply, which l hasten TO make.
IL appears, by the published proceedings OF
the Il OF Representatives., that the commit
ice OF which you are chairman was appointed
on your motion. The resolution offered by
you, and finally adopted by the House, rails
ed direct issue with that part Of nv anE ual
message in which held the follow ing Ian.
gaase: 'Before concluding this paper, I
think II due 10 the various Executive De
PaftHen's 10 bear testimony TO their pros.
porous condition, and to the ability end in
tegrity With Which they have been conducts
ea. III has been my aim TO enforce in all Of
Them vIgiant and faithful discharge Of the
public business and il is gratifying 10 me
10 believe that there is no just cause Of com.
paint, from any quarter, at the manner in
which they have fulfilled the object ofibeir
creation. Your resolution is in the fJ1-
loving words "ReSolred, That so much OF
the PRESIDENTS message as relates TO the
condition Of the various Executive Depart
hents, the ability and integrity with which
they have been conducted, the vigiant and
faithful discharge Of the public business in
al Oh Them, and the causes Of complaint,
from any quarter, at the manner in which
| they have fulfilled the objects of their crea-
'tlon, be referred 10 select committee. to
consist OF nine members, with puwe 10 send
.ior persons and papers, aud with inslruc-
lions 10 inquire into the condition of tbs va
'rIous Executive Departments, the ability
ana integrity with which they have been
conducted, INTO the manner IN which the
pubic business has been discharged in all o.!
them, and into all Causes of complaint, from
any quarter, al The manner in which said
departments, or their bureaus or officers, OF
any oil their officers or agents of every de-
'scription whatever, directly or indirectly
connected with them in any manner, official
ny or unoificially in duties pertaining to the
public interest, have fulfilled or Jailed TO
accomplish the objects o! their creation, or
have violated their duties. or have injured
and impaired tie public service and interest
'and that said Committee, in its inquiries,
may refer 10 such periods of time as 10 them
may seem sxpedient and proper" I, also
appears, from the published proceedings Of
The House, that this resolution was accomua-
MED aud supported by speech Of considera-
DIE length, IN which you preferred many Sc.
we're but vague charges Of corruption and l.
buse in The Executive Departments. The
resolutions adopted by the committee, as W ell
as that adopted by the House itself, must re
taken in conneNion with your Introductory
speech, which gives a character 10 The " hole
proceeding. When thus regarded, il is Oh.
vous that, by the resolution Of the House, an
! issue is made with the President Of the
United States, as he had alleged, in his annual
message, that The heads Of The Executive
Departments had performed their official du.
Ties with ability end integrity. In your
speech you denied this; yol charged them
with manifold corruptions and abuses oftrusi,
as you had done in former speeches, 10 which
you referred ;snd you demanded an invesii-
! gaiiop4hrough the medium Of committee