Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1876-05-12
message from che pr..,aeu,.
THE HOUSE RESOLUTION OF INQUIRY EF-
FECTINEIY ANsMEREn.

III answer 10 u recent fcSOlullOn OF lnqulf
aimed at his Long Branch summer vaca-
tons. The message was read, referred to
the judiciary committee, and ordered print
cd. The text of the message is as follows:
have given very attentive consideration
to a resolution of the House OF Representa-
lives passed the Sd day Of April introduced
by Mr.. Blackburn of Ky.), requesting the
President of the u nited States to inform
the House whether any executive offices,
acts or duties, and If any, what, have, with
in specified period, been performed at a
distance from the seat of government es-
tablshed by law, etc. have never hesi-
tatcd and shall not hesitate to communicate
TO Congress and to either branch thereof
all information which the constitution
makes 1t the duty of the President to give,
or which my judgment may suggest TO me,
or request from either House may indi-
cate TO me, will he useful in the discharge
of the appropriate duties confided to them.
l fail, however, TO find in the constitution
of the United States the authority given TO
the House of Representatives. branch
of the Congress in which Is vested tho leg
islative power Of the government-to re-
qure of the executive, an independent
branch of the government, coordinate with
the Senate 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 Represen-
tatves may require as right in lis de-
mand upon the executive for information
is limited to what is necessary for the prop
CT discharge of its powers of legislation or
of impeachment The inquiry in the reso-
luton of the House as to where the execu-
tive acts have, within the last seven years,
been performed, at what distance from any
particular spot, or for how long period at
any one time, etc., does not necessarily be-
long 10 the province of legislation. II does
not profess to be asked for that object. II
this information be sought through an in
quiry of the President as to his executive
acts, in view or in aid of the power of i'm
parchment vested in the House, it is asked
in derOsation of an inherent natural right,
recognized in this country by coustitu-
lional guarantee, which protects every cit-
zen, the President as well as the humblest
in the land, from being made a witness
against himself
During the time that have had the hon
or 10 occupy the position of President of
this government, il has been, and while l
continue 10 occupy that position it will con-
tinue to be, my earnest endeavor 10 rccog-
nize and respect the several trusts and du-
ties and powers of the coordinate branches
of tba nj p,i
them, nor allowing cncoa chments upon
the proper powers Of the otlice which the
people of the United States have confided
TO me, but aiming 10 preserve in their prop
err relations the several powers and fuuc-
tiOns Of each of the CO. ordinate branches of
the government, agreeably TO the constitu-
ton and in accordance with the solemn
oath which have taken TO "prcservc, pro-
tect and defend" that instrument. In the
maintenance Of the rights secured by the
constitution 10 the executive branch of the
government, I 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,
II any, what, have been performed At a dis
lance from the seat Of government eslab-
lished by law, and for how long period at
any one time, and in what part OF the Uni
ted States"
If, however, the House Of Representa-
tives desires to know whether, during the
period of upward of seven years during
which l have held the Office of President OF
the United States, | have been absent from
the seat Of government, aud whether, dur
ing that period, L have performed or have
neglected to perform the duties of my Of
flee, freely inform the House that, from
the time oil my entrance upon my office, |
have been the habit, as were all Of my pre-
decessOrs, with the exception of one who
lived only one month alter assuming the
duties Of his office, and one whose contin-
ued presence in Washington was necessary
from the existence ut the time Of power
lul rebellion, OF absenting myself nj times
from the seat of government, aud that dur
ing such absences did not neglect or fore
go the obligations or the duties of my office,
but continued 10 discharge all of the exec
utiVe Offices, acts and duties which were
required OF me as President of the United
STATES. am not aware that failure oc-
CURED IN any one instance of my exercis-
ing tue functions aud powers of my office,
in any case requiring their discharge, or OF
my exercising all necessary executive acts
in whatever part OF the United States may
at the time have been. Fortunately the ra-
plultJ VI lIdNtl anu OF mai com ulu0lca-
ton, and the facility of almost instantane-
Gus correspondence with officers at the seat
of government which the telegraph affords
TO the President in whatever section of the
Union he may be, enable him in these
days 10 maintain as constant and almost
as quick intercourse with the departments
at Washington as may be maintained while
he remains in the capital.
The necessity OF the performance eff ex-
ecutlve 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 + 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 10 discharge in his capacity OF
commander-in-chief Of the army and navy,
which latter powers, II Is evident, he might
be called upon to exercise possibly even
without the limits of the United States.
Had the efforts OF Those recently in rebel
lion against the government been successful
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 gov
eminent No act of Congress eau limit,
suspend or confine this constitutional duly.
l am not aware of the existence of any act
of Congress which assumes thus TO limit or
restrict Inc exercise or the functions OF the
executive. Were there snch acts, should,
nevertheless, recognize the superior au-
thority of the constitution, and should ex-
ercse the powers required thereby of the
President.
The act to which reference is made in the
resolution of the House relates to the es-
Enlistment of the seat of government, and
the providing of suitable buildings and re-
moval thereto of the officers attached 10 the
government, etc. IL was not understood at
It's date and by Gen. Washington, 10 con-
fine the President in the discharge of his
duties and powers to actual presence at the
seat of government. On the Both of March,