The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1876-05-11
PRESIDENT CRAMPS MESSAGE.

In Response to the House Resolution
Calling for Information as to What
Executive Acts He Has Performed
While Absent from Washington.
The following is the message of the
President in reply to the resolution OF
Representative Blackburn
To the House of Representatives: I have
given very attentive consid eration to the reso-
luton of the House of Representatives passed
on the Sd OF April requesting the President of
the United States to inform the House whether
any executive officers acts or duties, and, if
any, what, have within specified period been
performed at distance from the seat of Gov
eminent established by law, etc. have never
hesitated and shall not hesitate to commune
cate to Congress and to either branch thereof
all information which the Constitution makes
it the duty of the President to give, or which
my judgment may suggest to me, or request
from either house may indicate to me may be
useful in the discharge of the appropriate du-
ties confded to them. / fail, however, to find
in the Constitution of the United States the
authority given to the House of Representa-
tives, one branch of Congress, in which is vest
ed the Legislative power of the Government,
to require of the Executive, an independent
branch of the Government, coordinate with
the Senate and House of Representatives, an
account of his discharge of his appropriate and
as to when, where, or how performed. What
the House of Representatives may require All
right in its demand upon the Executive for in
formation is limited to what is necessary for
the proper discharge of it's powers of legisla-
ton OF of impeachment. The inquiry in the
resolution of the House as to where the execu-
tive acts have within the last seven years been
performed, and at what distance from any par
ticular spot, or for how long q period at any
one time, etc., does not necessarily belong to
the province of legislation. 1t does not pro-
fess to be asked for that object. If this in
formation be sought through an inquiry of the
President as to his executive acts in view or in
aid of the power of impeachment vest
| ed in the House, it is asked in derOgation
of inherent natural right recognized
in this country by constitutional guarantee
| which protects every citizen, the President as
we'll as the humblest in the land, from being
made witness against himself. During the
time that I have had the honor to occupy the
position OF President of this Government it has
been, and while continue IT, occupy that posi-
| ton it will continue to be- my earnest
endeavor to recognize and to respect the sew
eral trusts and duties and powers of the CO.
ordinate branches of the Government, not en-
croachiDg upo them nor allowing encroach-
nent upon the proper powers of the Office which
the people Of the United States have confided
to me, but aiming to preserve in their proper
| relations the several powers and functions of
eminent agreeably to the constitution, and in
| accordance with the solemn oath which I have
token to preserve, protect, and defend that in
strument. In maintenance of the rights Sc
cured by the constitution to the executive
branch of the Government I am COM
PEELED to decline any specific or
detailed answer to the request of the House
for information as to any executive Offices
| acts or duties that have been performed at
distance from the seat of Government estaD-
lshed by law, and for how long period at any
one time, and in what part of the United
States. IT, however the House of Represent
atives desires to know whether, during the
period of upward of seven years during which
[ have held the Office of President of the Uni
ted States, have been absent from the seat of
Government, and whether during that period
/ have performed, or have negiected to per-
| form duties Of my office / freely inform the
| House that from the time of my entrance upon
my Office I 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 the existence at the time
of powerful rebellion, of absenting myself
at times from the seat of Government, andthat
during such absences I did not neglect or fore
go the obligations or duties OF my office, but
continued to discharge all OF the executive
offices, acts, and duties which were required OF
me as President of the United States. l am
not aware that a failure occurred in any one
| instance of my exercising the functions and
powers of my Office in every case requiring
their discharge or of my exercising all neces-
sary executive acts in whatever part OF the
United States I may at the time have been.
Fortunately the rapidity of traves and of mail
communication and the facility of almost in
Simultaneous correspondence with officers at
the seat of Government which the telegraph
affords to the President in whatever section
sc 4I1n I1y0f0V hn hn oh i'm
in these days to maintain as constant
and almost as quick intercourse with the
departments at Washington may be main
tanned while he remains in the capital. The
necessity of the performance of executive acts
by the President of the United States exists
and is devolved upon him wherever he may be
within the United States during his term of
office, by the Constitution of the United States.
His civil powers are no more limited or capable
of limitation, as to the place where they shall
be exercised, than are those which he might be
required to discharge in his capacity as Com
mander-in-chie OF the army and navy, which
latter powers 1t is evident he might
be called upon to exercise possibly
even without the limits of the United
States. Had the efforts OF these recently in
rebellion against the government been success
full in driving late President of the United
States from Washington it is manifest that he
must have discharged his functions, both civil
and military, elsewhere than in the place |
named by law as the seat of Government. No
act of Congress can limit suspend or confne
this constitutional duty. / am not aware of
the existence of any act of Congress which as
sumes thus to limit or restrict the exercise of
the functions of the Executive. Were there
such acts, should nevertheless recognize the
superior authority of the Constitution, and
should exercise the powers required thereby of
the President. The act to which reference is
made in the resolution of the House relates
to the establishment of the seat of Govern
ment and the providing of suitable
buildings, and the removal thereto of
the offices attached to the Government,
etc. It was not understood at it's date. and by
Gen. Washington, to confne the President in
the discharge of his duties and powers to actual
presence at the seat of Government
On the Both of March, 1891, shortly after
the passage of the treaty referred to, Gen.