The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1876-05-12
MisreH eHanenus.
PRESIDENr'S MESSAGE,


Representatives passed on the 3rd 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 a
specified period been performed at a dis
tance from the seat of Government es-
tablished by law, &c.
/ have never hesitated, and shall not
| hesitate, to communicate to Congress,
| and to either branch thereof, all infor-
| nation 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 Honse may indi
cate to Inc will be used in the discharge
of the appropriate duties confided to
them. | fail, however, to find in the
Constitution of the United States the
authority given to the House of Repre-
sentatives Zone branch of Congress, in
which is vested the legislative power of
the governnent, to require OF the Ex-
ecutive, an independent branch of the
government, coordinate with the Sen
ate and House of Representatives, an
account of his discharge of his appro-
pirate and partly executive offices, acts
and duties, either as to when, where or
how performed. What the House of
Representatives may require as right in
"a, IL, nj l. for fnr
formation is limited to what is necessary
for the proper discharge of its powers of
legislation or of impeachment.
The inquiry in the resolution OF the
House as to where the 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 to the province of
legislation; it does not profess to be ask
ed for that object If this information
be sought through an inquiry of the
President as to his executive acts in
view or in aid of the power of impeach-
ment vested in the House, 1t is asked in
derogation of an inherent natural right,
recognized in this country by a constitu-
tional guarantee which protects every
citizen. The President, rs well as the
humblest in the land, is exempt from be-
ing made witness against himself
During the time that L have had the
honor 10 occupy the position of Presi-
dent of this Government, it has been,
and while continue to occupy that po-
sition it will continue to be my earnest
endeavor to recognize aud to respect the
several trusts and duties and powers of
coordinate branches of the government,
not encroaehing upon them nor allowing
encroachment 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 rela-
tions the several powers and functions of
each of the coordinate branches OF
the Government agreeably to the eonstit
tuition and in accordance with the sol
emn oath which | have taken to pre-
serve, protect and defend that instru
ment
In maintenance of the rights secur-
ed blythe constitution to the Executive
branch of the Government, / am COM
PEELED TO decline any specific or detailed
answer to the request of the House
or information al to any executive
offices, aats or duties, and, if any, what
have been performed at n distance from
the seat of Government established by
law, and for how long period at any
one time and in what part of the United
States. If, however, the House OF Rep
resentatives desires TO known whether,
during the period of upwards of seven
years, during which ! have held the Office
of President of the United States,
have been absent from the seat of Gov
ernment and whether during that period
1 have performed or have neglected to
perform the duties of my Office, freely
inform the House that FROM the time of
my entrance HPon ny office ! have been
in the habit, as were all of my predeces
sors, with the exception of one, who liv-
ed only one MONTH after assuming the
duties of his Office, and one whose con
tinued presence in Washington was nee
essary from the existence at the time of
a nouarfnI rahaIlion of atSapf;n, my,
self myself at tunes from the seat of
government, and that during such alb
sences / did not neglect or forego the
obligations or duties of my office, but
continued to discharge all of the execu-
tive offices, acts and duties which were
required OF NE as President of the Uni
ted States. Applause from the Repub-
lican side. / am not aware that a fail
ure 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 travel and of mail communication,
and the facility of almost instantaneous
correspondence with the officers at the
seat of government'w the telegraph
affords, wherever lie nay be. enable him
in these days TO maintain as constant.
and almost as quick intercourse with
the departments ut Washington as may
be maintained while he remains in the
capital, the necessity of the performance
of executive acts by the President of
the United States existed and Is devolved
upon the President 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 re-
ouired to discharged in his capacity as
commander an CHIEF of the army and
navy, which latter powers it is evident
Ee might be called upon to exercise pos
sibly even without the limits of the Uni
ted States. Had the efforts of those
recently in rebellion against the Gov
ernment been successful in driving late
President OF the United States from
Washington, 1t is manifest that he must
haze discharged his functions, both civil
and military, elsewhere than in the place
nou,ad nv Ia W sc the seat ct covarp,naot