Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1837-02-28
THE PRESIDENTS LETTER TO THE
INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE.
WAsnINcroN, Jan. 26, 1887.

| IN V CO IVA L ING COmMIl LIZ.
WAsHINcTos, Jan. 26, 1887.
Sin I'll received on the eve. Of the oath in
stant your lettor covering copy Of certain
resolutions, pnrporting TO have been adopted
By committee OF the House of Representa-
tives, Of which you are chairman, and request
that you will lay before that committee this,
my reply, which hasten TO make:
II appears by the published proceedings of
the House of Representatives, that the COM
mitiee Of which you are chairman was appoin.
ted on your motion. The resolution offered by
you, and finally adopted by the House, raised
direct issue with that part ofmy annual mes
snge, in which held the following language
"Belore concluding this paper, | think it due
TO the various executive departments TO bear
testimony TO the prosperous condition, and TO
the ability and integrity with which they have
been conducted. 1t has been my aim to en-
force in all Of them a vigilant and faithful dis
charge Of the public business, and it is crafty
ing 10 me to believe, that there is no Just cause
OF complaint, from any quarter, at the manner
in which they have fulfilled the object OF their
creation"
Your resolution is in the following words =
Resolved, That so much of the Presidents
Message as relates to the condition Of the vari-
Gus executive departments, the ability and in
tegrity with which they have been conducted,
] 'hS NiShdub hIu idilIliul uIHc Oh tnG pun
lie business in all Of them, and the causes Of
complaint from any quarter, at the manner in
which they have fulfilled the objects Of their
creation, be referred to a select committee, TO
consist of nine members, with power TO send
for persons and papers, and with instructions
TO inquire into the condition of the various ex-
ecntve departments, the ability and integrity
with which they have been conducted--into
the manner in which the public business has
been discharged in all of them, and into all
causes OF complaint from any quarter, at the
manner in which said departments or their bu-
reaus, or Offices, or any Of their officers or a.
gents OF every description whatever, directly
or indirectly connected with them in any man.
ner, officially or unoficia.ly, in duties pertain
ing TO the public interest, have fulfilled or fail
ed TO accomplish the objects Of their creation,
or have violated their duties, or have injured
and impaired the public service and interest ;
and that said committee in its inquiries may
refer to such periods Of time as to them may
seem expedient and proper"
1t also appears from the published proceed
ings Of the House, that this resolution was ac-
companied and supported by sreech OF con-
siderable length, in which you preferred many
severe but vague charges Of corruption and
abuse in the Executive Departments. The
resolutions adopted by the committee, as well
taken in connexion with your introductory
speech, which gives character TO the whole
proceeding. When thus regarded, it is obvi-
Gus that by the resolution Of the House, an is
sue is made with the President Of the U. s., as
he had alleged in his annual message, that the
heads OF the Executive Departments had per-
formed their official duties with ability and in
I tegrity. In your speech you denied this you
charged them with manifold corruptions and
abuses Of trust. as you had done in former
speeches 10 which you beforehand you de.
manded an investigation through the medium
OF committee. Certain other mem 5ers OF the
House, as appears by the published debates,
united with you in these accusations, and for
the purpose Of ascertainng their truth or false
hood the committee you demanded was order
ed to be raised, and you were placed at its
head. The first proceeding Of the investiga-
, ting committee is TO pass a series of resolu-
, tons, which, though amended in their passage,
were, as understood, introduced by you call
, ing on the President and the heads of depart
{ nlents, not TO answer 10 any specific Charge
not 10 give information as TO any particular
transaction, but assuming that they have been
guilty Of the charges alleged, calls upon them
to furnish evidence against themselves.
After the reiterated charges you have made
f it was TO have been expected that you would
/; cations, and that the committee would then
, proceed TO investigate the matters alleged
{ But instead Of this, you resort 10 generalities
, even more vague than your original accuse,
) tons, and in open violation of the constitution
f and Of that well established and wise maxim
, "that all men are presumed to be innocent un
I'll proven guilty according to the established
= rules Of law" You request myself and The
e heads of the departments to become our owr
accusers. And this call purports to be foun
l ded on the authority of that body in which a.
lone, by the constitution, the power ofimpeach
ing Us is vested The heads of department.
may answer such request as they please, pro
vidcd they do not withdraw their own time ant
e that of the officers under their direction frou
r the public business 10 the injury thereof. tt
I that business ] shall direct them TO devot,
0 themselves, in preference TO any illegal ant
I unconstitutional call Tor information, no mat
ter from what source j. may come, or howeve
anxious they may be to meet il. For myself
: | shall repel all such attempts as an invasion
: OF the principles of justice well as the con
: siiution and shall esteem it my sacred du
ty 10 the people ofthe U. S. to resist them as
wond the establishment Of Spanish Inqnisi
s lion.
If, after all the severe accusations contained
in the various speeches Of yourself and you
n associates, you are unwilling OF your own &C
g cord, 10 bring specific charges, then reques
your committee TO call yourself and associates
a and every other member of Congress who ha
made the general charge Of corruption, 10 ties
> fifty before G cd and our country, whether yol
8 or they know of any specific corruption or a
buse oftrust in the executive departments, ant
if SO, what il is. you are able to point TO a
e ny case where there is the slightest reason Il
y suspect corruption or abuse OF trust, no obsia