The Red Cloud chief., 1876-05-25
Presidential Message.


Reply - The PrsseAeos - the RssSlsstes
sfthe Hess~ Aching ter Gassr1 afisa -
90 O@eisl Acts Performed Away Srss
the Capital.
To the House u Representatives.: /
have given very attentive consideration
TO the resolution Of the House Of Repre-
sen'atives, passed on the 81 Of April.
requesting the President Of the United
States Ia inform the House whether any
executive Offices. acts or duties. and II
any, what, have within a specified period
been performed az a distance from the
seat Of government; established by law.
and / have never hesitatei. and shall
not hesitate. 10 communicate Ia Con
gress and 10 either branch thereof.
all information which the Constitution
makes il the duty Of the President 10
give. or which my judgment may SuS-
geSt Ia me, or a request from either
house may indicate To me may be useful
IN the discharge of the appropriate
duties confided 10 them. | fail. how
ever, TO find III the Constitution Of the
United States the authority given tothe
House Of representatives, one branch Of
Congress III which is vested the legisla-
tive power of the Government. 10 IT,
quire of the executive, an independent
branch Of the Government. coordinate
with the Senate and House OF Repre-
scntatives. al account of his discharge
OF his appropriate and partly executive
Offices, acts and duties. either ~ 10 when.
where or how performed. What the
House OF Representatives may require
rs a right. in its demand upon the cx-
ecutive for information. is limited 10
what is necessary 10 the proper discharge
of its powers Of legislation or of i'm
parchment. The inquiry in the resolution
of the House rs TO where executive acts
have within the past seven years been
performed, and at what distance from
any particular spot, or for how long a
period at any IN time, does not neCes-
sarily belong to the province of legisla-
ton. 1t does not profess 10 be asked
for that object. If this information be
through an inquiry of the Prcsi-
dent as to his executive acts, in view or
in aid of the power of impeachment
vested in the House. it is asked in dero-
CATION of an inherent natural right,
in this country by a constitu-
tiOnal guarantee which protects every
the President as well Is the
humblest in the land. from being made
4 witness against himself. During the
time that | have had the honor to occupy
the position as President of this Gov
eminent, it has been, and while |
continue to occupy that position il will
be, my earnest endeavor To recognize
and to respect the several trusts and
powers of the coordinate branches of
The Government, not ~encrOaching upon
them nor allowing encroachments upon
The proper powers and offices which the
people of the United States have con-
ided to me; but, aiming to preserve i'll
heir proper relations the several powers
md functions of each of the coordinate
branches of the Government, agreeably
the Consultation. and III accordance
with the solemn oath which have taken
20 preserve, protect and defend that
instrument. In the maintenance of the
tights secured by the Constitution, to
he executive branch of the Govern
nent, l am compelled to decline any
or detailed answer to the re-
luest of the House for information as
o any executive offices. acts or duties,
md, if any, what have been performed
It a distance from the seat of Govern
nent established 10y law, and for how
Ong a period at any time, and in
what part of the United States.
If. however. the House of Representa-
ives desires to know whether. during a
period of upwards of seven years during
which l have held the Office of PreSi-
lent of the United States. | have been
.bsent from the seat of Government.
md whether, during that period. | have
or have neglected to perform
he duties Of my Office, | freely inform
he House that from the time of INV
upon my office | have been in
he habit. as were all Of my predecessors
With the exception of one, who lived
,nly one month after assuming the
lutieS of his office, and whose con-
inued presence i'll Washington was nee
,SSary from the existence ut that time
If a powerful rebellion. of abSenting
myself ut times from the seat of Gov
.rnment. and that during such absence
did not neglect or foregO the olliga-
ions or duties of my office. but continued
discharge all of the executive offices,
,cts and duties which We're required of
as President of the United States.
am not aware that a failure occurred
any one instance of my exercising the
functions and powers of my Office in any
use requiring their discharge, or Of my
exercising all necessary executive acts,
whatever part Of the United States
nay at the time have been. Fortunately,
of travel and Of mail commu-
and the facility of almost
instantaneous correspondence with the
officers ut the seat of Government which
he telegraph affords to the President.
whatever section of the Union he
nay be, enable him in these days To
Maintain aS constant and almost q