The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-01-22
WHOLE NO. lS9.

adopted by the House. raised direct issue with thai
part OF my annual message in which | held the fol
lowing language Before concluding this paper,
think il due To the various Executive Departments 10
bear testimony Of their prosperous condition, and TO
The ability and integrity with which they have been
conducted. II has been my aim TO enforce, in all of
them, ygant and faithful discharge Of the public
business and il is gratifying TO me TO believe that
there is no Just cause Of complaint; from any quar-
ter, al The manner in which they have fulfilled the
object Of their creation Your resolution is in the
following words: :" ReSOiUtd That so much OF the
Presidents Message as relates TO the condition OF
The various Executive Departments, the ability and
integrity with which they have been conducted the
vigant and faithful discharge OF the public business
IN all OF them, and the causes OF complaint from any
quarter at the manner in which they have fulfilled
me objects OF their creation be referred 10 select
committee, 10 consist OF nine members, with power
10 send iorpersons and papers, and with instructions
10 inquire into the condition OF the various Execu.
i've departments, the ability and integrity with
which they have been conducted into the manner
IN which the public business has been discharged in
al oil Them, and into all causes Of complaint from
any quarter, at the manner in which lsaid Depart
mentS, or THEN bureaus offices, or any of their
oihcers or agents, Of every description whatever di-
Tecuy or indirectly connected with them in any
manner, officially or unoiiciay in duties pertain
ing 70 The PUBLIC interest, have fulfilled or failed 10
accomplish the objects Of their creation or have
violated their duties, or have injured and impaired
l
niree, In It's inquiries may refer 10 such periods OF
time 10 them as may seem expedient and proper Ii
also appears from the published proceedings Of the
rouse, mat this resolution was accompanied and
supported by speech OF considerable length, in
winch You preferred many severe but vague charges
OF corruption and abuse in the Executive Depart
mems, The resolutions adopted by the committee
as Wei as that adopted by the Hoase itself must be
.dheh IN connexion with your Introductory speech
when when gives character 10 the whole proceeding
men mus REGARDED, ii is obvious that by the reso
'u,'ou OF Inc House, an issue is made with the Pre-
suenl u me United States; as he had alleged in
Us annual message, that the heads of tie Executive
Departments had performed their Official dur;os win
| ability and integrity. In your speech Won denied
ihisi you charged them with manifold corrunnons
ana ABUSES OF Trust, as you had done in former
speeches, to which you referred and YOU demand
ed an investigation through the medium of a com
miee. Certain other members Of Congress, as ap-
pears BY the published debates united with YOU in
'hese accusations; and for the purpose of asceraning
their fu or fdlSehGod the committee you demanded
was ordered 10 be raised and you we're placed al its
head The first proceeding Of the investigating
committee is TO pass series Of resolutions, which
though amended in their passage, WERE as under
stood, introduced BY you, calling on the President
and the heads OF the Deparments-nol to answer to
any specific charge; not 10 expail any alleged
abuse not 10 give information as TO any particular
transaction; but, assuming that they have been gull
" OF the charges alleged, calls upon them TO furnish
evidence against themselves!
Aier The reiterated charges you have made il
was 10 have been expected that you would have been
prepared 10 reduce them to specifications and that
the committee would then proceed TO investigate the
matters alleged. But instead Of this, you resort to
generaieS even more vague than your original ac
cuSations; and in open violation Of the Constitution
and Of that well-established and wise MAXIM thai
all men are presumed 10 be innocent until proven
guilty. according to the established rules of law you
request myself and the heads of Departments to be-
come our own accuserS, and 10 furnish the evidence
to convict ourselves; and this call purpors 10 be
founded on the authority oftha body in which alone
BY the Constitution, the power OF impeachng us is
vested The heads of Departments may answer such
request as they please, provided they do not with
draw their own time, and that Of the officers under
their direction from the public business, TO the in
jury thereof. To that business shall direct them
10 devote themselves in preference TO any illegal and
unconstitutional call for information, matter from
what source il may come, or however anxious they
may be 10 meet it, For myself shall repel all such
attempts invasion Of the principles Of justice,
well Of The Constitution and shall esteem it
my sacred duty 10 the people OF the United States TO
resist them as would the establishment of Spanish
lnquiSion.
iii, after all the severe accusations contained in
the various speeches OF Yourself and your associates,
you are unwilling, of your own accord, TO bring
specific charges then ! request your committee 10
call yourself and your associates, and every other
member OF Congress who has made the general
charge Of corruption, 10 testify before God and our
country, whether you or they know Of any specific
corruption abuse OF trust in the Executive De
parments; and if So what il is? Ifyou are able 10
point TO any case where there is the slightest reason
10 suspect corruption abuse of trust, no obstacle
which can remove shall be interposed 10 prevent
the fullest scrutiny by al legal means The offices
of all the Departments will be opened to you, and
every proper facility furnished for this purpose.
"Ihope, sir, we shall, at last have your charges,
and that you will proceed 10 investigate them, not
like an inqusitor, but in the accustomed mode. II
you either will not make specific accusations, or II,
when made YOU attempt TO establish them by making
ireemen their own accuSerS, You Will not expect me
10 counenance your proceedings. In the short pc
riod which remains of my official duty, shall en-
deavor, as l have heretofore endeavored TO fulfill
the obligations of that oath of Office by which ] en-
gagged TO the best ofmy ability, opreServe protect
and defend the Constitution OF the United States,
and for this, and other OF the most solemn
character, shall, The hand, cause every pos
sble facility, consistent with law and justice, TO be |
given to investigation OF specific, tangible charges
and on the other, shall rePudlate all attempts 10 IN
wade the lust rights of the Executive Departments, |
and of the individuals composing The same II,
after all your clamor, you will make no Speclhc
charges, or bring no proof of such as shall be made
Won and your associates must be regarded by the
good people Of the United States the authors of
unfounded caumnies and the public servants whom
you have aSSaed WILL in the estimation OF all homo
rabe men, stand fully acquitted.
In the mean time | cannot but express my aso-
niShment that members OF Congress should call Tor
information 10 the names Of persons to whom con-
tingent moneys are paid, and the objects OF those
payments, when there are six standing committees
under the Sevcnly-sevenh rule OF the House of Re-
representatives., whose special duties are 10 examine
annually into all the details Of those expenditures in
each OF The Executive Departments. The like re-
mark is applicable 10 some other branches OF the in
formation sought by you ample details in respect TO
which to be found in the reports laid before Con
gross, and now on your files; and TO which recon-
mend you TO have recourse.
." am, respectfully, &c.
ANDREW JACKSON
To the Hon. Henry A. WISE,
Chairman of the Investigating Committee on The
abuses and frauds Of the Executive Departments
charged'1
Sir this was an exrao dinaryleuer 10 be addressed
by the President Of the United States to committee
Ill The Hnnsn Of REPRESENTATIVES.. IL al once eX-