The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1876-05-11

ecutive offices could be performed only
at the seat of Government, is evidenced
by hundreds upon hundreds of such acts
performed by my predecessors in an un-
broken line from Washington to Lincoln.
A memorandum of the general nature
and character of some of which acts Is
submitted herewith, and no question has
been raised as to the validity of these acts
or to the right and propriety of the Ex-
ecutive to exercise powers of his office
in any part of the United States,
ISigned1 u. S. GRANT.
Washington, May 4, 1876.
1t will be perceived that the message
is dated Washington, without the usual
prefix of Executive Mansion"
Accompanying the message is mem
orandum of absences ofPresidents of the
United States from the National Capital
during each of the several administra-
tions, and of public and executive acts
performed during the time of such abb
senCes. This memorandum contains the
following information, and much more of
the same general character, only the
most important of the acts recited in the
memorandum being selected for mention
in this abstract.
President Washington was frequently
absent from the Capital. He appears to
have been thus absent at least lSl days
during his term. In March, 1871, the
seat of government was then at Philadel-
phia, he issued a proclamation dated at
Georgetown, in reference to the running
of a boundary for the District of Coum.
bia. He signed at Mt. Vernon an Off
cial letter to the Emperor of Morocco,
and from the same place issued the COM
mission of Oliver WalCott as Comptroller
of the Treasury, and the proclamation
respecting the whisky insurrection in
Pennsylvania, also the proclamation of
the treaty of 1895 with Spain, and the
executive order of Aug. 4, 1875, relative
to duties on distilled spirits, etc. When
at Germantown he signed sundry COM
missions. He proposed to have Mr.. Yrujo
officially presented to him at Mt. Vernon
as Envoy Extraordinary and Minister
Plenipetentiary from Spain, and Mr..
Yruio went there for that purpose, but
the ceremony of presentation was pre-
vented by an accident, the omission Of
the minister to bring his credentials.
President John Adams was absent
from the capital during his term Of four
years on various occasions 1856 days. He
discharged his official duties, and per-
formed the most solemn public acts at
Quincy, Mass, in the same manner as
when at the seat of government. Sever
al of them are recited, and it also speci-
fed that on Sept. 28th, 1897, he forwar.
ded to the Secretary of State commits
sion for Justice of the Supreme Court
signed in blank at Quincy, with instruc-
tions to fill in the name of John Marshall
if he would accept, and if not, that of
Bushrod, Washington.
President Jefferson was absent from
the seat of Government during his two
terms of Office 796 days, or more than
one-fourth of the whole official period
He signed and issued from Monticello
among other things seventy-fve commits
sions. President Madison was absent
637 days, and President Monroe was alb.
sent 76S days independent of the year
1924 and two months Of 1925, for which
period no data are found. The latter
transacted public business wherever he
happened to be, and sometimes while
travelling. President John Quincy Adams
was absent during his single term 222
days, and in his memoirs (vol. 8, page 75)
speaks of his practice ofleaving with his
Chief Clerk blank papers signed by him
to be used when necessary for proclama-
tions, remission of penalties and com
missions of consuls. He speaks also of
doing this same thing in regard to pat
ents and land grants. President Jackson
was absent from the seat of government
502 days. Among other important acts
performed by him from Washington was
his signing at Boston the famous order
for the removal of deposits from State
banks. The memorandum at this point
refers to President Jackson's refusal in
1888 to furnish the Senate a copy of
paper allowed to have been read by him
to the Cabinet, and mentions that in
Jan. 1887, he refused to allow commit
tee of the House of Representatives to
make general investigation of the Ex-
ecutive Department without specific
charges on that ground, amongst others
that the use of officials books and records
for such purpose interfereG with the dis
charge of public business. Other PIesi-
dents were absent from Washington and
performed numerous official duties while
absent. Van Buren, was absent l3l days
Tyler 1853 days, Polk 81 days, Taylor 81
days, Fillmore go days, Pierce 81 days,
Buchanan 81 days. No mention is made
OF the absences of President Lincoln or
Johnson.