The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-04-10
THE PRESIDENTS ANSWER.
To The House of Representatives.

TO the House OF Representatives.
In compliance with resolution of the House of
Representatives of the 23d March last, requesting
the President to lay before the House
"The authority and true copies of all requests and
applications upon which he deemed it his duty to in
terfere with the naval and military forces Of the
United States, on the occasion Of the recent attempt
Of the people Of Rhode Island TO establish free
Constitution IN place OF the old Charter Government
of that State. Also, copies Of the instructions to,
and statements of the Charter Commissioners sent to
him by the then existing authorities of the State of
Rhode Island also, copies of the correspondence be-
tween the Executive of the United States and the
Charter Government Of the State of Rhode Island,
and all the papers and documents connected with the
same; also, copies Of the correspondence, if any,
between the heads of Departments aud said Charter
Government, or any person or persons connected
with the said Government, and of any accompany
Eng papers and documents; also, copies Of all orders
issued by the Executive of the United States or any
Of the Departments, to military officers for the
movement or employment of troops to or in Rhode
Island also, copies Of all orders naval officers
prepare steam other vessels of the United States
for service in the waters Of Rhode Island also
pies of all orders TO officers of cutters for
the same service; also, copies of any instructions
borne by the Secretary Of War to Rhode Island
his visit in 1912 to review the troops of the Charter
Government; also copies of any order or orders TO
any officer officers of the Army Navy to report
themselves to the Charter Government; and that he
be requested to lay before this House copies of any
other papers or documents in the possession of the
Executive, connected with this subject not above
specially enumerated
have to inform the House that the Executive did
not deem it its "duty to interfere with the naval and
military forces of the United States in the late dis
turbances in Rhode Island that no orders were is
sued by the Executive, any of the Departments to
military officers, for the movement employment Of
troops to in Rhode Island, other than those ac-
companying this message, and which contemplated the
strengthening Of the garrison at Fort Adams, which,
considering the extent of The agitation in Rhode
Island, was esteemed necessary and judcious that
orders issued TO naval officers TO prepare
steam other vessels Of the United States for
vice in the waters Of Rhode Island that no orders
were issued ito the officers Of the Revenue Cutters
for said service - that instructions were borne by
the Secretary of War to Rhode Island on his visit in
1912, TO rersD the troops Of the Charter Government
and that no orders were given to any officer or Off
GERS Of the Army Navy to report Themselves TO the
Charter Government requests and applications
were made to the Executive to fulfil the guarantees OF
the Constitution which impose the Federal Gov
eminent the obligation to protect and defend each
State ofthc Union against domestic violence and To-
reign invasion" but the Executive was at no time
convinced that the Jederis had arisen which re-
qured the interposion Of the military OF naval pow
er in the controversy which unbsppily existed be-
tween the People Of Rhode Island. was in no man
ner prevented from interfering, by the inquiry
whether Rhode Island existed ~ an iodependen,
State Of the Union under a charter granted at an
early period by the Gown of Great Britain or not
II was enough for the Executive to know that she
fec0pnised AZ h. n.
tain, by the treaty Of 1888; that at later day, she
bad, in common with her sster States poured out
her blood, and freely expended her treasure in the
war Of the Revolution; that she was party to tho
Articles OF Confederation; that at after day she
adopted the Constitution Of the United States as
free, independent, and Republican State; and Tia,
IN that character she has always possessed her f,
quota Of rcpr, scnistion in the Senate and
House of Representatives, and up To a re-
cent day, she has conducted all her domestic
affairs and fulfilled all her obligations as a member
Of the Union, in peace and in war; under her ehat,,
Government as it is dsnoninacd by the resolution O,
the House Of the 23d March
must be permitted to disclaim entirely and nm.
qualihedly the right the part Of the Executive 10
make any real or supposed defects, existing i, anv
State Constitution or form of Government, the pre
text for failure to enforce the laws or the eusrsp-
tees Of the Constitution of the United States in re-
ference to any such State. utterly repudia,e the
'dea, IN terms as emphatic as can employ, that
those laws are not to be enforced, or guarantee,
complied with, because the Presiden, may believe
that the right Of suffrage any other great popular
right is either too restricted or too broadly enlarged
sso with equal strength, resist the id.s that Il fs.
within the Executive competency TO decide in con-
Wovsr''s', Of tho nature Of tba, which existed in