New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-05-09
The Presidents Messare.

Ihe following ls the full text Of the mes
cage of President Grant to the House Of
Representatives last Thursday. in answer
to resolution of Congressman Blackburn,
of Kentucky. 1t is republished in tull, the
dispatch from Washington of Friday morn.
ing in relation to the matter having done
great injustice to the subject:
To the House of Representatives
l have given a very attentive considera-
tion to resolution of the House of Repre-
sentatives passed on the third day of April.
requesting the President of the United
States to inform the House whether any
executive Offices. acts, or duties, and, if any,
what, have within specified period been
performed at distance from the seat OF
government established by law, ETC.
l have never hesitated and ehail not
hesitate 10 communicate to Congress, anu
to either branch thereof, all the iuiorlna-
tion which the constitution makes it the
duty of the President to give or which my
Judgment may suggest to me or a request
from either HOUSE may indicate 10 me will
be useful in the discharge Of the apprO.
pirate duties cOnfded to them. / tail, how
ever. to find in the constitution Of the
United States the authority given to the
House OF Representatives lone branch of
the Congress in which is vested the legis
lative power OF the gOvernment) to require
Of the executive, an independent branch of
the goyernmeut-cO-ordinat with the Sen-
ate and House of Representatives-an ac-
oaunt of his discharge OF his appropriate
and purely executive offices, acts, and
duties, either as to when, where, or how
performed.
During the time that I have had the
honor to occupy the position OF President of
this government, it has been, and while !
continue to occupy that position it will con-
hA nvrdn $r,r
c0gniza and to respect the several trusts
anu duties and powers of the coordinate
branches of the government, not elcrOacb-
ing upon them nor allO wing encrOachments
upon the proper powers OF the Office which
the people of tho United States have con.
ided to NE, but aiming to preserve IN their
proper relations the several powers and
functions of each of the coordinate
branches. of the government agreeabiy to
the constitution and in accordance with the
solemn oath which l have taken to ''pre
serve, protect and defend" that instrument.
In maintenance of the rights secured by
the constitution to the executive branch of
the government, am compelled to decline
any specific or detailed answer to the re-
Quest of the House for information as to
.'any executive offices, acts Or duties, and,
if any, what have been performed at dis
tance from the seat of government estab-
Eshed by law and for how long period at
any Ou6 ltuc dA0 AA WA1G pa Va luo
United States"
What the House of Representatives may
REQUIRE as q right in it's demand upon the
executive for information ia limited to what
is necessary for the proper discharge OF its
powers Of legislation or of impeachment.
The inquiry in the resolution OF tae House
as to where executive acts have within the
last seven years been performed, and at
what distance from any particular spot or
for how long period at any one time, etc,
does not necessarily belong 70 the province
of legislation. 1t does not profess to De
asked for that object.
Ii this information be sought through an
INQUIRY of the President as to his executive
acts in view or in aid of the power OF I'M
peachment vested in the House, it is asked
In derogation of an inherent natural right,
recognized in this country by constitu-
tional guarantee which protects every citl-
zen, the President as well as the humblesu
in the land, from being made witness
against himself
IL however, the House of Representatives
desires to know whether during the period
of upward of seven years during which
have held the Office of President OF the
United States l have been absent from the
seat of government and whether during
that period l have performed or neglected
to perform the duties of my office, freely
inform the House from the time OF my
entrance upon my Ctice l have been IN the
habit. as were all of my predecessors with
the exception of one who lived only one
month after assuming the duties OF his
Office and one whose continued presence IN
Washington was necessary from tne ex-
istence at the time of q powerful rebelhOnj.
of absentipg myself at times from the seat
of poyernment; and that during such alb
sences did not neglect or forego the op-
legations or the duties OF my office, but
continued to discharge all OF the executive
offices, acts and duties which were required
of me- as the President Of the Cnited States.
l am not aware that failure occurred IN
any one instance of my exercising the func-
t;ons and powers of my office IN every case
recurring their discharge or.of my exercis-
ING all necessary executive acts IN what
aver mart of the Uuited States l may have
been. Fortunately, the rapidity OF travel
and of mail communication, and the Iaciilty
of almost instantaneous correspondence
With the offices at the seat OF government
which the telegraph affords to the President,
in n'whateyer section OF the Union he may
he. enable him in theee days to maintain as
constant and almost as quick intercourse
with the departments at Washington as may
be maintained while he remains IN the
capital
The nece ssity of the performance OF exc
cn,ive acts bv the President of the United
Stares exists and is devolved upon him,
wheraver he NAV be within the United
States during his term of ofice, by the con-
etitut;on Of the United States
His civil powers are TO more limited or
canahle of Limitation as to the place where
they shall be exercised than are those
which might be required to discharge 10 bis
canacitv of cOmmander-in-chl chlef OF the
amy and navy, which latter powers, it is
evident. he might be called upon to exercise
nossihiy even without the limits OF the
United States. Had the efforts OF those re-
Gently in rebellion against the government
been succeesful in driving late PRESIDENT
of the United States from Washington, 1t
is manifest that he must have discharged
b;s functions, both civil and military, else
where than in the place named by law as
the seat of government.
No act Of Congress can limit, suspend or
confine this cons stitutiOnal duty. l am not
aware of the exit ttence OF any act OF Con-
gress which assumes thus to limit or re-
Strict the exercise of the functions OF the
executive. Were there such acts, snoulo
nevertheless recognize tho superior au-
thority of the constitution and exercise tne
powers required thereby of the President;
The act to which reference is made IN the
resolution of the House relates TO the
establishing of the seat OF government anu
the providing Of suitable buildings, ana Ie'
moyal thereto of the offices attached TO tne
government, etc. 1t was not uneerstooo ~
i,s date, and by General washington, 70
confine the President in the dlscharge ot
his duties and powers to actual presence az
the seat of government: On tne tnlrtaooH "
OF March, 1871, shortly after the passage u
the act referred to, General asnlng!on
issued an executive proclamation naVng
ont nf