The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-06-30
Long Branch and the Law.
Long BrancH HAu V]e
Section l,7a6 of the revised statutes OF
the limited States reads thus:

Section l,796 of the revised statutes OF
the United States reads thus:
"An onsces attached to the seat Of government
shaI he exercised In the District Of Columbia, and
not elsewhere, except ~ otherwise expressly pro-
vided by law"
By San act respecting quarantine and
health laws" approved February Is, 1899,
the president may remove the public Of
fees, and the supreme court may adjourn
its sessions, to some other place "in case
''of the prevalence of contagious or
"epidemical disease at the seat of govern
ment," but further than this there is no
exception to the imperative rule OF law
above laid down. Unless there be yiru-
lent disease in the District and the presi-
dent or supreme court thereupon order a
removal beyond its limits, "All Offices at
"tached TO the seat of government shall be
exercised in the District Of COLUMBIA,
and not eLseaohere."
Now, is the presidency an office attach
ed to the seat of government 1t SO, the
incumbent of that Office cannot exercise
any of its powers at Long Branch. That
the presidency is an office" the constitu-
ton itself says.
Before he enter on the execution OF his office he
shall take the following oath or affirmation:
fully execute TIE office Of President Of the United
STATES" etc.-Art. H., sec. l, part.
Is it an ''ofice attached to the seat Of
0ouernment?" To answer this we must
take plunge into the past. On complet,
ing its iabors the convention which framed
the constitution of the United States re-
quested the old congress to fix the time
and place for commencing proceedings
under this constitution" and in accord
ance with this request that body
designated March 4, 1889, as the
time and New York as the place.
The necessity of q more central location
was soon felt, and by IAN act for estab-
Fishing the temporary and permanent
''seat Of the government of the United
States" approved July Is, 1870, it wa.
provided that by December /, 1890, al
offices attached to the seat of the govern
'ment Of the United States" should be re
moved to Philadelphia. and there remain
up to December i, 1900, at which tim
the seat of government should be removed
to what is now known as the district o
Columbia. And all Offices attached to tn
said seat of government shall accordingl
''be removed thereto by their respectiv
holders. and shall, after the said day
cease to be exercised elsewhere" l
compliance with this statute presiden
Washington duly removed from New Yor
t. Philadelphia prior to December /, 179(
and his successor, John Adams, remove
from Philadelphia to Washington previou
to December l, 1900. The presidenc
being an office attached to the seat {
government" followed the seat of govern
ment-from New York to PHILADELPHIA
and from Philadelphia to Washington
The transfer each summer from Washing
ton to Long Branch, which has come
vogue Of late years, is not only without la
but positively against law. The preside
cannot lawfully execute any of the mar
and great powers appertaining TO his Off
except in and at the seat of governmer
always provided that no infectious disord
prevails there. In that event he may e
ercise his Office elsewhere, but only in To
event. Despite this the present incur
bent carries his office about at his SUNNI
pleasure, and exercises it wherever
may happen to perch for the moment.
believes in enforcing obnoxious laws.
him enforce this which strips the pre-
dent of presidential power when he aba
dons the scene Of presidential duty.